Roosevelt Community Church wanted to reach out we held our second ever RCC Toy Store. This is a very innovative and successful model of felt-need ministry with an accountability component to the charity. RCC collected new toys for an entire month and on the day of the toy store, we sold the toys to “families in need” for 70% off the sticker price. This allows parents to choose the toys their kids get while maintaining the honor, pride, and dignity of providing for their kids, versus getting for free what church’s and small groups go out and buy for them. Last year the toy store made $300 and served about 10 families. This year we brought in over $800 and served over 35 families. There were 10 different ways people found out about the toy store—one of which was an advert the Bellingham Herald did. There were 4 different churches involved, besides RCC, in an official capacity of doing toy drives or shopping for toys for the store. The money raised goes in equal parts to The Whatcom Dream, Rebound of Whatcom Co., and Brigid Collins. To bring in $800 dollars means that almost $3,000 in new toys were donated!
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