11 Share Store Tips

Not all churches have an Awana share store, but many churches use the store to motivate kids … and sometimes to reach out to others.

(Awana shares are available online here.)

Obtaining the “merchandise.”

1. One or two leaders can be in charge of the store. They can be on constant lookout for products to motivate kids. Or, someone who can’t be there on club night because of work obligations might be more than willing to be your store purchaser. Giving someone the opportunity to serve in this way works in many churches.

2. The director/commander or knowledgeable leader needs to check on the store products before they’re used. Sometimes a well-meaning person might donate a cartoon figure or coloring book honoring a character that doesn’t align with a biblical worldview. You need someone with discretion to check out the merchandise before a clubber goes home with candy cigarettes or a bobble-head baseball player doll of a player who’s in the news for abusing his wife. (This might seem extreme, but situations like this have come up in more than one church.)

3. Church members could donate items to the store especially around Christmas (see #8,10,11 below). This saves the club money. Many people have packages of notecards, candles, knick-knacks, etc. that have never been used that they’d be happy to give.

Running the store.

4. Most clubs have store about once a month or every six weeks. Some churches do it only twice a year and some have the store open every week. Whatever works for your church is good.

5. When dismissing clubbers to go to the store, do so by teams. Or, you could have the store open 15 minutes before club. Be careful not to draw it out too long because kids can make a career out of deciding between the bag of gummy worms or the bouncy ball.

Ways to use the store.

6. As a motivator. Kids earn shares and then spend them at the store on toys and treats that kids enjoy.

7. As a missionary project. Kids have the option of giving “shares” to their Awana missionary (or another church missionary project).  For this to work, a member of the congregation, a leader, or a group of leaders offers to exchange the turned-in shares for money which can then be donated.

8. As a Christmas store (or Mother’s/Father’s Day Store). Items in the store are things clubbers might want to “buy” their family for Christmas. (One church asked the congregation to bring in $5.00 gifts especially purchased for the Awana Christmas store so clubbers had a wide variety of items to buy for their parents.) Leaders could also have wrapping paper, ribbon and tape handy. Leaders will probably need to help kids wrap gifts at club, so the gifts are ready to “secretly” take home and put under the tree. (If leaders can’t be spared to do this, perhaps some members of the congregation would be willing to help kids wrap their gifts.)

9. As a way to earn a privilege. One church “sells” intangible items at their store. The privilege of leading the music (or choosing the songs) for the night, for picking out the games or being Line Leader.

10.  As a way to give to others. Kids earn shares, but instead of buying things for themselves, they buy non-perishables for the church food bank, items for Christmas shoeboxes or items for the local womens/children shelter.

11. As a way to help those who don’t have much. One club had several boys and girls who did not have adequate winter clothing. The leaders asked the congregation to donate children’s jackets, mittens and hats. Clubbers then bought the clothes through earned shares. This kept the kids from feeling like “charity cases,” but at the same time being able to purchase the needed clothing.