Many children in Cottage Grove are feeling extra fidgety this winter. Due to remote learning, the amount of time they spend at home has increased immensely. On top of that, Santa Claus is coming to town, and soon! Kids are anticipating that morning, where they wake up to gifts aplenty underneath their tree. Is there any way to relieve some of this built up energy that Cottage Grove’s kids are experiencing? Stone Soup Thrift Shop may have the ideal opportunity.

On December 18th from 4:30pm to 6pm, Stone Soup Thrift Shop is hosting A Winter Wonderland Drive Thru. According to their Board President, Vickie Snyder, this activity is in place of their typical holiday celebration. She illustrated to The Journal, “We used to have Santa come to our building… and kids would come and sit on his knee. They’d come for cookies…and Santa would give them gifts and candy and all that good stuff.”

This year, changes needed to be made to Stone Soup’s traditions. Snyder pointed out, “Because of everything that is happening with COVID, no one’s sitting on Santa’s knee!”

Even so, Stone Soup Thrift Shop is keeping “all that good stuff” with a drivethrough alternative. For example, Santa and his diligent elves will be in attendance! Also, children may still take photographs with the characters while remaining in the security of their vehicle. Additionally, just like past years, Stone Soup will distribute gifts to each child that drives through. These items will include trinkets, DVDs, books, sweet treats, and of course, toys!

Most notably, Stone Soup’s mission is “to engage the community in supporting families and individuals by providing access to quality used clothes, household items and furniture in a convenient, dignified manner.” Therefore, the business will be accepting donations as A Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru occurs. Teen volunteers and Santa are prepared to take in their benevolence.

Currently, around 70 people are expected to roll past Stone Soup Thrift Shop on that December day. This is a fabulous turnout, but Snyder stated, “…we’d like to see more people come through.”

If readers would like to be those additional participants, they are urged to RSVP on Facebook. This can be completed on https://www.facebook.com/ events/825914728248469/. After that, they can gather their beloved little ones that are in need of some fun into a vehicle.

Finally, they should navigate to 1861, 950 3rd St # 101, St Paul Park, MN 55071, and indulge in the holiday season with Stone Soup Thrift Shop!