Some Wednesday night mall shoppers went home with more than just what they bought.

Members of the Jefferson Street United Methodist Church youth group presented lucky strangers with small gifts as a way of showing God’s love.

Youth Director John Hudson said the random acts of kindness were something the group has done for more than 10 years.

&uot;It’s just something neat to do,&uot; Hudson said. &uot;It’s a little thing to do to help the kids become cognizant of other people.&uot;

The teenagers started the night of their annual Christmas party by caroling at nursing homes before stopping at the Dollar Tree to pick out their gifts.

Each teenager spent their own money, around $2, and picked out a gift of their choice. At the Natchez Mall the group split up to find someone for whom their gift was appropriate.

&uot;God says do unto others,&uot; 16-year-old Noble Young said. &uot;People have different reactions.&uot;

The teenagers said some people were suspicious at first, sometimes even unwilling to accept the gift, but others were grateful.

&uot;I got a puppet monkey and gave it to a little boy,&uot; Matthew Hall said. &uot;He loved it. It does make you feel good to come in and give something away.&uot;

Austin Green bought three children’s toys and said he gave them away to the first kids he saw.

&uot;It’s just the season of giving,&uot; he said.

Della Mae Harris received a roll of Christmas gift-wrap from one of the youth.

&uot;That’s the first thing somebody’s ever given me,&uot; Harris said as she received the gift. &uot;I will use it and I thank you.&uot;

Vangela Campbell received a Christmas decoration and said she already knew just where she’d put it.

&uot;It’s so sweet,&uot; Campbell said after receiving the gift. &uot;It’s the first and probably only Christmas present I’ll get.&uot;

After distributing their gifts the youth continued their party with a Cajun dinner. Hudson said they would talk about the response they got from giving their gifts.

&uot;We’ll talk about what it felt like to give to someone that is a stranger,&uot; he said. &uot;Some people are amazed, others have suspicions.&uot;

Hudson said he has always gotten a good reaction from the youth after the gift giving and plans to continue the tradition each Christmas to come.

&uot;They look forward to it,&uot; he said.