St. George's Welcomes the Comox Valley Toy Library

In March of 2015, the Comox Valley Record reported that the Comox Valley Toy Library was in need of space since they were unable to continue at their Lewis Centre location. The CVTLS is a volunteer operated non-profit society offering an affordable and environmentally conscious alternative by lending toys to families and caregivers of young children. St. George's United saw this as an opportunity for us to partner with an innovative and socially conscious community service for the good of the Comox Valley. As such, St. George's offered the Toy Library long-term space to run out of several vacant rooms in our basement, accessible by our 6th Street entrance. For more information on the Toy Library, check out their website here. Check out the article in the Comox Valley Record here.

St. George's is incredibly excited about this. St. George's vision is to "be a Christian church that is a beacon of God's love and hope in the community." We believe this partnership will fulfill our vision for the following reasons:

1. Everything we have and do belongs to God. We seek to be good stewards of God’s resources by putting our unused building to community use.
2. We desire to be a blessing to the people of the Valley. One of the ways we can accomplish this is by building partnerships and providing a fledgling and innovative community organization with help and the tools they need to flourish and make the Comox Valley a better place.
3. We are a justice and mercy-seeking people. This will assist those whom Jesus calls “the least of these” by providing the space for low income families to borrow high quality toys. Creation care is also a concern for us, and the Toy Library gives the opportunity for those who are not low income to engage in thrift and avoid over-consumption by borrowing rather than buying toys.
4. This will connect St. George's with the wider community. Hosting this service young families and others through our building and partnerships are a way for us to know the community better, and the community to get to know us better and know what we are about as a faith community.

The Comox Valley Toy Library will be holding their grand opening at St. George's front lawn (weather permitting) on Sunday April 12th, from 12-4pm. Festivities will include face painting, crafts, and a bake sale--fun for all! Come by on the 12th to check out the awesome work they are doing!