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Gifts of grace: 'Garage Giveaway' provides free Christmas for needy
Submitted Photos - Donated bikes await new owners at Christ Fellowship in McKinney. The Garage Giveaway, held on Saturday, is put on by several churches throughout the city and gives about $1 million worth of donated goods to families in need.
By Kelley Chambers, kchambers@acnpapers.com
A teacher at Webb Elementary School in McKinney couldn't help but notice a student who came to school wearing the same outfit every day over the course of several months. So when his wardrobe was replaced with name-brand items and a different ensemble every day for a week, curiosity got the better of her.
"She said she couldn't help noticing how nice he looked and had to know where he got the clothes from," said Rafe Wright, executive pastor of Missional Life at Christ Fellowship in McKinney. "He told her, 'My mom went shopping and got them for me, and it was all free!' Of course the teacher was really touched, so that's why she sent us the letter letting us know."
People from all over McKinney donated roughly $1 million for Saturday's Garage Giveaway, offering up everything from clothes to bicycles to toys to home decor to electronics to hundreds of area residents in need -- all for free.
"It's amazing to see how generous people can be and how much stuff they bring," Russell said."Seeing the kids' faces when they walk in knowing they can have anything they want, there's nothing like it. It's easy to give when you know it's going to people who really need it."
Shoppers also received free food, haircuts, manicures and massages, courtesy of local businesses and charity groups. Games, face painting and a bounce house were on site for children while their parents shopped.
Some showed up at the church as early as 11 p.m. Friday night to ensure a front spot in line when the doors opened at noon, Russell said.
"It's all the total opposite of Black Friday," Russell said. "No pushing and shoving, just parents 'shopping' for their kids' Christmas presents. It's like random acts of kindness en masse."
The Garage Giveaway is a 3e McKinney event and is put together twice a year with the help of about 800 volunteers. The exaggerated yard sale symbolizes the cooperative efforts of numerous churches throughout the community. Last year, the event attracted more than 3,000 residents, or roughly 800 families, Wright said. Flyers and information about the event are put in backpacks of many Title I schools in the area and surrounding neighborhoods in the eastern side of town, where there is a greater need, he said.
"This is very much geared toward an audience that would really be blessed and benefit from exactly what this is for," Wright said. "These things end up being wrapped under their tree."
Every time the event is held, nearly everything is picked up and taken home. Aside from the free items, representatives from all denominations and neighborhoods were present to connect with shoppers, offering a free shoulder or ear to fulfill their emotional and spiritual needs, as well.
"We take the time to pray with people. We really want to establish a relationship with them if they don't have a church," Russell said. "But it's not about growing our Sunday numbers. It's about blessing people in a way that doesn't even make sense to the real world."
In a world of emphasized consumerism and increasing self-storage facilities, the priceless joy that arose at Saturday's event was an excellent way to realign one's perspective of what is truly important in life, not just for the holidays but to last the entire year, Senior Pastor Bruce Miller said.
"It's emotionally overwhelming," Miller said. "We are demonstrating the Gospel -- grace is free, no strings attached, no form to fill out. There's something about giving that breaks you from the chains of materialism; there's a certain freedom that goes with it. It's biblical."
The 3e (engage, equip, empower) McKinney initiative is a conglomeration of churches, social service agencies, businesses and individual volunteers whose purpose is to provide outreach for the renewal, restoration and rebuilding of McKinney. For more information, visit www.3emckinney.com.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
trisa wrote on Nov 19, 2011 6:33 PM:
" im hoping for me and my family to have a wonderful christmass. my mother isnt going to be able to get us nothing for christmass but she does her best and we understand that, but i just want my little two brothers to have a wonderful christmass they ve never had before. "
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