The Lake Oconee Community Church’s 2010 Holiday House is set to have its Grand Opening next Monday, Nov. 1.  This year’s store is located in the Lake Oconee Village shopping center at 6183 Lake Oconee Parkway — approximately 8 miles south of I-20 on the west side of GA-44 between CVS pharmacy and China Garden Restaurant (north of Linger Longer Rd).  Look for the signs on the west side of GA-44 as you approach Linger Longer Road.

The Holiday House Grand Opening is from 10 a.m. to noon on its first full day of business, Monday, Nov. 1.  Shoppers who come to the store between 10 a.m. and noon on Monday will receive a free Spotlight Theater movie pass, limit of one per family.  In addition, any purchase of $50 or more will earn a $5 gift coupon from HomeKeeps of Lake Oconee, the large antique, collectibles, and gift store located on Scott Oak Drive in Eatonton.   To get shoppers in the Christmas spirit, live music will be performed at the Grand Opening by LOCC’s multi-talented pastor of worship and the arts, Gary Arnold.

“The whole Lake Oconee Community Church congregation and Holiday House team are very excited to see the doors of this year’s store finally open after months of hard work by our dedicated volunteers,” said Linda Welde-Fossier, director of the Holiday House.  “Our goal this year is to raise even more money for needy local families than the more than $6600 raised last year.  All of the proceeds from the Holiday House go directly to local charities to help those in need during these difficult economic times.  I hope everyone in the Greene, Putnam and Morgan County area will drop by the Holiday House and shop our beautiful selection of Christmas decorations and gifts.”

In addition to this year’s Holiday House, the Lake Oconee Community Church is also planning a mid-November charity auction of some especially unique and beautiful handcrafted Santas made by their Holiday House volunteers.  Details of the LOCC Santa Charity Auction will be announced next week.  Stay tuned.

LOCC’s Holiday House is a non-profit Christmas store that offers made-from-scratch, refurbished, and new holiday decorations and gifts of all types – Santas, professionally decorated trees, ornaments, wreaths, angels, table decorations, garlands … anything Christmas!  Operated by Lake Oconee Community Church, all proceeds from the 2010 Holiday House will go to support needy families through various local charities in both Greene and Putnam County.  It will be open from November 1 through November 30, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays, only closed on Thanksgiving.

People may still donate new or no longer used Christmas items at the Lake Oconee Welcome Center located at 5820 Lake Oconee Parkway next to Boats With Gusto on the east side of Lake Oconee Parkway (highway 44).  Items can be dropped off between 10 am and 5 pm Tuesday through Friday.