DANVILLE, Vt. (WCAX) – Two Vermont stores are duking it out to see which can collect the most toys to donate to children this holiday season.
Along Route 2 in Danville sit two stores with decades of family history.
“I’ve owned it for about six years now, I bought it from my parents, fourth-generation owner. Larrabee’s Building Supply has been in our family for multiple generations,” Jenny Rafuse said.
Cousins Jenny Rafuse and Jason Larrabee own the Hastings Store and Larrabee’s Building Supply, respectively.
“We’ve had a rough year, we lost some family members,” Rafuse said. “My cousin and I are pretty close, and I said, ‘Game on. Let’s do this.’”
They went head to head this holiday season to see who could collect the most toy donations for local kids.
“She threw down the gauntlet, or actually mitten, and we accepted that challenge,” Larrabee said.
Each collected dozens of toys, getting the community involved in the process.
“Our customers, even if they can’t give toys, they’ll give the 30 cents change from their coffee in the morning,” Rafuse said. “The whole community’s involved at this point.”
Neighbors helping neighbors, spreading holiday cheer through a little friendly competition.
“All this stuff stays local and that makes me extremely excited that we can make those kids happy,” Rafuse said.
“It was a good, creative way to help inspire people and, again, we appreciate that she made that challenge to us,” Larrabee said. “And next year, we will beat her.”