Twelve days of Christmas will have extra meaning for Beaches area shoppers this December.
Local volunteers from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society plan to offer holiday shoppers 12 days of gift-wrapping service for the 12th consecutive year. Once again, donations raised during the two-week period will provide programs and services to the nearly 20,000 North Floridians impacted by MS.
“It wouldn’t be the holidays at the Beaches without dozens of volunteers wrapping gifts for area shoppers,” said North Florida MS Chapter president Heidi Katz. “Their passion and effort for helping shoppers is right up there with Santa Claus and his elves. They bring a smile to everyone, not to mention providing a much-needed service.”
This year's 12 days of wrapping will be offered Dec. 12-15 and Dec. 17-24. Wrapping hours are from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.; Christmas Eve hours will be 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. And for the 12th straight year, the MS volunteer tables will be just outside of Five Below and Hallmark in the South Beach Regional shopping mall, 3876 3rd St., Jacksonville Beach. Gifts from all stores — no matter where they were purchased — will be wrapped. All paper and bows are provided.
“No gift goes unwrapped,” explained 12-year wrapping volunteer Linda Bushong-Reid. “The volunteers are out there to make shopping a more pleasant experience. And, of course, create awareness for MS.”
Available again this year is the MS concierge service. Local shoppers who would prefer to drop off their packages and have them wrapped and returned the following day may do so. Scheduling is available at slowride36@gmail.com or 904-982-6510 or 904-993-3068.
