By Robert Noles
Opelika Observer

Santa’s workshop was working like a well-oiled machine as the Big House Foundation provided a Christmas shopping opportunity for adopted and foster children in the Lee, Tallapoosa and Chambers counties.
The BigHouse Foundation, founded by Micah Melnick, provided more than 257 children representing 90 families with Christmas gifts this year. As the parents came into Cornerstone Church on Hamilton Road, they were greeted by an elf who helped them register before they entered into a wonderland of toys.
The foster and adoption parents were able to pick out toys from tables that were packed with age appropriate items. These toys were available at no charge. Once the parents finished shopping they could have them gift wrapped by some of the 200- plus volunteers that made the workshop happen.
The toys and presents from the Big House Foundation help the foster parents provide Christmas for the children they foster without having the big financial burden and give the children an enjoyable Christmas.
The children also had a special treat. As the parents were shopping for them, the children were led by a volunteer into a room where they could also shop for free to get gifts for their parents, brothers, sisters, and others in their life that they wanted to give gifts.
Once finished shopping, they were also given the opportunity to have their gifts wrapped. The excitement of the children at being able to give gifts to their families was observed by the elves. One child was especially excited to tell the gift wrapper who was getting each of the gifts that he had picked out for those in his life.