Santa Claus was at the wheel of the Toys for Tots van in Sequim Saturday, Dec. 4. Hundreds of local folks are helping Santa ensure everyone — young and old alike — have a happy holiday season. Sequim Gazette photo by Mark Couhig

By MARK ST.J. COUHIG
Sequim Gazette

Those looking for a way to spread holiday cheer will find no shortage of opportunities in Sequim.

Under the tree
At least three organizations are collecting new toys, still in the original packaging, for distribution to area children.

• “Royalty Toys for Sequim Girls & Boys” toy drive boxes are available at Reef Tanning, Hardy’s Market, Safeway, Hurricane Coffee and the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce through Dec. 15. The drive is sponsored by the Sequim Irrigation Festival Committee.

• Sequim Community Aid is sponsoring “Toys for Sequim Kids.” Drop off your toys at the Clallam County Fire District 3 station through Thursday, Dec. 16.

• “Toys for Tots,” the annual drive of the U.S. Marine Corps, is also under way. Organizers note that all toys collected in Sequim stay in Sequim. Among the recipients: Sequim Food Bank includes toys with its Christmas food distribution on Saturday, Dec. 18, and the Sequim Boys & Girls Club uses the toys to supplement its own toy drive for club members.

If there are toys left over after the Christmas season they go to the North Olympic Foster Parent Association’s (NOFPA) Care Closet to be used throughout the year for children who come in for care, and for door prizes at NOFPA’s various events.

NOFPA board member Colleen Robinson notes that All-Safe Storage provides the storage unit free each year for the Toys for Tots program. “That’s roughly two months of usage,” Robins said.

The poor economy isn’t helping, says Robinson. “Donations are definitely down,” she said.
“I usually see more (by now).”

There are numerous drop-off points in Sequim, including Cuddles and Crayons, 191 West Sequim Bay Road; Dungeness Kids, 990 Washington St., Suite E-103; and the Sequim Senior Activity Center at 921 Hammond St. For more, see port-angeles-wa.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/donate-toys.asp.

• To lend a hand to high school students, drop off cash donations, gift cards and gas cards at Sequim High School. The Winter Wishes assembly hopes to fulfill the dreams of as many students as possible.
The gifts will be awarded to students at a Thursday, Dec. 16 assembly.

For more information, contact Rachel Chumley, Winter Wishes project manager, at 425-417-6528.

Help for the hungry
• As part of its “Santa’s Toy and Food Fire Brigade,” Clallam County Fire District 3 is asking for donations from Sequim residents to help hungry families. From Dec. 7-10 department personnel are collecting nonperishable food items at the station. All food collected will be donated to the Sequim Food Bank.

Firefighters will collect food items and toys Wednesday, Dec. 8, along the east side of Sequim Avenue. Thursday, Dec. 9, firefighters will be collecting items along Dryke Road and in the north and south Solmar areas. On Friday, Dec. 10, they’ll collect items from residents in Emerald Highlands and other nearby neighborhoods. For more information, call 683-4242.

Stephen Rosales, Sequim Food Bank director, says the community always has been incredibly generous, but this year donations are “head and shoulders” over past years. This week he picked up 4,000 pounds of canned goods from the 7 Cedars Casino. He also picked up checks, including $1,074 raised by the Sunshine Cafe, another $1,000 from the Sunrise Rotary Club, and $500 raised by Anytime Fitness. You can drop off nonperishables at the food bank, 144 W. Alder St., or at QFC, Safeway and Walmart.
Rosales notes nothing goes to waste: what isn’t included in the 700-800 Christmas baskets the food bank expects to deliver becomes part of the inventory for those in need after the holiday season.
“We don’t deny anyone,” he says.

The gift that keeps on...
Those who haven’t yet received one will soon find in their mailbox an appeal letter from United Way of Clallam County, which is wrapping up its annual fund drive. Judy Moss, executive director, said she recognizes that some community members may not be able to give what they would like because of the poor economy. However, she said, the need is great, with United Way’s 25 partner agencies receiving more requests for help than ever before.

There are many different ways to give to United Way: payroll deduction, check, credit card, direct billing and more.

For more information on making a donation, contact the United Way office at 457-3011 or visit www.united wayclallam.org.

Enjoy a helping hand
Those who need help can call the same numbers listed above or plan to attend one of the following:
• Sequim Community Aid will host a toy giveaway, open to anyone in need who lives within the Sequim School District. Please bring proof of residency to the event, which will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 Blake Ave. (683-5367).

• Sequim families can enjoy lunch and pick up a new present for each of the folks in their family during the “Christmas House,” 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Dungeness Community Church, corner of Sequim-Dungeness Way and Eberle Lane, (683-7333). This is a great opportunity not only for parents to find gifts for the kiddies, but also for children to find something for their parents. After the choice is made, the presents are wrapped. Organizers note there also will be a rummage area with “used stuff.” Attendees are welcome to as many items in that area as they like.

• The Sequim Food Bank is open Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon. The food bank is located at 144 W. Alder St. (683-1205).


Here’s your opportunity
Given the outpouring of Christmas spirit in Sequim, and the hundreds of volunteers who man those efforts, surely some have been left out. Don’t get mad, get busy. Please forward information about your organization to mcouhig@sequimgazette.com.