On Friday, Dec. 1, the Holiday Shoppe will return to the Franklin Gymnasium at Hempfield High School, 200 Stanley Ave., Landisville. From 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., various cash-only stands will vend holiday items and treats in the gym, and the stands will highlight the efforts of multiple classes in the Hempfield School District.

Students will sell a wide variety of items, including food, holiday decorations and handmade crafts. For each stand, every aspect of the business process is handled by the students; the young entrepreneurs are responsible for the creation of their products, logistical planning, marketing and managing transactions at their stands for the event. Although the groups of kids are supervised by teachers throughout the process, they are given the freedom and authority to create the business. Participating students will range from those in elementary school to seniors at Hempfield High School.

This is the eighth year Hempfield High School has hosted the Holiday Shoppe, which features 20 businesses in total. The event sees a high number of patrons every year, including staff members from schools across the district and individuals who are looking to support the young merchants and get some Christmas shopping done at the same time. Some customers travel from as far as Harrisburg to purchase goods at the event. "It's a neat opportunity for a lot of these students who move from building to building; they get to see old classmates and teachers from previous years," said Ann Jurgensen, a learning support paraeducator at the high school. Jurgensen has been assisting students as they prepare for the event.

In each group, some students prefer to manage a specific area of their business model. James Geiger, a freshman, said he looks forward to the hands-on side of things, such as selling his product to his stand's visitors and operating the cash register. "I like working with the customers and meeting new people," added Geiger, who has participated in the Holiday Shoppe since he was in seventh grade. The young salesman has been working on decorative wall art to sell on Dec. 1.

Eleventh-grader Malorie Bitts will participate in the event as part of Knights of the Red Tablet and Hempfield Magnet Makers. Bitts' products will include handmade magnets with unique themes such as sports teams and aquatic animals, as well as a "honey to-do list." The checklist is designed to be given to the customers' significant others to express certain things the recipient can do for him or her. "My favorite part of the Holiday Shoppe is seeing how many people have come to support us," Bitts said.

Senior Kyle McIntosh said he loves to visit his fellow students' stand to buy Christmas gifts, but he also enjoys running his own stand. McIntosh will sell hot dogs, coffee, hot chocolate and doughnuts during the event in addition to decorated coasters. "I like everything, but especially making hot dogs and meeting people," McIntosh said.

The proceeds of each stand will support students' field trips, school supplies and special classroom events. So drop in to the Holiday Shoppe this year, where you can finish your Christmas shopping and support a few young entrepreneurs.