As the holidays fast approach, Community Assistance Program (CAP) is preparing for its annual Community Toy Store, with registration and donations opening Monday, November 1.
The toy store allows Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer and Point Roberts families with limited income to purchase new toys for their children at a 75-percent discount from retail prices. Families can also purchase gift cards for youth 11-18 years old.
“Donors purchase a gift and that gift then blesses the child and then gives parents the dignity to provide for their own families,” said CAP board member Laura Vogee. “The shopping proceeds benefits local organizations and the different families those organizations help out. It not only benefits who are getting the gift, but the broader community.”
New things for participants to expect this year include a new store location at Life Impact Church, as well as the return of a gift-wrapping table, which was not provided last year for the program to maintain social distancing.
Registrations
The gift assistance program is set up similar to a store for families to shop for multiple gifts with cash. The store will be open 6-8:30 p.m. December 9 and 10 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 11, with the possibility of additional times being added, according to the CAP website. The toy store will be located in Life Impact Church, at 1733 H Street, suite 206, Blaine.
Voucher assistance is also available for families, but CAP recommends applying early for voucher assistance. Pre-registration is required by Sunday, November 28.
To be eligible to participate in the program, families must live in the Blaine school district, have children who qualify for free and reduced lunch and cannot be receiving any other gift assistance. Families with children who don’t attend Blaine schools can still participate, but they need to meet the income requirements for free and reduced lunch, according to CAP. School district families who didn’t apply for free and reduced lunch can call 530/828-5195 to find out if they qualify.
Once an application is approved, families will be contacted by phone or email for their time to shop and then will receive a referral postcard in the mail at the beginning of December that is needed to attend the toy store.
A guardian can purchase up to $15 in toys per child and up to two gift cards for older children. Bills larger than $20 won’t be accepted and children aren’t allowed into the store.
All proceeds from this year’s toy store will go to The Bridge Community Hope Center’s emergency fund, CAP’s crisis assistance utility bill assistance program and Life Impact Church’s pantry that provides personal care and household supplies, according to CAP.
Donations
People who want to donate to the toy store can do so through several options including online shopping, in-store shopping and monetary donations.
People can purchase gifts on Amazon’s gift registry by selecting the toy store’s shipping address at checkout. CAP also has a wish list on the Launching Success Learning Store’s website that allows the nonprofit to pick up toys from the Bellingham store.
For people who prefer to shop in stores, CAP is suggesting $20-$50 toys for gifts such as Legos, sports equipment, books, craft kits and scooters. CAP recommends people purchase $25 gift cards for older children from stores such as Barnes and Noble, Best Buy and Michaels.
Toys should not be wrapped and a note with the retail price should be included. Monetary donations can be made at blainecap.org or checks can be made out to Community Assistance Program and mailed to P.O. Box 1067, Blaine, WA, 98231. “Community Toy Store” needs to be in the memo line of the check.
At least nine collection boxes will be placed around Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo until December 3. Collection box locations include Blaine Library, Blaine Starbucks, Pacific Building Center, The Bridge Community Hope Center, Birch Bay Village rec center, Semiahmoo Golf Club, Semiahmoo Marina, Semiahmoo Health Club and Spa and the Inn at Semiahmoo. Gift cards can only be placed in collection boxes at the library, the Bridge and Birch Bay Village.
The Blaine toy store started in 2018 and is supported by churches, businesses, organizations and community members, according to the CAP website.
Visit blainecap.org/community-toy-store to register and donate. People who want to register but don’t have internet access can call 530/828-5195.
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