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GREENSBORO - Santa's little helpers scurried among the mounds of folded jeans and racks of warm winter jackets, overloaded with stacks of toys and clothes.

Elf-turned-personal-shopper Susan Kunar ticked off a long list of gifts, trailing a Greensboro mom and dad with six kids in need of some Christmas cheer.

"We're done with coats," she said, cheerily, above the booming carols pumping from a nearby speaker. "Now let's do toys. Toys, toys, toys."

Across the room, other helpers were tearing through rolls of wrapping paper. In a hum of constant activity, they pumped out stack after stack of red, green and white packages, dotted with bows.

Technically speaking, these weren't the pointy-eared, North Pole elves. They were volunteers from 19 area United Methodist Churches.

But they were every bit as full of holiday cheer Saturday, as they helped provide about 200 families with gifts to have under the tree Christmas morning.

For $1 , parents got to pick out clothes, coats, toys, books and stocking stuffers for their children Saturday at the West Market Street United Methodist Church.

Items were donated by church members and by local businesses. It's the second year the West Market Street church has hosted the "Christmas Store," a one-day event.

Local aid agencies helped identify the families. Helpers kept children busy telling stories about the birth of Jesus and making crafts while parents got to work.

Joey Phillips and Terry Waters from Holyfield Photography in Winston-Salem posed families in front of a decorated mantel and snapped professional portraits, which were provided free to the families.

Kunar guided the Payne family through the maze of clothes and toys, while her daughter 15-year-old Chloe Kunar lugged their bulging sack of goods.

Fellow volunteer Kate Montgomery , 9, pointed out toys or clothes that might be cool for kids her age.

"This is very neat," said Craig Payne , father of six. "I've never been to a place like this."

Nearby, mother of three Yvonne Glover stood in front of a pile of clothes and toys for her 2-, 4-, and 6-year-olds . She was waiting for the wrapping elves.

"I'm a single parent," she said. "It's hard this time of year."

This was the second year Tamica Underwood of Greensboro came to the Christmas Store.

"It's been a blessing to us," Underwood said. "I lost my job last year."

An overflowing bag stood at her feet, waiting for helpers with gift wrap. These coats, clothes and toys, picked out with some assistance from volunteer Norma Funderburk, will be gifts from Santa to her twin 6-year-olds.

"I had a great personal shopper," Underwood said.

Volunteer Barb South , who helped organize the donations, stood by the mounds of jeans donated by Wrangler, pointing out sizes.

She said about 500 kids will get gifts through the program.

"The people are so happy," South said. "It's really the Christmas spirit."

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com