Help a parent give their child a good Christmas
At the Merry Market, families who are struggling this season shop for brand-new gifts for their kids at 70–90% off. This year Skycrest is all in, and we need you: give, bring a toy, or serve on market day.
Photo: Lotz of BlessingsWhat is the Merry Market?
It’s a one-day Christmas store, run by Clearwater’s Lotz of Blessings, where parents who need a little extra help can shop for brand-new toys and gifts for their kids at a price they can afford. A volunteer walks with each parent, the gifts are wrapped on the spot, and the parent gives them on Christmas morning.
Parents keep their dignity, kids get a Christmas to remember, and our church gets to show the love of Jesus to our neighbors in a simple, joyful way.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” Isaiah 9:6
Watch: the Merry Market, from Lotz of Blessings.
How it works
- Families registerLocal parents who need a little extra help this Christmas sign up ahead of time.
- Toys are givenChurches, schools and neighbors donate thousands of brand-new toys and gifts.
- Parents shopA volunteer walks with each parent as they choose gifts for their kids, at $2 to $20 an item.
- Gifts are wrappedVolunteers wrap every gift and help carry them to the car. Parents give the gifts themselves.
Three ways to get involved
Sponsor a child or a family
Your gift buys the new toys families shop for.
Give nowChoose any amount from $5 on the giving page.3,000 new toys, ages 0 to 18
Bring new, unwrapped toys to the church lobby at 125 N Belcher Rd, Clearwater by Sunday, December 6. Think board games, sports equipment, dolls, scooters and stuffed animals, and don’t forget teens.
Shop the Amazon listAmazon orders ship straight to Lotz of Blessings.Be there on market day
- Shopping assistant: Walk with a parent, help them choose gifts for each child, and be a friend.
- Gift wrapping: Wrap gifts and talk with parents about their kids and holiday plans.
- Welcome and check-in: Greet families, check them in and send them off with a Merry Christmas.
- Set-up crew: Friday, December 11: unload toys and turn a gym into a Christmas market.
Lotz of Blessings lets my children serve alongside me. Watching them learn kindness, responsibility, and leadership is why we keep coming back.Molly K., volunteer mom (Lotz of Blessings 2025 Impact Report)
Our partner: Lotz of Blessings
Lotz of Blessings is a volunteer-run nonprofit in Clearwater, led by founder Heather Lotz, that teaches young people to lead by serving their neighbors. Besides the Merry Market, they pack snack bags for local schools and keep Blessings Boxes stocked across the area.
- 750volunteers in 2025
- 3,822volunteer hours
- 50%+of volunteers are youth
- 7 yearsserving Pinellas families
Questions
Why do parents pay anything?
Parents shop at 70–90% off retail, so gifts cost $2 to $20. Lotz of Blessings finds most parents feel real pride when they choose and give their children’s gifts themselves, and the small price helps restock the market.
Who receives my gift?
Gifts go to Lotz of Blessings, a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 83-1546522) in Clearwater, which runs the Merry Market. Givebutter emails your tax receipt.
What toys are needed?
New, unwrapped toys for kids up to age 18: board games, sports equipment, dolls, scooters, stuffed animals and gifts for teens. The Amazon wish list shows what’s needed most.
Can kids and teens volunteer?
Yes. Lotz of Blessings welcomes volunteers of all ages, and more than half its volunteers are youth. Families serving together is what it’s all about.
Can my family shop at the Merry Market?
Shopper registration for 2026 is full. The waitlist will be contacted by December 1. Watch lotzofblessings.org for next year.
Be part of someone’s Christmas morning
Saturday, December 12, 2026, 8 AM to 4 PM · Largo Middle School gymnasium, Largo
Volunteer questions? Heather Lotz, heather@lotzofblessings.org. At Skycrest: missions@skycrestfamily.org.