AdventHealth Castle Rock brings holiday hope through the 2025 Christmas Store

On December 6 and 7, AdventHealth Castle Rock opened its doors to the community through its annual Christmas Store, a beloved tradition that provides families in need with a meaningful and dignified holiday experience.

Now in its sixth year, the 2025 Christmas Store marked an important milestone as the first year the hospital fully operated the event.

The Christmas Store served 58 families and approximately 116 children, wrapping an extraordinary 558 gifts for children and every member of their household.

Nearly 130 volunteers from hospital team members and their families to hospital volunteers, local church members, students, and community partners, came together to make the event possible.

“This was the first year the hospital completely ran the Christmas Store,” Matthew Mundall, the Director of Mission Integration at AdventHealth Castle Rock said.

This year, $7,000 was raised to support the store, with some funds set aside for next year’s event. In addition, the hospital hosted its first-ever toy drive, collecting about 30 toys and gifts from team members and the community.

The Christmas Store is intentionally designed to be empowering for children and supportive for parents. Upon arrival, children were greeted by volunteers and registered before being paired with a personal shopper. Together, they selected gifts for everyone in their household and one special gift just for themselves.

After shopping, gifts were labeled and passed along to volunteers who wrapped them. While their presents were being prepared, children enjoyed an arts and crafts station, where they decorated wooden candy canes this year.

Parents, meanwhile, visited the pajama store, hosted by the FIT Team, where they could select pajamas for their families. What began in 2023 with 80 donated pajama sets has grown significantly, with nearly 300 sets available this year.

“One of the biggest things that stood out to me this year was the incredible response from our volunteers,” Mundall said. “Seeing more than 130 volunteers from our hospital and community come together warms my heart and brings so much hope. This is the true reason for the season.”

The impact on families was deeply moving. Mundall recalled one moment that stayed with him long after the event ended.

“The last family that came through had many children. By the time we loaded their vehicle, there were more than 100 toys,” Mundall said. “The father turned to me with tears in his eyes and said, ‘You don’t know how much this has helped my family. Without this, I don’t know what we would have done for Christmas.’”

Lisa Hinton, Director of Business Development at AdventHealth Castle Rock, emphasized a similar sentiment for both children and the broader community as a result of the Christmas Store.

“Hosting a Christmas Store for children in need, where they can choose free gifts for their family members, gives children the empowering experience of being givers, not just recipients,” Hinton said. “It allows them to express love and gratitude to their parents and siblings in a meaningful way. This simple act creates moments of pride, confidence, and hope, reminding families they are seen, valued, and supported.”

The event also strengthens AdventHealth Castle Rock’s connection to the community through partnerships with Douglas County Schools, the FIT Team, local churches, and community donors.

“The Christmas Store shows our community that AdventHealth Castle Rock truly cares about them and their families,” Mundall said. “We believe wholeheartedly in our mission to Extend the Healing Ministry of Christ. Whole-person care isn’t always physical, sometimes it’s helping a family experience joy, dignity, and hope during a difficult season.”