CAP Toy Store registration, donations start

As the holidays fast approach, the Community Assistance Program (CAP) is preparing for its annual Community Toy Store, with registration and donations beginning Friday, November 1.

The toy store allows Blaine, Birch Bay and Point Roberts families living on limited incomes to purchase new toys for their children and gift cards for teens at an 80 percent discount, 5 percent more than previous years to help families burdened by inflation. Shoppers will be giving back to the community as all proceeds from the toy store go to The Bridge Community Hope Center emergency fund, Loads of Love’s bimonthly free laundry services and Blaine Food Bank.

“It’s a way to help families in a dignified manner,” CAP volunteer Laura Vogee said. “It’s not a hand out, it’s a hand up.”

Registrations

Pre-registration for the toy store is required by Sunday, December 1 and walk-ins will not be accepted. The store will be open December 12-14 at Christian Way Community Church, next to Westside Pizza in the Blaine international shopping center.

To be eligible, families must live within the Blaine school district boundaries, though the children don’t need to attend Blaine schools. The families must also qualify for free and reduced lunch and cannot be receiving any other gift assistance. Families may still be eligible on a case-by-case basis if their income doesn’t meet the requirements. Vouchers are available for families needing additional assistance.

People can sign up for the program at blainecap.org or, if unable to register online, by calling 530/828-5195.

Once applications are approved, families will be contacted by phone or email for their allotted time to shop and then will receive a referral postcard in the mail at the beginning of December that must be brought to the toy store.

A shopper can purchase up to $15 in toys per child and up to two gift cards for older children. The gifts must be purchased with cash and children aren’t allowed in the store.

Donations

Vogee said that by increasing the percentage off families receive from 75 to 80 percent, the nonprofit will need more donations to cover the extra amount that families are able to purchase. The toy store typically has about 120 guardians purchasing toys for about 350-400 children, Vogee said.

CAP is a volunteer-run nonprofit serving Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer and Point Roberts residents with the toy drive, Thanksgiving baskets, winter coat drive, emergency fund and in other ways. Donors who want to support CAP’s toy store can shop online or in stores for gifts or provide monetary donations.

CAP also accepts donations by card at blainecap.org/community-toy-store. People can purchase gifts on CAP’s Amazon gift registry or on CAP’s wish list on the Launching Success Learning Store’s website.

For in-store shopping, CAP is suggesting $20-$50 for gifts such as Legos, sports equipment, books, craft and science kits and scooters. CAP recommends people purchase $25 gift cards for older children from stores such as Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, Michaels and TJ Maxx. Toys should not be wrapped and a note with the retail price needs to be included.

Collection boxes will be located in Blaine and Birch Bay starting November 1 through Friday, December 6. Collection box locations include Blaine Public Library, Blaine Senior Center, Blaine fire station (toys only), Pacific Building Center (toys only), Birch Bay Village rec center, Latitude 49 mailroom, Semiahmoo Golf Club, Semiahmoo Marina, and the Inn at Semiahmoo.

Monetary donations can be made at blainecap.org or checks can be made out to Community Assistance Program and mailed to 508 G Street, Blaine, WA with “Community Toy Store” in the memo line.