Among them: jewelry, air fryers, clothing, a lamp, an office chair and other gifts from anywhere people choose to buy, she said.
The wrapping is free but people, including the person with 66 presents, typically donate to the club, which focuses its community service efforts on programs serving children, said Armstrong as she and other volunteers set up the wrapping tables at the Kettering shopping center early Sunday.
Credit: Neal Crabill
Credit: Neal Crabill
With few shopping days left, people interviewed on Sunday at Town & Country in Kettering and at the Front Street arts district in Dayton said they had pretty much wrapped up their hunt for presents.
“I just bought eight Christmas ornaments,” said Ashley Knox, 32, of Dayton, who was with her 8-year-old daughter, Athena Ropp, at Front Street’s AV Glass. “I feel like her ornaments are made with love and you can tell. All my family members love them.”
Owner and artist Abiona Teague said this is the fourth year Knox has bought her blown glass ornaments, and she tries to make unique ones each year for those returning customers.
Credit: Lynn Hulsey
Credit: Lynn Hulsey
Marlene Steele, artist and owner of My Color Strokes at Front Street, said this year’s shoppers are buying her ornaments and original paintings.
“They want something that’s different, that they can’t find anywhere else,” said Steele. “I find people are wanting to buy local.”
Credit: Lynn Hulsey
Credit: Lynn Hulsey
Victor Nigro, artist and owner of Studio V, said his customers typically have a specific person in mind when they buy paintings, sculptures and jewelry at his shop.
Several shoppers interviewed on Sunday said they do little or no shopping online.
“I’m old school,” said Cynthia Campbell, 72, of Dayton, a fan of in-store shopping, as she waited for What’s Poppin’ in Town & Country to open so she could get a specific type of popcorn for her daughter’s friend.
Barb Sauerman, 73, of West Carrollton, was at Town & Country to finish her shopping and enjoys the in-store experience. She said the only thing she had difficulty finding this year was a fire blanket, which is used to smother fires, and once she found them, she bought three as gifts.
Credit: Lynn Hulsey
Credit: Lynn Hulsey
Mike Self, 62, of Kettering, said he mostly buys online but he was at DeClark’s at Town & Country to buy his wife a collectible Santa figurine, the final item on his list.
Andrea Combs, 25, of Montgomery County, started her Christmas quest in July before her son was born so she could get him a Step Two My First Christmas Tree, which she said tends to sell out quickly.
On Sunday she and her husband and two kids were finishing up shopping at Town & Country.
“I like finding someone an unexpected gift,” Combs said.
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