McKinleyville’s United Methodist Church of the Joyful Healer has hosted its “Children’s Holiday Gift Making Workshop” every December since 2005.

This year’s event — where kids and families can make low-cost gifts as an alternative to shopping — is set for Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, 1944 Central Ave. All are welcome to this event, which organizers say is “a gift to the community.” No reservations are necessary.

A press release for the event says, “The first gift-making workshop was an outreach activity of the youth group. The next year the whole church got involved. Within five years, as many as 300 excited kids and their grownups were crowding into the church’s celebration hall, which was transformed into Santa’s Workshop for the day.

“It continued to be a huge annual event that people looked forward to. Children had fun making the crafts and adults were pleased that the handmade gifts were things that people would actually use.

“During the COVID pandemic, the workshop had to scale back and become drive-through with take-home crafts, but the idea of canceling it altogether was never considered. It was too important a tradition. It returned to in-person but with a bit smaller for the last couple years. But this year it’s back full force, in expectation of a good turnout.”

This year’s crafts include applesauce ornaments, button tree ornaments, flannel neck pillows, name tags, sugar scrub cleanser, gift cards and more. Free gift wrapping is available, too.

Punch-cards for six projects will be sold for $10, or 12 projects for $20. The charge merely helps offset the cost of materials — the event is not a fundraiser.

Santa Claus will be on hand to talk to children and pose for pictures.

For more information, call the church at 707-839-5691.