Hard Knox Mutual Aid

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Hard Knox Mutual Aid

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    • 2025 Holiday Shop
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    • Home
    • Blog
    • About Us
    • Events
      • Community Building Con
      • 2025 Holiday Shop

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Events
    • Community Building Con
    • 2025 Holiday Shop

Knox County 👀 look what we did together

 

2025 Hard Knox Holiday Shop - by the numbers:
✨ 293 children
✨ 102 families
✨ 3 weeks
✨ 2 locations
✨ 50 volunteers
✨ 8 local businesses and organizations
✨ $80 total cost (Yes, Really!) 


In just three short weeks, our community came together to make the holidays brighter for hundreds of local kids. The Hard Knox Holiday Shop was built by the community, for the community. With space, support, and collaboration from Find Familiar Games, Kenyon Community Partnerships, and SPI.


This was powered almost entirely by individual families like YOU who donated, volunteered, shared posts, and showed up. The abundance families took home belongs to this community ❤️


This is what mutual aid looks like in action.
Thank you, Knox County. 💛

Join Now

2025 Hard Knox Holiday shop

    GREAT NEWS!!!

    Due to the overwhelming amount of applicants we are pleased to announce adding a second shopping opportunity at SPI Spot Mount Vernon December 16th! 


    Shopping dates and times: 

    Find Familiar Games 

    December 13th shopping times at 3pm, 4pm, or 5pm. 

     300 Tilden Ave #2, Mt Vernon, OH 43050 


    Kenyon Wright Center and SPI Spot

    December 16th shopping times at 4pm, 5pm, or 6pm.  

     400 S. Main Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 

    Sign Up to shop now

    What is the Hard Knox Holiday SHop?

    The Hard Knox Holiday Shop is a completely free, people-powered shop built by the community, for the community.

      We accept new and used IN GOOD CONDITION toys and gifts.  Every reused toy or gift helps a neighbor and helps the planet, reducing waste, keeping items out of landfills, and reminding us that care and sustainability go hand in hand. 


    Families can come shop for their own children choosing gifts that fit their personalities and needs at no cost.  


    For us when receiving gifts it’s the thought that counts, we make sure every family has the chance to think of their loved ones -  and choose gifts that fit them best. Our shop runs on generosity, dignity, and shared joy. 


    If you are interested in shopping,  We will announce sign ups the day after Thanksgiving here on our website and in the facebook event. Please click "Going" to the event to receive updates in real time. 

    Click here to join the facebook event for updates

    Donation Drop off locations

    Very special thank you to all our 2025 Drop off locations!!!

    You made donating easy and accessible, and I truly don’t think we would have seen this level of generosity if you hadn’t said yes to this crazy idea 🎄❤️🥹

    Find Familiar Games

    11am-8pm

    300 Tilden Ave #2 Mt Vernon Ohio 43050 

    Old Mr Bailiwicks

    10am-5pm

    7 S Gay St Mount Vernon Ohio 

    Pak Mail

    9am-5pm

    812 Coshocton Ave #1 Mount Vernon Ohio 43050 

    Premier Theater 7

    3:30pm-11pm

    11535 Upper Gilchrist Rd Mount Vernon Ohio 43050

    Gambier Childcare center

    7:30am-5:30pm

     119 Meadow Ln, Gambier, OH 43022 

    Pizza cottage

    11am-10pm

     510 S Main St, Mt Vernon, OH 43050 

    How does it work?

    1. Collection:

     

    We gather new and gently used gifts from neighbors, local businesses, and community partners. Toys, books, art supplies, warm clothes, and household items - anything that might make someone smile.
    Every donation helps stock the shop so parents can find meaningful gifts for their children.

    🪣 How to help:

    • If your business can be a drop off donations
    • Host a mini-drive at your workplace, school, or church.
    • Give a monetary donation and we’ll do the shopping for you.
    • Donate to one of the donation locations

    Thank you for all your help!

    2. Set-Up:

    Before the doors open, volunteers transform a community space into a festive little store - tables, lights, and all the sparkle that makes it special.
    This is where the magic starts: neighbors working side-by-side to create something beautiful for one another.

    🧤 Want to help set up?
    Come for a few hour or stay all day — there’s always something to do: sort donations, decorate, or help with display and organization.

    Will be contacting volunteers Dec 10th- 12th.

    Sign up to Volunteer

    3. Shopping:

     Parents and caregivers come in to shop for their children - not as recipients, but as participants.
    Each family chooses gifts that fit their kids’ personalities and interests, keeping the joy and dignity of giving alive.

    No one shops for our families we do.
    That’s what makes this holiday shop truly by the community, for the community.

    Sign-ups are now closed

    Joy From years past

    Hard Knox Mutual Aid

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