Greensboro Seeks Volunteers and Donations for 40th Annual Shopper’s Day

The Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities is calling for donations and volunteer help ahead of Shopper’s Day, the committee’s four decade long holiday tradition. The event will take place Thursday, December 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Four Seasons Town Centre in Greensboro and pairs volunteers directly with people with disabilities to shop for holiday gifts. Organizers say donations and volunteers are essential to sustaining the program and serving residents who rely on community support for holiday purchases.

Shopper’s Day occupies a unique place in the local civic calendar, combining social services with consumer activity. For participants the event removes logistical and financial barriers to gift giving while creating a supervised, accessible shopping experience. For local merchants and the mall, the event concentrates foot traffic in mid December, supporting seasonal sales and the temporary jobs that accompany holiday demand. Even modest increases in traffic and transaction volume during holiday events can ripple through sales tax receipts and retail staffing needs across Guilford County.

The request for donations highlights an ongoing policy tension. Local committees and nonprofits frequently fill gaps left by constrained municipal budgets, relying on private generosity and volunteer labor. Sustaining programs like Shopper’s Day over decades demonstrates community commitment, but it also underscores a need for predictable funding and infrastructure that improves accessibility, transportation access for people with disabilities, and coordinated volunteer recruitment.

Long term trends heighten the program’s importance. An aging population and broader recognition of disability rights increase demand for inclusive community services. At the same time volunteer rates nationally have faced pressure, making recruitment a central challenge for event continuity. Local officials and service providers may need to consider policy responses that strengthen civic volunteer capacity, incentivize donations, and improve transit and access at retail centers.

Residents and community groups interested in helping are encouraged to contact the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities to learn about donation needs and volunteer sign up. The event remains a tangible example of community support translating into economic activity and social inclusion during the holiday season.