For local RE/MAX realtor Patty Farr, the holidays are about far more than just her own family.
For more than 10 years she has teamed up with the Platte City Police Department to raise money to buy Christmas gifts for children whose parents might be struggling financially.
This year the Winter Wonderland Sample Sale will be from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 1 at 303 Marshall Road, Platte City, where shoppers will find potential gifts of many varieties. All the proceeds from this free event will go to Platte City Shop with a Cop, which is a program that rewards children (ages 5 to 18) with the opportunity to purchase clothing and other necessities while shopping with a police officer. The shopping trips are funded by donations from community members and local businesses.
Farr believes this a great cause to help the community. “The money that we make goes for the kiddos who do not get Christmas,” Farr said. “Kiddos need Christmas too.”
There will also be a VIP event from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30. For a $10 donation attendees will be able to sip wine, hot chocolate, coffee with snacks while shopping. Credit cards will also be accepted this year and free gift wrapping will be available.
“It will be a nice, relaxing event to get out, and the most important thing is to remember we are helping the kiddos that don’t get Christmas presents,” Farr said. “I have had my girlfriends asking about the wine, so I would say yes and we accept credit cards now so that helps even better, just a nice relaxing event to get out and go to, and the most important thing is to remember we are helping the kiddos that don’t get Christmas.”
With the ongoing threat of COVID-19 some of the previous activities such as the auction and a free lunch had to be cut from this year’s event. Usually the event is held in the YMCA building but this year it will be in Farr’s office.
“We are changing it up this year and doing the sample sale in our office, running it all day so we can space the shoppers and they will need to wear a mask,” Farr said. Masks and gloves will also be available at the event.
This will be the fourth year for the Winter Wonderland Sample Sale. The first year the event made $4,200, the second year, $7,400 and the third year, $10,000 was raised.
There will be more than 400 items to choose from at the event, including Chief’s gear, household items, Christmas items, purses, blankets, scarves, hats, pictures, pillows and baskets for the holidays. The Chiefs items will include photos, some signed, a signed football, and a signed Royals bat.
“There will be a lot of great stuff,” Farr said. “I have gone to many fundraisers and I have a lot of signed items and it’s good to get a nice picture while the kids get Christmas presents. I usually go with the kids when they shop. I get assigned a little girl and we have a really good time.”
RE/MAX House of Dreams also sponsors a small auction fundraiser in June, a chamber Business After Hours event. RE/MAX partners with Wells Bank and First American Title on this event.
Even with the changes to this year’s Winter Wonderland Sample Sale, Farr knows the community will turn out to support the Shop with a Cop program.
“I enjoy hosting this event and giving back and knowing the kiddos without Christmas will have a Christmas,” Farr said.
An organized planner in everything she does, Farr has already bought and wrapped the presents for her 15 grandchildren and she hopes the event will be a help to local residents in getting their Christmas shopping well underway. She believes this is a great way for the community to support a great cause, knowing the funds raised will go to help children enjoy Christmas.
“Shop with a Cop is an amazing program and the Platte City policemen and policewomen are hard-working, caring people,” Farr said.