Letter to the Editor: My 'Small Business Saturday' Experience

Editor's note: Elk Grove Patch is always eager to receive your correspondence about a hot issue in the Grove, our site or just something you've noticed around town. Send Letters to the Editor to felicia.mello@patch.com. We'll contact you before publishing.

Dear Felicia Mello,

I'm sharing my story with you hoping that somehow this story will get published and the residents of Elk Grove will know of 's incredible generosity. My boyfriend and I decided to forgo giving each other Christmas gifts this year and instead support a program that our church is involved with: collecting socks, blankets, stuffed animals and small toys for Child Protective Services. 

We had a budget of $200 and at the same time wanted to support a small business for Small Business Saturday in Elk Grove. This is how we found The Moppet Shoppe on Elk Grove-Florin Road.  We went into the store on Saturday, Nov. 26 and explained to the owner what we wanted to do, at this point she has no idea what our budget is. She immediately went to work with us, showing us items that were on sale and items she was willing to mark down for us. 

After 30 minutes in her store it was time to tally up our purchases. The Moppet Shoppe sold us over $500 worth of the softest blankets, the squishiest of stuffed animals and the warmest socks for children of all ages for a total of $191.41!  In today's economy this is unbelievable. Thank you Moppet Shoppe for your blessings to children we will never meet. I can promise you, if ever I need a gift or hear of someone that is looking for children's clothing, your name will be the first on my lips.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Julie Clemens and Vernon Skellenger