The grandkids like stuffed animals, and I have a friend who collects Christmas nutcrackers. My wife needs a better flashlight, and the Christmas tree could use some new ornaments.

What do all of those have in common? I’ve been holiday shopping at Portland Adventist Community Services’ thrift store!

No, I did not expect to find a dozen awesome 14” nutcrackers all dressed up for Christmas – Santas and kings and bishops, and even two very scruffy pirates. They’re there, right inside the front door, arranged to be irresistible.

Ornaments? Dozens and dozens of small, large, porcelain, metal, and glass ornaments displayed on several highly over-decorated trees. How about a Homer Simpson Santa for a dollar?

Flashlights? At least 25.
Glass vases? Tall, short, fat, squatty, square, oblong, painted, cracked, shaped like angels. Three shelves worth.
Flowerpots? I especially liked the “Potting Shed” ceramic one!
Nativity sets? I found four, and I suspect there are a dozen more in a back room.

And that brings me to stuffed animals. There’s a stuffed chicken! A stuffed frog. Several really truly super-soft and cuddly bears, a bright red something, and my favorite…a monster tan dog… eager to be loved.

Holiday shopping? Yes. I’ll go to PACS – find really cool stuff, save a ton of money, and know that every dollar I spend goes to help people in the community.