“Yes, everything is free. No, thank you, but we will not accept donations.” These are words seldom heard spoken, but they defined an event held Saturday, August 10 at Gyro Park in Cranbrook.

The Great Giveaway was a special one-day event created to help those in need in the community in a practical way. Sixteen tables laden with donated goods, two tables full of new school supplies, and a table stacked with non-perishable food were given away for free. Beautiful door prizes were drawn every fifteen minutes throughout the five-hour event, including everything from a stand-up freezer, to a drone. Some of the door prizes were generously provided by Railyard Billiards, Save-On-Foods, Staples, Chatters, and Pharmasave.

Not a drop of rain fell during the event despite depressing forecasts for the day, and the atmosphere of generosity was contagious as one winner of a stunning six-chair dining set door prize made the decision to give it away to another lady who, in his words, “Needed it more than me.”

“It is our desire to show the community the free gift of God’s love in a practical way,” said Ken Matthias, Pastor of Abundant Life Pentecostal Assembly. “We joined together with Pastor Carolyn Crowell and the great people of New Life Foursquare Church to work together to bless the community.”

Following the success of the event, plans are underway to evaluate the potential of making this an annual event.

Lead image: Two churches join forces to put on The Great Giveaway. Photos courtesy Ken Matthias

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