However, it isn't a typical two-for-one. What it means is that every time customers buy a gift for themselves or a loved one, they're also buying a gift for a troubled child.

The Butter Paddle is one of a small handful of stores around the Bay Area that serves as a year-round fundraiser for a charitable organization or cause. The money brought in by The Butter Paddle benefits EMQ Children and Family Services.

Annually, EMQ helps around 5,600 children and their families regain social and mental well-being. The agency is nationally recognized for effective family-centered programs for children and adolescents suffering from issues such as sexual abuse, drug abuse, severe depression, attention deficit disorder and thoughts of suicide. The agency's goal is to try and keep families together. Headquartered in Campbell, EMQ offers an integrated network of services including community-based and residential treatment, support and educational services. EMQ's Foster Family Agency can also provide temporary or permanent foster homes in 11 Northern California counties.

The Butter Paddle is the sister to two other South Bay stores that benefit EMQ--the Happy Dragon thrift shop in Los Gatos and the Unicorn Thrift Shop in San Jose. However, The Butter Paddle is unique in that it is not a second-hand store like its siblings--everything in the store is shiny and new.

The Butter Paddle opened on Big Basin Way in 1967, the first kitchenware store in Santa Clara County. While it has called many locations up and down the street its home, the store has been at 14510 Big Basin Way for around 15 years, public relations volunteer Kay Walker says.

The Butter Paddle specializes in unique gifts and home accessories. On its shelves, shoppers can find Waterford crystal; bakeware; tabletop accessories; barbecue, picnic and wine items; paper goods; candles; books; baby gifts; gourmet foods; holiday decorations and other seasonal items; and much more. The store even has its own Butter Paddle cookbook, and can put together custom gift baskets or prepare corporate gifts in bulk as well. All year round, gift-wrapping is free.

Buyers for The Butter Paddle travel far and wide to bring attractive merchandise into the store. This month, they are traveling to a show in Atlanta, and throughout the year they will also visit San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Things are always changing at The Butter Paddle, Walker says--a volunteer committee changes the displays and adds new items to the shelves weekly.

"As our clientele has changed and American buying habits have changed, we have changed to stay in tune with what the customer wants," Walker says. She adds that, whatever holiday is coming up, The Butter Paddle will certainly have appropriate gifts and decorations to go with it.

Linda Binkley of Saratoga is a regular customer at The Butter Paddle and even volunteered there back in the late 1960s. On Jan. 4, she popped in to take advantage of the 70 percent off sale on Christmas decorations.

"If I'm going to shop, I'd rather shop somewhere where I know the money is going to a good cause," Binkley says. "And I love the merchandise; I especially like to shop here for wedding gifts."

Gail Arvay, the store manager, says that is common. While the store doesn't have an electronic wedding registry, it does let customers fill out "wish lists."

In keeping with its charitable roots, everyone who runs and works at The Butter Paddle and its sister stores is a volunteer--not even Arvay gets a paycheck. However, Arvay says the great feeling she gets from giving back to those in need is payment enough.

"It's the kind of organization that grabs you. And it feels like an extended family," she says of her fellow volunteers. "The friendships are wonderful."

In addition to running the store, volunteers also lend helping hands at the EMQ auxiliary and agency. Everyone is required to serve on at least two committees--one Butter Paddle committee and one EMQ committee--and work at last two half-day shifts in the store.

Walker and Arvay are proud to say that, as of last count, they have raised more than $1.5 million for EMQ since 1984--and that doesn't even count sales from this Christmas. Arvay says Christmas 2005 brought The Butter Paddle good business, and estimates the store did a little better than last year.

"I think we did good," she says. "And I have to thank the city of Saratoga for doing everything they can to try and drive more business downtown."

Nothing feels better than seeing the smiles on children's faces at the various parties and field trips they put together, Walker and Arvay say. Back in November, they put together a big Thanksgiving meal and invited many of the children from EMQ. The best part was hearing them all stand up and say what they were thankful for, says Walker--and many a child mentioned EMQ.

"It's just heartwarming," Walker says.

Visit www.emq.org for more information. The Butter Paddle is at 14510 Big Basin Way in Saratoga. Call 408.867.1678.