2019 Santa Express

The annual pop-up shop for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery known as Santa Express is open for business, allowing children the chance to turn a few dollars into a few gifts for family members or guardians, via assisted shopping with a volunteer around the store. Related story: Santa Express offers children a grown up experience.

Section:Gallery

Sun., Dec. 15, 2019

Amelia Wilson, 4, walks hand-in-hand with her "elf," Amanda Dikes, in the Santa Express shop in River Park Square on Dec. 15, 2019. The Christmas-themed temporary shop offers children the opportunity to shop for family members while accompanied by "elves" (volunteers) who guide them to gifts within their budgets. Though all gifts are between 50 cents and $10, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery benefits from the proceeds.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Byron Brock, 6, consults with Riley Carr, 18, on gift prices in the Santa Express shop in River Park Square on Dec. 15, 2019. The Christmas-themed temporary shop offers children the opportunity to shop for family members while accompanied by "elves" (volunteers) who guide them to gifts within their budgets. Though all gifts are between 50 cents and $10, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery benefits from the proceeds.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Keegan Soukup, 10, shops in the $4 section with his "elf," Josie Stenzel, in the Santa Express shop in Riverpark Square on Dec. 15, 2019. The "elves" are volunteers who work with children to choose presents and budget properly: Stenzel was volunteering with the Lewis and Clark chapter of the National Honor Society.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Keegan Soukup, 10, selects a WSU Cougars decal for a family member's gift in the Santa Express shop in River Park Square on Dec. 15, 2019. The Christmas-themed temporary shop offers children the opportunity to shop for family members while accompanied by "elves" (volunteers) who guide them to gifts within their budgets. Though all gifts are between 50 cents and $10, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery benefits from the proceeds.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Keegan Soukup, 10, shops in the $4 section with his "elf," Josie Stenzel, in the Santa Express shop in River Park Square on Dec. 15, 2019. The "elves" are volunteers who work with children to choose presents and budget properly: Stenzel was volunteering with the Lewis and Clark chapter of the National Honor Society.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Ornaments for the Santa Express shop and its numerous sponsors are seen on a Christmas tree in River Park Square on Dec. 15, 2019. The Christmas-themed temporary shop offers children the opportunity to shop for family members while accompanied by "elves" (volunteers) who guide them to gifts within their budgets. Though all gifts are between 50 cents and $10, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery benefits from the proceeds.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Mother Essie Stutzman tries to get through all three clipboards for shopping while her children Alice (left), Jonas (center) and Lizzie look on in the Santa Express shop in River Park Square on Dec. 15, 2019. Parents or guardians fill out the clipboard sheets for their young shoppers, stating the budget that they allotted and which family members the children are shopping for.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Christian Varallo, 15, assists his shopper, 6-year-old Addison Wilson, bag her presents in the Santa Express shop in River Park Square on Dec. 15, 2019. Varallo was volunteering with the Lewis and Clark High School chapter of the National Honor Society for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Amelia Wilson, 4, answers questions about gift preferences from her "elf," Amanda Dikes, in the Santa Express shop in River Park Square on Dec. 15, 2019. The Christmas-themed temporary shop offers children the opportunity to shop for family members while accompanied by "elves" (volunteers) who guide them to gifts within their budgets. Though all gifts are between 50 cents and $10, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery benefits from the proceeds.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Amelia Wilson, 4, grins as she finds the perfect stamp to decorate a gift bag with alongside her “elf,” Amanda Dikes, in the Santa Express shop in River Park Square on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The Christmas-themed temporary shop offers children the opportunity to shop for family members while accompanied by "elves" (volunteers) who guide them to gifts within their budgets. Though all gifts are between 50 cents and $10, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery benefits from the proceeds.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
A selection of socks is seen in the "Moms" section of the Santa Express shop in River Park Square on Dec. 15, 2019. The Christmas-themed temporary shop offers children the opportunity to shop for family members while accompanied by "elves" (volunteers) who guide them to gifts within their budgets., Though all gifts are between 50 cents and $10, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery benefits from the proceeds.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review