Throngs of residents attended the Clothing and Toy Exchange. Photo by Connie Voss

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Dozens of tables of clothes and toys were donated and laid out for any and all visitors at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The exchange began at 4 p.m. A line was waiting to enter. All items were free.

The event coordinator, Sofia Jacobsen, had a vision.

“I have been to these (events) before in other towns I have lived in and they were amazing. I was thinking about doing this and one day, I had this really strong impression that I needed to do it now,” Jacobsen said.

The Clothing and Toy Exchange mastermind is Sofia Jacobsen. Photo by Connie Voss

Jacobsen reached out to local family agencies and Facebook groups to help publicize the gathering.

Support was overwhelming. Hundreds of residents came to shop. Some brought donations with them that day, although most items were dropped off at the church on Dec. 10. However, it was not necessary to donate in order to shop. Shopping bags were donated by Trader Joe’s.

Jessica Autrey came from Chico. She heard about the exchange through the Butte County Mamas Facebook page, and said it was a “grand idea.” Autrey found clothes for her herself, her children, including 3 ½ year old twins, and their grandmother, who was babysitting at the time.

Jacobsen plans to make the exchange an annual event.

“There’s a lot of chaos right now (in the world) and disconnectedness. I feel like service is the most basic way to help everyone feel comfort and cohesion. Some people need to get rid of things and some need to get things, and some people are both! The community just made this happen,” Jacobsen said.