New Christian gift store opens

Open house planned for next week

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by BOB RENNEISEN Jeanne Prochownik, left, of Huntingtown and Toni Johnson of Prince Frederick explain some of the religious items carried by God's Gifts, a new Christian gift store on Main Street in Prince Frederick. The shop's grand opening is scheduled for Nov. 14. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, those in Calvert County shopping for appropriate Christian gifts won't have far to travel.

God's Gifts, a nonprofit, volunteer-managed gift shop sponsored by St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church in Prince Frederick, will hold its grand opening next week, according to Toni Johnson, the store's staff coordinator. The grand opening will be on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., she announced recently.

The idea of the Rev. Peter Daly, pastor of the church, the store got its start nearly two years ago, Johnson said.

Parishioner Glenette Fitzmyer of St. Leonard, "started the store downstairs in the church basement," Johnson continued. "We were outgrowing the basement and we felt there was a need in the community for a service like this, so that's why we moved over to this building."

The new storefront location at 440 Main Street, adjacent to the church complex, is owned by the parish and became available when Catholic Charities relocated, explained Jeanne Prochownik, of Huntingtown, one of the parish volunteers staffing the shop.

"We had simply outgrown our little closet in the church basement," she said.

Among books and a variety of Christian religious items, the shop carries a number of articles geared to the growing Hispanic community in the parish and the area, Johnson said.

"We have some lovely statues that Father [Daly] brought back from Mexico and Nicaragua," Prochownik added, explaining that the church has sister parishes in both countries.

Johnson said the store's stock of products is growing at a satisfactory pace, with new and additional items made possible by gradually increasing sales, and added that past sales trends have guided the shop's volunteers in deciding what new products to add.

"We have a fine team of women," Johnson said, referring to Fitzmyer, Prochownik and Michelle Cleveland, of Lusby, another volunteer. "We keep notes of what customers ask for and try to get those items." Currently, Thanksgiving and Christmas decor items and ornaments have been added to the growing inventory, she said.

While the shop began mostly with Catholic items, the staff is adding interdenominational Christian items and hopes to become a community resource serving all Christian faiths, Johnson said. Current plans are for the store to be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

rrenneisen@somdnews.com