When American Legion Auxiliary member Dianne Miller discovered there were clients of Big Horn Enterprises who had never been able to give a Christmas gift to their parents, she was spurred to action.

Big Horn Enterprises (BHE) serves adults and others with developmental disabilities. Miller is an active member of the Legion auxiliary, making items to auction off after bingo and other activities to help raise money for the Powell post. She often shops at the Back Alley Boutique on Bent Street.

Miller spoke to Patty Paulsen, who heads the auxiliary, and they made contact with Back Alley. Sherry DiBenedetto and Ivy Eagleton, business partners at Back Alley, helped them set up a time for the BHE clients to come in and shop at the resale establishment during an event especially for them.

But what happened when the nine or so clients entered the shop really made the evening special. When they arrived after the annual Christmas parade in downtown Powell, DiBenedetto greeted them at the door and introduced herself to each one of them individually. She gave suggestions to the shoppers and helped them locate items for their loved ones.

“She was so amazing,” Paulsen said. “She treated them like they were any other kind of shopper. She even engaged with the ones who are non-verbal. She made each and every one of them feel special.”

DiBenedetto downplayed her role in the shopping spree.

“All I did was help them with their shopping,” she said. “They want to give gifts to their families and they are a big part of our community.”

The gift choices covered a spectrum of items. Christmas-themed coffee cups were popular, and one client, who frequents the store on his own, selected a set of eagle figurines he had his eye on for quite a while.

The clients had a big time selecting their purchases, but when it came time to check out, the total price to them was zero dollars: The shop provided the goods to the shoppers at no cost.

“They had a lot of fun,” Paulsen said. “Small businesses are struggling as it is because of COVID. The magnitude of what she did touched our hearts.”

But DiBenedetto said it was the other way around.

“It was a real pleasure to have them come in and it was our pleasure to do it. The community is so important to us. Without it we wouldn’t have a store,” she said, adding, “We all need to be there for each other. You end up getting more than you give out because it is such a pleasure to give.”