La Vista Church Of The Nazarene Hosts Garage Sale Saturday To Benefit Mission Albuquerque

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 22, 2023
- 10:38 am

Volunteers serve a meal at Mission Albuquerque during a previous visit. Courtesy photo

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

To assist Mission Albuquerque in feeding, clothing and caring for those who are in need, La Vista Church of the Nazarene is hosting a garage sale 7 a.m. to noon Saturday and again Sept. 30 at 15 Grand Canyon Drive in White Rock.

Items for sale have been accumulated by the church and include clothes, household items, toys, books and DVDs. If anyone else is looking to clear out unwanted things in their homes, La Vista Church staff invites them to rent a parking space outside the church for $10. The sellers keep their profits.

According to Pastor Bobbie Jo Anderson, La Vista Church and Mission Albuquerque have partnered in the past although this is the first time the garage sale has been held. Previously, she said the church donated hats and gloves, provided gift cards and even treated workers at Mission Albuquerque to a restaurant meal.

Anderson added that she hopes to continue that partnership by bringing local young people to volunteer at Mission Albuquerque.

More specifically, she said the plan is to take the kids in January to serve breakfast and hand out hats and gloves.

This civic work not only benefits those in need but also the young volunteers, she said.

“They (the kids) learn compassion and gratitude and it really helps them to be grateful for things they have,” Anderson said.

Doing this type of work is important, she explained, because not only does it help the kids to be grateful for what they have but it also empowers them. Seeing homelessness or someone struggling to make ends meet can make people feel helpless; they don’t know what to do.

“This shows them there is a way to help,” Anderson said.

According to its website, Mission Albuquerque strives to assist in every corner of life whether that is a meal, a winter coat or counseling.

These services include:

Meal and food distribution
Affordable clothing and household items
Infant food and supplies
Recovery program
Care for the homeless
Counseling
Community Thanksgiving Dinners
Christmas Gift Give-Away.

The nonprofit was founded in 1999 and serves those living at or below the poverty line in the Albuquerque area.

La Vista Church of the Nazarene has been serving Los Alamos for 50 years, Anderson said.

Similar to Mission Albuquerque, “it’s always been aware of needs and works to help the local community,” Anderson said.

One way the church has done this is through hosting a camp during parent-teacher conferences so that families have daycare options. Plus, the church offered a learning center to help with remote learning during COVID and one of the things it is known is its end-of-the-school-year splash party.

For more information about the church or to inquire about renting a space during the garage sale, contact Anderson at pastorbobbiejo@lavistanaz.org or at 920.378.2058.