Gift wrapping more than just duty for Open Door Christian

Elyria school offers free gift wrapping at Midway Mall

Open Door Christian Schools in Elyria again will offer its gift wrapping services at Midway Mall in Elyria.

Services are free and available daily from Dec. 15-24.

Staff and students of the pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade private school say they are looking forward to the 11-year-old tradition at the Midway Mall, 3433 Midway Mall.

Bronwyn Tucker, admissions administrator at Open Door, volunteers to gift wrap and has participated with her family for years.

A number of the volunteers spread out into their own areas through the large wrapping station near Kay Jewelers, Tucker said.

Services include gift wrapping, with or without bows, and other decorations or materials donated by the mall to make the gift look presentable, she said.

Gift wrapping is free, but volunteers accept donations which can help pay for school or students needs.

This year’s donation focus is to raise funds toward the senior class trip to New York City in May 2019, Tucker said.

Volunteers not only enjoy raising funds for the school, but offer their help and skills to others as the mall’s shopping season becomes busier and hectic, she said.

Jill Terrell, a senior at Open Door, has participated in the service for about four years with the school and her family.

Jill said it not only gets her in the Christmas spirit, but she passes that cheer onto shoppers to make their days better.

“My favorite part of gift wrapping is serving people and making their day,” she said. “You can tell you made their day because maybe they don’t have the time to wrap or it can be hard for them.”

Stacy Stanford, upper school administrative assistant at Open Door, said it’s best volunteers interact in an encouraging way with shoppers to avoid any stress shopping may cause.

Any additional discussion shared among each other about Open Door’s initiative or the holidays are good for the school, the mall and the community, Stanford said.

The volunteers are gradeA wrappers, she said.

Tucker and Stanford said their service reflects the mission and values of Open Door Christian Schools.

One shared value is: Service is an essential value of Christian faith.

Tucker said this value shows itself in many ways at the school.

“We feel it’s important to serve the Lord and others in a variety of ways,” she said.

Students volunteer more than 5,000 hours each year in different service opportunities through Open Door, Tucker said.

“We have many options for community service,” she said. “Students participate in where they feel comfortable.”

Gift wrapping takes place from 10 a.m. until the mall closes.

Regular mall hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays.

Mall hours during the Holidays are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Dec. 17-20; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Dec. 21; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Dec. 22; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Dec. 23; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dec. 24; closed Christmas Day; and back to regular hours until New Year’s day.

The mall will open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

A number of families and others in the community who are gift wrapping also are donating their time in Lorain County to help others.

Free gift wrapping services available at Speak of the Devil bar, 201 W. Fifth St. in Lorain, with their Christmas W(rap) Party from 5-11 p.m., Dec. 20.