Carpenter's Shop Announcement
After more than 5 years of making wooden toys for children in the Pinellas county area and beyond, our Carpenter’s Shop is being paused indefinitely. Currently, our space does not allow the best working conditions for our volunteers and can’t be used to cut indoors. We also have about 4,000 toys already made that are waiting to be distributed, so there is no need at this time to have volunteers continue making toys in less than ideal conditions. As we take some time to pause and evaluate how we’ll move forward with new ways to reach more people for Jesus in the community around Open Arms, it’s a great time to celebrate The Carpenter’s Shop and its impact!
Since the Carpenter’s Shop began making wooden toys in May 2017, thousands have been given to first responders and other agencies like Metropolitan Ministries that work with children. Through this ministry, thousands of children have felt the joy of receiving a special toy handmade for them. Many of them have been comforted during difficult and traumatic times. All of them have received a gift that let them know they are important and loved. This ministry has only been possible because of the volunteers who poured their hearts into each toy. We praise God for all the lives that have been touched and everyone who has served the Lord and the children of our community through The Carpenter’s Shop.
We will continue to give away all of the remaining 4,000 toys that have been made, so there are still thousands more children who will be touched by the work our volunteers have already done. Thank you for supporting The Carpenter’s Shop, thank you to the volunteers, and thank you God for a wonderful season of ministry!
If you have any questions, please contact us. This will not affect our other Druid campus ministry, Open Arms, which is continuing to distribute hundreds of thousands of pounds of food to 25 food banks all over our community.