Nonprofit opens doors at new, larger location

By Laura Guido • September 7, 2018 1:30 am

Garage of Blessings now has more space than it ever has before, and with that space will come more services than it has ever provided.

“We want to be the hub of the community,” founder Kristiina Miller said.

The nonprofit recently completed its move into the Whidbey News-Times building on Barrington Drive and opened to the public Sept. 4. The lower half of the building will offer free clothes, toiletries, books, housewares, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and more to those in need.

Upstairs, Miller and Community Outreach Director Dawnita Huns-berger hope to start offering classes to the community.

In about a year and a half, the News-Times will return to share space in the Barrington building, according to Publisher Keven Graves. Meanwhile, the space is being used rent-free by Garage of Blessings.

Proximity to other organizations serving a similar clientele is one reason Miller likes the building, she said.

Another advantage of the new place, she said, is elbow room.

“We’ve never had this many sorting tables,” she said. “This is so exciting.”

Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.