An Alabaster couple will be donating many of their possessions to local families in need this Christmas season.

Ben and Cassidy Nelson are holding a “garage giveaway” Dec. 5 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at their house at 109 Berryhill Lane. During the event, the couple will give away many items in their home and items donated by their friends to area residents affected by the economic downturn.

Everyone is welcome to attend the giveaway, and all items will be free, Cassidy Nelson said. The event will feature furniture, appliances, clothes in many sizes, children’s toys, household decorations, exercise equipment and many other items.

“The point is just people helping people,” Cassidy Nelson said. “We are sharing our blessings with those in harder times, and being an example of Christ by loving my neighbors.”

The family decided to hold the event after reading the book “Crazy Love” with a small group at Helena United Methodist Church, where Ben Nelson is a worship leader and youth minister.

“This book is all about living a radical life for God, because he has a radical love for us,” Cassidy Nelson said. “So one Sunday afternoon as I was emptying the dishwasher and putting away clean towels, I realized we had a dozen clean glasses in the cabinet and never even made it to the bottom of our huge stack of towels.

“And it hit me; we don’t need all this,” Cassidy Nelson added. “So I thought, let’s give it away.”

Since planning the event, the family has been using social networking, fliers and word-of-mouth advertising to spread the word about the giveaway. To donate items, or obtain more information about the event, e-mail Cassidy Nelson at cassidy.marie@yahoo.com, or Ben Nelson at bnelson@helenaumc.org.