Some holiday shoppers are just now getting their last-minute items for friends and family, and local stores are ready to help them do just that.

Belk and Hibbett Sports at the Selma Mall will both be open until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve to help those buying gifts get exactly what they need.

“I expect tomorrow to be huge from a crowd standpoint,” said Belk store manager Casey Humber Friday. “It gets real tough in the store in the last two hours.”

Although Humber expects it to get pretty crazy on the last day of Christmas shopping, he said he feels like more people have actually purchased their gifts ahead of time this year.

“Over the last week, it seems like more people were out shopping earlier in the season than they were last minute. I know we’re going to have a big rush this weekend, but it seems like we had a heavy influx the early part of the month,” he said. “It seems like people are being a little bit more proactive in their gift giving this year.”

Rebecca Taylor, a last minute shopper at Belk, said she was there buying a gift for her family’s annual game of dirty Santa.

“We’re doing our family Christmas at my mom’s with my siblings and the children so I’m just out getting a few dirty Santa gifts,” Taylor said. “It’s very stressful, but you’re doing for others so it’s very rewarding at the same time as well.”

Taylor said she has tried to shop locally this year and keep the money in the city of Selma.

“I really have been trying to focus on being here and keeping things in Selma. We promote that within our city to promote Selma and keep it here,” Taylor said. “I think we have some really good places for us to be such a small town, especially downtown. … We have a lot of different things compared to what other cities don’t have, that small hometown feel.”

Taylor said it’s all about the Christmas spirit during the holidays.

“I love it when everyone says Merry Christmas,” she said.

Caroline Hopkins, counter manager at Belk, said she is there to help customers find that perfect last minute gift.

“We try to make shopping friendly and easy and more efficient for you,” Hopkins said.

“The adrenaline is flowing and it’s kind of passed along with the energy in the store. It’s very exciting and kind of puts you in the Christmas mood.”

Hopkins said they still have plenty of gifts left, and they are available to help.

“[We want] to let everyone know that we’re here for them and if you do have last minute shopping that you do need to do, Belk is fully dedicated and fully staffed and have plenty of things to offer,” Hopkins said.

Kayla Barnes, assistant manager at Hibbett Sports, said she is expecting a large crowd on Christmas Eve.

“It gets really, really crazy. We have to bring in the entire staff just to keep the floor covered,” Barnes said. “We do the best we can to try and get them what they need.”