Forget the mad dash to Black Friday sales.

You'll find good prices (and help a good cause) at the Trinity Thrift Store throughout this weekend and early next week.Their annual Christmas sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday in Luther Hall at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lehighton. Every dollar spent at the sale will benefit the Trinity Food Pantry, which serves needy individuals and families in the Lehighton Area School District.This year's sale includes a wide variety of Christmas and holiday items, from lights and ornaments and artificial trees of all sizes to snowmen, angels and nativities, toys, and children's and adult books. A selection of seasonal clothing is also available for men, women and children."There are quite a number of new things that would be appropriate to give as a gift to someone," said Thrift Store manager Kay Patterson. "The prices are low, but the quality is high."All of the workers at the Trinity Thrift Store and its neighboring pantry are volunteers, said Patterson, who is herself a volunteer at the Thrift Store. Every dollar spent at the Thrift Store's sale or main store is sent directly to the pantry - more than $30,000 each year.While some Christmas items will be available for purchase at the Thrift Store's main store throughout the season, the Christmas sale is the Thrift Store's chance to display their large number of holiday items all at one time."There is simply no room to display all of these items in our store," Patterson said.The annual sale generates nearly 10 percent of the Thrift Store's proceeds, which are given directly to the Trinity Food Pantry. Patterson said with state and federal funds being cut for food pantries, the support of the community both through food donations and the Thrift Store is more critical than ever."Many businesses will hold food drives during the holidays, which is wonderful. But the beauty of the Thrift Store is that we're there to support the pantry throughout the year, not just at the holidays," Patterson said.The Thrift Store's sale also serves as an important outreach to community members who are looking for affordable gifts and decorations during the holidays, or who need to buy low-priced clothing or household items year-round."This is our way to help," she said. "Not only does it help your family, but also helps the neediest in the community."The main Thrift Store will be open normal hours during the sale and throughout the holiday season: Tuesdays 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Wednesdays and Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Trinity Thrift Store are located at 175 N. Third St., Lehighton.