Store offers deals on toys

A room inside Opportunity Presbyterian Church is beginning to fill with toys donated by church members as the congregation prepares to host its first Christmas Toy Store event for low-income families.

Youth director Brad Hauge said he knows of another church that did something similar and suggested the idea to his youth group.

“Our students got very excited about it,” he said.

The plan is to let parents buy the brand-new toys at a 70 to 75 percent discount off the retail price, rather than just giving the toys away for free. Proceeds from the sale will be given to local charities.

Hauge believes having the parents pay something for toys is better for the self-respect of recipients. “It’s allowing the parents the dignity and honor to provide,” he said. “They really do walk out of here with their heads held high.”

With only weeks to plan this year’s inaugural effort, Hauge has been primarily working with local shelters to find low-income families in need of a Christmas boost. The agencies are, in effect, screening recipients for Hauge.

“We want to make sure the people who need it have access to it,” he said. Families selected will be given color-coded tickets to show at the door. The church’s store will not be open to those who simply walk in off the street.

“In the future I hope to work with the schools,” he said. “That was a bigger piece than I could bite off in a few weeks. Trying to pull this off in six weeks is ulcer-inducing.”

So far the congregation has given generously. There’s a fair collection of dolls, trucks, board games and other items. Hauge expects more donations to come through the door, including the results of a toy drive by First Presbyterian Church.

“I’ll feel better once we get some more (toys),” he said. “It’s been a very good start.”

Since this is the first time for the event, Hauge isn’t sure what to expect. He’s focusing on collecting toys for toddlers up to age 12, but he does plan to have a few items for teens on hand.

“I have a feeling we’ll be a little bit under what the demand might be,” he said.

The church will go all out for the Toy Store event, which is set for Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. The room set aside for the event will be festooned with Christmas decorations and hot chocolate will be served. A shuttle will pick up families from the shelters. Child care will be available, and all the gifts will be wrapped by volunteers.

“We’re trying pretty hard to meet every need,” Hauge said.

Volunteers come to the church every couple of days to sort and price new donations and more volunteers will set up the store the night before the event. Hauge’s youth group will help set up and run the event. Until then Hauge will be constantly searching for more donations, all the while making notes on how to make the event bigger and better next year.