By Bill Morgan, Staff Writer

 

Oakwood Church and its congregation at the west end of Becker Furniture World will open their doors in a special way July 28 to aid the needy and disadvantaged.

 

That Saturday, Oakwood Church’s members will hold a sort of “free” garage sale called a Blessing Tent. The doors will open at 8 a.m. and the sale will conclude at 11 a.m.

 

From early spring until July 25, Oakwood Church has been accepting donated items of almost any kind to be given away during Saturday’s three-hour event. They do not accept T.V.'s, mattresses, exercise equipment or anything else that cannot be donated after they have finished the blessing tent event.

 

They will have a wide assortment of items.  Mainly household items, some furniture and larger items, clothing (baby clothes all the way to adult), bed frames, wall hangings, etc. 

 

It’s like a giant garage sale but there really is no “sale”. Everything is given away for free.

 

Their mission is to be an “in-between” for people to not have to pay for items others are giving away and create an atmosphere to bless those that could use those items.  Whether a family just had a house fire or someone is just starting on their own.

 

Pastor Gerry Bass birthed the idea several years ago after hearing of someone in the community recently getting divorced and was left with hardly anything at all.

 

“We learned he was in need of a dining room set so we pulled it off the floor and gave it away to him. It’s one way we can bless him as a church.”

 

Whatever the church is unable to give away at the end of the event, they will donate to Great River Faith in Action and the Salvation Army.

 

Pastor Bass’s volunteers departmentalized all the items donated so it’ll be easier for customers to locate just what they are looking for. Numerous volunteers will also be on hand at the church to direct customers to the specific areas of need or to assist in loading items to vehicles.

 

“We want to bless people,” said Bass.  “That being said, we want to bless people with nice items.  If I am contemplating wether I give it away or throw it away, it may be best to just throw it away.  If I know someone who would be blessed by an item,  then we would love to receive it.”

 

The best way to schedule a drop off is to call the church office at (763)220-6004 or email Pastor Bass at revgbass@gmail.com. 

 

Oakwood Church is located at 13140 1st St. in Becker (West side of Becker Furniture World).