The Cornerstone Foundation offered gifts and food items at a 90 per cent discount, hoping 120 struggling families will enjoy a better Christmas.

The “community of believers” held its fifth annual Christmas Store event over the weekend when families were invited to browse and shop at a fraction of regular store prices.

Volunteers of all ages dished out cookies and hot drinks, stacked shelves, wrapped presents and carried shopping bags to cars to ensure the event ran smoothly. A 41-year-old single father of two described the offer as “something nice and festive”.

He was nominated by a member of the community and Cornerstone called him to invite him along.

“As a single parent this definitely helps with the groceries and with the cost of gifts,” he said. “I have a five-year-old son and a teenage daughter, so that means finances and time are both a little tight.

“Like most single parents, you tend to juggle more than one job and there are only so many hours in the day. Sometimes you find you don’t have enough hours to get what you want done.

“Time is my biggest challenge and usually when the children knock off from school I’m still working. I work all over the island as a landscaper so it’s challenging picking them up from school. You don’t always have the time to spend with them doing family stuff — a lot of weekends I work. I have them with me on jobs and sometimes they get a little antsy.”

He added that if he were ever in a similar position, he would like to contribute to a community project similar to Cornerstone’s.

“Everyone needs help every once in a while. Sometimes in life, you just need a hand and in my opinion it’s always good to give back,” he said.

Mary Samuels, vice-president of Cornerstone, said she was grateful for the 80 volunteers, including many teenagers, and numerous corporate and community sponsors, who made the event possible.

“It always amazes me to see how this experience encourages not only our shoppers but all of our volunteers.

“Our goal is not only to offer great deals but to create an atmosphere where every single person feels valuable and loved.”

The money spent in the store is to go towards the Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy lunch programmes.

In addition to the 120 families who were invited to take part, a further 20 to 25 will have access to any items that were not sold.

“We always make sure we have enough for about 150 families and have about 125 that come in with invitations and always have the shelves stocked from the first shopper to the last.”

Another 38-year-old mother was nominated by a colleague at work who saw her struggling.

“It’s expensive in Bermuda taking care of a child by yourself and paying the bills, so every little bit helps.”

Times have got so bad, the mother-of-one, said she did not use her credit or debit cards at store checkouts any more. “I know there’s nothing in there,” she said.

“It’s hard. Just basic living is hard if you aren’t making enough. It’s stressful and can put you in a depressed mood.”

She said the Christmas Store had lifted her spirits this year. In addition to leaving with gifts, toiletries and non-perishable food items, she also won a raffle for a $100 MarketPlace gift certificate.