A rush of shoppers descended upon the Valley River Center in Eugene, Ore., on Christmas Eve, defying the notion that last-minute holiday shopping is a rare occurrence. For some, it’s become an integral part of their festive tradition.
For Ceandi Forster, a grandmother caring for her granddaughter Finley, who’s recovering from leukemia, Christmas shopping has taken on new significance. She used the last minute before Christmas to shower her grandbaby with love at Build-A-Bear.
Meanwhile, Father Christopher Miner reflects on his personal loss and prioritizes family. “Christmas isn’t about me getting gifts; it’s taking care of other people,” he said, surrounded by his loved ones.
Other shoppers cited a sense of responsibility and tradition in their last-minute gift-giving. Noah Prado, who turned 18, feels compelled to buy gifts for his sister as an adult. Madalynn Miner, 7, wants an American Girl doll because it reminds her of herself.
As Valley River Center’s marketing manager Heather Decker noted, “People want to be here experiencing the idea of shopping and being around other people.” With the mall remaining open until 6 p.m., customers could still get their holiday shopping done on time.
Source: https://kval.com/news/local/last-minute-shoppers-say-its-about-making-memories-making-moments-count