Shopping spree

Surprise trip is a special occasion for Camp Joy kids

Nine-year-old Richard Wagner walked into Belk at SouthPark wearing a smile, an old white T-shirt, purple shorts, a well-loved baseball cap and a dirty white gym shoes.

An hour later it was hard to recognize him.

It wasn't hard to find him, though. He was a purple beacon, decked out in a Hornets jersey, matching purple shorts and a wide grin. And his new shoes weren't the only thing putting the bounce in his step.

Richard was one of 41 boys and girls from Alexander and Wilkes counties to benefit from Parson of the Hills Day at Belk at SouthPark in Charlotte. For 26 years, Parson of the Hills Christian Ministries, St. Giles Presbyterian Church and Belk have teamed up to treat under-privileged children from Appalachia to a back-to-school shopping spree.

The day is a surprise field trip each year for the children of Parson of the Hills' Camp Joy near Hickory. They are paired with a shopping buddy from St. Giles, who guides the child in spending up to $100 on clothes and shoes. The money goes even further because of the 20 percent discount Belk gives.

The shopping takes a little more than an hour and is sandwiched between lunch at Barclay Cafeteria and a party. Belk provides the clowns, face-painters, cookies and bags of gifts. The children provide the noisy enthusiasm.

The children, ages 7 to 13, dug through gift bags filled with cameras, T-shirts, picture frames, tote bags and other stuff. The kids showed off the cameras, although several children were just as entertained testing sample bottles of perfume.

Bobby Wagner, already a savvy shopper at 9, was showing off his new Nikes. "I bet this is genuine leather. Feel this," he said, imploring those around him to rub his shoes.

"I'm trying to find something to wear to a wedding," said Grace Moreno. She likes flower-print dresses and is narrowing her garden of choices.

Grace's shopping buddy, Jane Harrington, says she has missed only two of these events in 26 years. Harrington says the reaction of the children is what makes Parson of the Hills Day such a lasting tradition.

The tradition was started by the Rev. Charles Keyes, the Parson of the Hills, who spent years collecting donated Christmas gifts for poor mountain children. He died in March, but created something larger than just one person, says Gary Pierce, Belk's general manager. "Thank goodness there are a lot of people behind this and it will continue," he says.

In the party room, 41 little voices agreed, singing a song they learned at camp: "I've Got Joy Down In My Heart."

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