A two-car garage in West Boise is about to become a Christmas shop where nothing has a price tag. Savannah Leasure and her mother, Erin Leasure, are converting their family garage into what they call the Garage of Christmas Cheer, a spot where parents can pick out toys, clothing and everyday necessities for their kids at no cost at all.
The idea isn’t new for the Leasure family. According to Idaho News 6, Savannah said the family self-funded the effort last year and ended up helping 168 children receive toys, stocking stuffers and necessities for Christmas. That track record is part of why they’re doing it again, this time asking the community to pitch in.
What sets the garage apart from a typical toy drive is choice. Rather than handing a family a pre-packed box, parents who visit can choose items for their children themselves, picking out what actually fits their kids’ ages, sizes and interests, according to Idaho News 6. The garage stocks toys for babies, children and teens, along with clothing, socks, underwear, hygiene products, sensory items, diapers and wipes, giving families a real shopping experience rather than a one-size-fits-all handout.
A Mission Born From Experience
Erin Leasure and her husband raised six daughters as a one-income family, and that history shapes how the Leasures talk about who shows up to the garage. Families who came through last year faced circumstances ranging from job losses to parents deciding whether to pay rent or buy Christmas presents, a reality Erin says she understands in a deeply personal way. She is a survivor herself from her first marriage, according to the station’s report, and that experience informs the compassion behind the project.
The Garage of Christmas Cheer describes its mission in similar terms on its own website, calling itself a community-led gifting initiative spreading holiday joy in the Treasure Valley by providing children with gifts and essentials, at no cost, during the Christmas season, per Garage of Christmas Cheer. The organization has also publicly thanked Chick-Fil-A Meridian, Handels in Eagle, Mojo’s Donuts and Cafe & Play for their contributions to past efforts.
How To Help Stock The Garage
Savannah and Erin are now asking the community to help stock the garage ahead of this Christmas season. Community members can donate new, unopened toys and necessities directly at Mojo’s Donuts, located at 4622 North Eagle Road in West Boise, as reported by Idaho News 6, making drop-off as simple as a stop for coffee or a donut.
For those who prefer to shop online, the effort also has a way to give without leaving home. Community members can purchase items from the Garage of Christmas Cheer’s Amazon or Target wish lists, or make a monetary donation through Venmo, as noted by Idaho News 6, giving donors flexibility in how they contribute to the cause.
A Broader Need Across The Valley
The Leasures’ garage isn’t the only local effort trying to meet rising holiday need. The Boise Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program uses local donations to place toys, clothes, books, games and other items in the hands of children 12 and younger, bagging roughly two to three toys per child, including a major gift and a couple of smaller ones, according to the Idaho Statesman. In 2023, the program reported that more than 1,800 children from about 800 families had signed up, up from 1,400 children the year before, and the Salvation Army said at the time that a lot more working families had been coming to them for help. Together, the two efforts point to a Treasure Valley where community-driven generosity, whether through a garage full of donated toys or a citywide Angel Tree, is filling gaps for families trying to make the holidays work.
