Toys for Sequim Kids drive begins

Sequim Community Aid seeks toys for local children

By Matthew Nash • November 20, 2019 1:30 am
At last year’s Toys for Sequim Kids, Amber Ahrens of Sequim inspects a coat with volunteer Jack Keith. Organizers said last year’s event helped more than 350 children receive toys, games, clothes and more for Christmas. Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash
At last year’s Toys for Sequim Kids, Amber Ahrens of Sequim inspects a coat with volunteer Jack Keith. Organizers said last year’s event helped more than 350 children receive toys, games, clothes and more for Christmas. Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash

Once again, Sequim Community Aid seeks community support for donations and volunteer time at its annual Toys for Sequim Kids giveaway.

After 70-plus years, volunteers with the nonprofit continue to distribute toys, blankets and more to families in Sequim School District prior to Christmas.

The event comes in addition to volunteers’ efforts to provide year-round assistance for utilities and rent payments to those in-need.

This year’s Toys for Sequim Kids runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road. For more information or to volunteer, call Sequim Community Aid at 360-681-3731.

At the event, volunteer elves help parents/guardians within Sequim School District boundaries pick out toys, blankets, clothes and more for babies to children up to 15 years of age.

Organizers in 2018 said Toys for Sequim Kids provided presents, including 38 bicycles, for 352 Sequim children — 205 boys and 147 girls.

Donate

Several drop-off locations are ready for toys, games, blankets, clothes and more at the following locations:

• Clallam County Fire District 3 headquarters, 323 N. Fifth Ave., on weekdays.

• Christmas trees with slips of paper requesting specific toys can be selected and dropped back off through Monday, Dec. 9 at: Clallam Co-Op Farm and Garden, 216 E. Washington St.; YMCA of Sequim, 610 N. Fifth Ave., and Anytime Fitness, 10135 Old Olympic Highway.

• Boy Scout Troop 1103 hosts a blanket/throw drive from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at Sequim Grocery Outlet, 1045 W. Washington St.

• Boy Scout Troop 90 hosts another blanket drive from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, also at Sequim Grocery Outlet, 1045 W. Washington St.

• 1st Security Bank, 114 S. Sequim Ave., will collect blankets and warm clothing, and participating real estate offices will collect throws and toys at Blue Sky Realty, 190 S. Priest Road, through Dec. 10.

Parental participation

To participate in Toys for Sequim Kids, parents/guardians must show proof of residency in the Sequim School District boundaries, sign their names, and provide the ages and gender of their children.

A volunteer will lead the parent to gift tables and help them select items.

Each child typically receives a stuffed animal plus two toys — one main gift and one smaller gift — and he/she may also receive an age-appropriate game, book and item of clothing. Each family receives a game and a throw or blanket.

Families may also enter a drawing to win a bicycle at the end of the event for their child if he/she doesn’t have a bicycle.

Distribution

Call Sequim Community Aid at 360-681-3731 for utility/rent assistance and/or to volunteer with Toys for Sequim kids.

Monetary donations can be mailed to: “Sequim Community Aid, P.O. Box 1591, Sequim, WA, 98382.” Checks for Toys for Sequim Kids should state “toys” on the memo line. To donate to the agency for utility assistance, leave the memo blank, organizers said.

This event is co-chaired by Jim Davis, Philomena Lund and Kathy Suta with Sequim Community Aid.