JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Jim Davis takes inventory at the Montgomery County Christmas Store in Christiansburg. The Christmas Store is a tax-exempt nonprofit founded in 1982 to provide a dignified shopping experience for the needy of Montgomery County.

As volunteer "buyers" for the Montgomery County Christmas Store, they were looking for bargains on electric frying pans, George Foreman grills, bed linens and other home furnishings that will help needy families have a better Christmas.

This week, the pair were stocking the shelves of the home furnishings department they oversee at the nonprofit store at 30 W. Main St. in Christiansburg. The couple said they probably give about 500 hours a year to the organization but are richly rewarded.

"It's priceless, the time we spend here," Jim Davis said. "When you see the gleam in their eyes of finding something they need ... knowing it's going to make their lives better ... to be able to do that for the community is just a great opportunity."

The Christmas Store will be open to shoppers Dec. 8 to 12 and is expected to serve more than 1,500 needy families this year.

Volunteer Jennifer Sowers said the store's client base has increased about 10 percent per year for the past three years, to a little more than 1,300 in 2008. Sowers said she expects a 15 percent increase in demand this year, tied to the economic downturn and attendant layoffs.

That's about 200 more families who will get toys, clothes, household items and food from the store, Davis said.

The increase in need comes at a time when retailers such as Walmart have had to cut back their donations, he said.

The Christmas Store is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 1982 to provide a dignified shopping experience for the needy of Montgomery County. It's $150,000 annual budget is funded by corporate and individual donations and its operations are conducted by an all-volunteer staff.

Patsy Dillon-Long, a longtime volunteer and this year's public relations manager, said she expects about 1,200 volunteers will do everything from stock shelves to serve customers. Many of the volunteers, such as the Davises, work year-round.

In fact, Cookie Davis said, she'll be out at the day-after-Christmas sales looking for items for next year's store.

Customers of the store apply to shop and must meet residency, income and other qualifications. They are assigned shopping "points" that they redeem for items. The points are figured based on need and the number of family members, Sowers said.

No money changes hands.

Those wishing to shop at the store this year may apply in person from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 14 and Nov. 21.

Increased need and the tight economy has caused the store to scale back its offerings a bit. In years past, qualified shoppers who volunteered at the store or for another charity could get "bonus points" to spend. But bonus points have been discontinued this year, Dillion-Long said.

The used-toy section, normally open to all shoppers, this year will be open only to grandparents. The store stocks about 80 percent new items and 20 percent used, Sowers said.

Organizers also worry they won't have enough food for all the clients this season. Everyone who shops may choose a box of food items from the pantry.

Fresh fruit, which has traditionally been a staple, may not be available at all this year, Dillion-Long said.

Donations of food, clothing, toys and funds will be accepted at the store beginning Saturday.

For more information, call 381-0585 or visit mcchristmasstore.org.