TV news broadcasts are issuing dire warnings: Supply chain problems will cause problems for retailers seeking to stock their shelves for the holiday season.

Parents are being told to shop now for that favorite toy desired by their child.

Even popular Halloween costumes are said to be in short supply.

Images of ships, reportedly some 700, are shown backed up at ports in California and across the globe, waiting to dock, be unloaded and have their cargo transported to stores.

But wait, even if the ships make it to the docks, and are unloaded, there aren’t enough truck drivers to bring the toys to stores.

Oh, my!

Who remembers the fall and winter shopping season leading up to Christmas 1983?

Riots broke out in stores because parents wanted to buy Cabbage Patch dolls to put under the Christmas trees for their little ones.

Designed by Xavier Roberts, and made by him and some friends, the back story for the dolls was that they were born in a cabbage patch.

The dolls came with birth certificates and adoption papers.

Roberts and his friends signed a contract with toy manufacturer Coleco in 1982 to produce the dolls.

But, due to high demand and shortages of the dolls, riots broke out.

According to The New York Times, at the time, the store manager of the former Zayre department store in Wilkes-Barre had to use a baseball bat to protect himself.

“This is my life that’s in danger,” William Shigo was quoted as saying in The New York Times.

Does holiday shopping this year need to result in store riots because the TV media has already started the ball rolling by warning parents of shortages?

Maybe more moms and dads will shop online because of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay out of major retail stores.

But then, notices will be emailed to shoppers saying there will be a delay in shipping the “most wanted” toy.

May I offer a few suggestions to not finding that special present under the tree?

Christmas Day could be celebrated quietly with family with the presents on hand. IOUs for delayed gifts can be wrapped and a second day in January or February (when hopefully the gifts arrive) could be scheduled.

The kids will love celebrating Christmas twice.

Are you handy in the kitchen? Bake cookies, cakes and even meals for neighbors and friends instead of giving a present.

Can you knit or sew? Do you like crafts? Make gifts to give to loved ones.

One year, my sons and I volunteered to adopt a family through a local charity.

We visited the home, and the mom desperately needed diapers for the baby. We gave diapers, food, a tree and decorations - and, yes, some toys for the older kids.

Not only did that family have a wonderful Christmas, so did we.

Creativity was in full bloom at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks in all colors and designs were handsewn en mass in living rooms across the Lehigh Valley.

Distilleries shifted gears to produce short-in-supply hand sanitizer.

Let’s not have a repeat this year of the Cabbage Patch doll debacle.

Be creative. Be generous.

But, most importantly, be patient.

This, too, shall pass.

Deb Palmieri

editor

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press