Keeping some families’ Christmas traditions will be a little bit easier this year thanks again to the efforts of Sequim Community Aid and a plethora of partners.
The nonprofit’s Toys for Sequim Kids provided 145 families — including 435 children, 15 of them high school-aged youths considered homeless — with presents, clothes, blankets and more.
“We definitely saw an increase from last year,” co-organizer Kathy Suta said.
“It was a huge success and by staying open longer we were able to help 25 families that came in after work.”
For decades the group has organized Toys for Sequim Kids, with its most recent event held for eight hours on Dec. 12 in the Sequim Prairie Grange.
By organizers’ count, they provided items for about 55 more children this year than in 2022.
Linda Reichl said she’s helped at the event for years and that “it warms my heart to see people so appreciative.”
“I love to be part of a community that does this for others,” she said.
Traditions
When asked about their Christmas traditions, many attendees said the holiday was a chance to see and spend time with family.
Jordan Loftus of Sequim said they’ll do the German-American tradition of hiding a pickle in their Christmas tree and the first child to find it gets to open a present first.
Ashley Moffitt of Sequim said her family spends time with her mom on Christmas Eve and then her children will open presents on Christmas morning while the adults drink coffee.
She said Toys for Sequim Kids means a lot to her because she has a foster child and she “wants to make this holiday special for her.”
One great-grandmother who asked to remain anonymous said Sequim Community Aid’s event helps her family on a budget.
Kenneth Weeda, new to Sequim to be with his son and blended family, said he’s looking to bring back traditions of coming together after his dad, Bill, considered “the glue for (his) family” passed away in 2020.
One tradition he wants to bring back, Weeda said, was traveling to different family members’ houses once a month to eat soup on a Sunday.
Community effort
Teresa O’Brien, an elementary art school teacher from Wisconsin, was one of a few first-time helpers with Sequim Community Aid who served as “elves” guiding parents from table to table helping them pick out age-appropriate gifts.
O’Brien visits Sequim every few months to see her boyfriend Jeff Knittle and wanted to sponsor a family at Christmas time. She called a few churches to see if this was possible and was connected with Sequim Community Aid.
They told her about Toys for Sequim Kids and her latest visit timed with the event, so she signed up to help along with Knittle. She flew out the next day. Her hope is to help Sequim Community Aid more in the future, she said.
Sequim Community Aid organizers said they received huge support from the community this year. The following businesses hosted a donation tree/box: Anytime Fitness, Coastal Farm & Ranch, The Co-Op Farm & Garden, Sequim Valley Foursquare Church and the YMCA of Sequim.
Blue Sky Realty Sequim also gathered blankets and coats with organizers saying this was the most coats they’ve seen donated in years.
Murrey’s Olympic Disposal and its employees also donated 22 bikes that were raffled off, and several businesses donated, including Big 5, Costco, Sequim Electronics/Radio Shack, Safeway, Swain’s General Store, Sunny Farms Country Store and Walmart.
Organizers also note The Linus Project and the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club made hundreds of quilts, and Sequim Prairie Garden Club, Sequim Valley Car Club, The Questers and Olympic Peninsula Doll Club each contributed money, gift cards and toys.
For four nights, Santa Claus, the Grinch, firefighters and volunteers traveled Sequim via an antique fire truck and school bus seeking toys and monetary gifts for the event. Toys for Tots also continued its contributions to ensure each child received a toy, organizers said.
Continued support
Along with Toys for Sequim Kids, Sequim Community Aid continues to offer year-round utility and/or rent assistance.
For more information, call Sequim Community Aid at 360-681-3731.
To help the nonprofit with donations mail to: Sequim Community Aid, P.O. Box 1591, Sequim, WA, 98382 and specify checks with “toys” in the memo line for Toys for Sequim Kids, or leave the memo blank for utilities, organizers said.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Long-time volunteer Linda Reichl helps a parent pick out a game during Toys for Sequim Kids on Dec. 12. “It warms my heart to see people so appreciative,” she said.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Dianne McIntosh, left, helps Jordan Loftus pick out toys for her children at Toys for Sequim Kids. Loftus said her family will continue a Christmas pickle tradition where the first child to find the pickle on their Christmas tree gets to open the first present.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Teresa O’Brien of Wisconsin helps a parent pick out toys on Dec. 12 in the Sequim Prairie Grange for the Toys for Sequim Kids event. O’Brien said a local church connected her with organizers and she signed herself and her boyfriend up to volunteer.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Helene Weiner helps Mary Kay McCabe find the right animals for her foster children at Toys for Sequim Kids.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Jim Ryan, left, helps Kenneth Weeda choose a bike for a raffle at Toys for Sequim Kids. Murrey’s Olympic Disposal donated 22 bikes this year, organizers said.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Ashley Moffitt, on right, looks for a game for her children with help from volunteers Jeff Knittle and Deidre Davitt.
