By Clay Sidenbender

Special to Leader Publications

NILES — Shelf Life Community Bookstore volunteers are known by their community for more than their love of books – they are also known for their creative prowess.

This was demonstrated in their most recent venture called Christmas in July, which sought to not only offer deals on books but also help children through the Foster Closet.

Any customer who bought a large paper sack filled with books was able to choose a Christmas gift from the display in the shop. Some of the gifts included Christmas mugs, holiday CDs, nutcraker ornaments and Christmas-themed books. Only one Christmas gift was offered to each customer who made a donation or buys a large bag of books.

To help the nonprofit Foster Closet of Michigan, Shelf Life collected new stuffed animals, art and school supplies for distribution to foster children. The business revealed it was able to fill a Tupperware tote full of donations for the cause. The items were given to the Foster Closet’s Berrien County branch in Galien, where bookstore volunteer Sarah Essig donates her time, in addition to the hours she spends at Shelf Life. 

Essig said she is not sure where the idea began, only that it was spurred through a spontaneous creative process.

“I don’t know how we come up with things,” Essig said. “[April Gargis, the bookstore manager,] and I start talking about things and we just do them. A lot of retailers run a Christmas in July sale or event, so that just popped into our heads and we thought it would be fun.”

Even though the deal is now over, customers can still donate toward the Foster Closet through Shelf Life.

“We are always a donation site for the Foster Closet,” Essig said, “If someone from Niles wants to make a donation, they can drop it off here.”

Through July 9, Shelf Life gave some of the donations to a Berrien Springs-based nonprofit called “God’s Hands 4 Kids.”

The organization works with foster children, offers workshops, and many activities to help local children. They also help with people who are not a part of the foster system. A few weeks ago, God’s Hands 4 Kids was looking for donations for Bethany Christian Refugee Services and Shelf Life served as a donation site for the drive.

Both Essig and Gargis emphasized the importance of helping foster children.

“Politics aside, these are children,” Gargis said, “and we need to make the children as comfortable as possible, while the adults figure out the politics.”

Essig echoed this sentiment and reminded residents that they have the power to initiate change.

“Without prejudice, regardless of someone’s situation, if they need help, we as humans need to help where we can,” Essig said. “I think with a lot of the current events that are going on, people are saying, ‘I feel so helpless. I don’t know what to do.’ Things can be overwhelming and our job in the community is to do everything we can.”

As for the sale offered during the Christmas in July event, Gargis and Essig said the community came through, purchasing enough books through the deal to allow the bookstore to bring out some of its new inventory.

Essig said she is not sure what Shelf Life volunteers will come up with next, but she is sure it will not be long before the next epiphany strikes. 

“I don’t know what April has dreamed up for August,” she said. “But I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”