Tucked inside a warehouse along E. Boulder Street in Colorado Springs is a pocket of joy known as Christmas Unlimited. This local organization works to provide children with toys on Christmas and families with a holiday that feels personable in a unique way.
For 101 years, Christmas Unlimited has given toys away for the holidays throughout El Paso and Teller County to ensure that no matter a child’s financial situation, toys will be under the tree on Christmas morning.
Executive Director Mike Tapia has been working with Christmas Unlimited for over 10 years. He assumed the role following the passing of Bob Tretheway, who served as the organization’s director for over two decades.
“My kid got me into it, and it’s hard not to come back after you volunteer once. It’s almost addicting,” Tapia said.
According to the organization’s website, what started as a small group of “Santa-minded” community members repairing old toys and puzzles to give away during the holidays has evolved into a fully operational seasonal toy store that works year-round to fulfill its mission of empowering families during the holiday season by providing gifts for children.
The organization has created an environment that feels like any other shopping experience. Approved families receive an appointment to come into the Christmas Unlimited stop and a certain number of points per child to shop for the collected toys donated for kids of all ages. Plushie “stocking-stuffers” and wrapping paper are also given away, free of charge.
“We want to provide families with a Christmas they feel proud of, and we don’t want the kids to even know we exist,” Tapia said. “By setting it up like a store, the parents can pick out exactly what they know their kids will like.”
Walking into the back of the warehouse feels similar to any ordinary toy or department store. A register sits at the head of the store facing aisles boasting an array of toys – bikes, baby dolls, Legos, books, movies and puzzles shine under the high ceilings of the building. Cut-outs of holiday scenes and Santa Claus keeps a watchful eye from above.
While the holiday store is only open for select weeks in December, the organization serves thousands of families annually during its holiday shop alone. Through the other 11 months of the year, Christmas Unlimited operates a thrift store in support of their mission and a school supplies drive.
Although the holiday shop is not scheduled to open until Dec. 7, the Christmas Unlimited Warehouse was a bustling scene in late November. Longtime volunteers Amy Herman and Linda Milicia could be seen organizing toy donations in a back room, pricing each item through the allocated point system, and organizing the toys on a towering series of shelves.
A retired schoolteacher, Herman has been volunteering with Christmas Unlimited for over 30 years.
By setting it up like a store, the parents can pick out exactly what they know their kids will like. – Mike Tapia
“This really does fill my heart,” Herman said, adding that seeing familiar families and hearing their stories keeps her coming back to volunteer year after year.
“I’ve seen moms and dads that I had as kids when I taught the fourth and fifth grade now. There’s always lots of hugging, lots of tears – happy tears, sad tears. But seeing those parents when they come back and shop for their kids, and the joy, the appreciation: that’s what keeps me coming back,” Herman said.
Following a year of financial difficulty amid the organization’s 100th anniversary, Tapia said Christmas Unlimited has rebounded, abundant with support from its community.
“It’s going a lot better than last year; we’ve had more people jump on board,” Tapia said.
Due to the toys’ rising popularity, local toy and Lego store Bricks and Minifigs is holding a toy drive for Christmas Unlimited throughout the season. For customers who bring in a new, unwrapped toy worth $5 or more, they will receive $5 off their in-store purchase.
Tattoo shop Rose of the West is working to collect monetary donations for the organization through a holiday flash tattoo event. For every $130 flash tattoo bought, the shop is donating $30 from each tattoo to Christmas Unlimited.
Additionally, Louie’s Pizza has drop-off boxes for toy donations throughout all of their restaurant locations in The Springs.
“It makes me smile thinking about how people of all ages want to help us. They see our mission and want to get involved,” Tapia said.
Local music venue Sunshine Studios has teamed up with Christmas Unlimited this year to host a benefit toy-drive concert on Dec. 7. Hosting a lineup of bands including the Knockblockers, Deathride, Evan Bingham, and headliner Mindless Vitality, concertgoers can get a ticket to the event for $5 if they bring an unwrapped toy to the door.
Owner of Sunshine Studios Christina Corvitz applauded Tapia for his work with the organization and the endless generosity he’s expressed toward the community.
“We are absolutely blown away by the mission of Christmas Unlimited and are really excited to help in any way we can,” Corvitz said.
Ahead of the concert scheduled for the first Saturday of December, Tapia behind Christmas Unlimited donated multiple faux Christmas trees and boxes of stuffed plushies to hand out to children during the holiday market on Dec. 1. Corvitz said the reaction of the crowds to the little gifts were priceless.
“While I haven’t gotten the chance to visit Christmas Unlimited quite yet, I imagine it’s what we saw on Sunday, times 10,” Corvitz said. “The smiles on these kids’ faces when we were handing out the little teddy bears, it just fills your heart. There’s nothing like it.”
The Sunshine Studios/Christmas Unlimited toy-drive concert is scheduled for Dec. 7 with doors opening at 7 p.m.
Community members interested in volunteering with Christmas Unlimited can sign up for a slot by visiting ChristmasUnlimited.org.
For families in need of services, call 211 or go to ChristmasUnlimited.org/how-to-apply-for-2024-distribution. The 2024 application due date is Dec. 9 or until all appointment times are filled.
