Want to donate to the Community Toy Store?

By Stefanie Donahue

The last day to donate to the Community Toy Store is approaching.

The Community Toy Store charitable program allows eligible parents to purchase new toys and clothing gift cards for their kids at a 75-90 percent discount in December. Two gifts can be chosen per child, or one gift card per teen, and gift wrapping stations will be available on-site.

Proceeds from the sales will go to the Blaine Food Bank and The Bridge Community Hope Center in Birch Bay.

“We currently have about 200 children from 75 families who will be served by the Community Toy Store,” said Community Assistance Program board member Laura Vogee. “We still have a limited number of spaces for families who qualify for the program to shop, so we will accept late registrations on a space available basis until Sunday, December 9.”

Parents can register by visiting blainecap.org or calling 360/332-0740.

New toys, games, book sets and sports equipment that require no batteries in the $10-$50 price range as well as $25 gift cards for teens to clothing stores are being accepted at donation drop boxes in Blaine and Birch Bay.

“We have about 50 teens registered, so I suspect we are still in need of $25 gift cards to clothing- only stores for them,” Vogee said. “We are also still in need of gift wrap, bows and tags.”

Donation sites include Blaine Library at 610 3rd Street, Blaine Senior Center at 763 G Street, Pacific Building Center at 2677 Bell Road, The Bridge Community Hope Center at 4815 Alderson Road and Blaine Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 at 7511 Gemini Street.

The deadline to donate is Friday, December 7 at all public collection sites with exception of local churches, which will collect donations until Sunday, December 9, Vogee said.

Donations will also be collected at the arts  market in the Goff building, 674 Peace Portal Drive, from 3–7 p.m. on Friday, December 7 and 10–7 p.m. on Saturday, December 8.

To learn more about the Community Toy Store, visit blainecap.org/community-toy-store/.