Kristiina Miller isn’t one to shy away from thinking big.

The Garage of Blessings thrift store she founded three years ago — where everything is free — has again reached its ceiling in growth.

Almost literally.

Truck and carloads of continued donations have prompted Miller to make a plea to the community for a larger location to distribute these items.

She recently sent email blasts and posted social media messages inviting the community to join forces and help her build her dream of finding a new, permanent location for the Garage of Blessings with a minimum of 10,000 square feet.

The store moved into its current 4,000-square-foot building on Goldie Road in August but has outgrown that location, she said.

She said volunteers can’t sort through donations fast enough before more items come in, sometimes causing piles to be stacked upon other piles, and making it difficult at times for customers to navigate through the store.

“We’re bursting at the seams,” Miller said.

Miller is moved by the community’s overwhelming number of “blessings,” which have inspired her to dream bigger.

In her communications to the community, she posed the idea of moving into the vacant Kmart building, sharing the massive space with other nonprofits to create a large, one-stop giving community to help those in need.

She’s stepped back some from that ambitious notion and is instead focusing more on a more realistic plan to land a permanent building at a size that would be better equipped to handle the number of donations the organization receives.

About 700 vehicles pull up and drop off donations to the Garage of Blessings every month, Miller said.

She said other organizations will bring items in bulk to her store.

Donations may range from leftover items from garage or estate sales to people who are simply downsizing their lives or moving.

Miller said she hasn’t seen the sorting room floor near the store’s entrance in about four months because new donations keep coming in.

“We’re packed to the brim,” said Shila Moffett, a volunteer for three years. “We’ve grown a lot.

“This is the most donations I’ve seen come in.”

The donations result in more joy to spread to others. The volunteers said they enjoy that aspect most about working at the store.

The Garage of Blessings serves about 3,000 people a month, according to Miller.

“We help people start over,” Frances Dennis said. “If it’s here, it’s yours. Have it. We bless anybody. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor. If we have something for you, you’re more than welcome to it.”

The Garage of Blessings started in Miller’s garage at her Oak Harbor home and has moved to five different locations.

Miller said she hopes the next move is the last, and that’s why she’s thinking big.

“What I need right now is someone in this community who owns land or a building who says, ‘I can see your vision. Let’s do this,’” Miller said.

“All I need is a building.”

She’s made inquiries with owners of some vacant buildings in the city but has found the rent to be more than the organization can afford.

Garage of Blessings has put aside a number of items designated for its annual parking lot sale fundraiser, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 13-14.

All of the proceeds go toward rent and utilities, Miller said.

For those interested in helping the Garage of Blessings find a new home, contact Miller at 360-679-1239 or send an email to info@thegarageofblessings.com