Gifts, games and Christmas spirit aplenty at Toys for Sequim Kids

Speaking before Toys for Sequim Kids on Dec. 17 in the Sequim Prairie Grange’s kitchen, co-organizer Kathy Suta told volunteers the event is a “joyous thing” for families and volunteers alike.

“Last year, I was on a Christmas high for three days afterwards,” she said.

As tradition, toys, blankets, games, clothes and more are collected weeks prior for families in the Sequim School District boundaries at donation boxes/trees, through businesses, and even via fire truck, courtesy Clallam County Fire District’s Santa Food and Fire Brigade.

Sponsored by Sequim Community Aid for decades, this year they provided 134 families with 427 children’s presents for Christmas, said Suta, who is also the group’s president.

This was about on par with last year, with about 450 children receiving presents.

There were about 30 volunteer “elves” who helped check in families, guide them through the gifts and help them bag up items.

Deanna Anderson said she’s helped for about six years after learning about it through her church, Sequim Valley Foursquare.

“It’s an important time of year for families,” she said.

“It feels good to give back and to help them. It’s like a Christmas present to myself too.”

It’s a community effort before, during and after Toys for Sequim Kids, with donation trees/boxes set up for weeks at Anytime Fitness, The Co-Op Farm & Garden, Sequim Valley Foursquare Church, Sequim Electronics/Radio Shack, and the YMCA of Sequim.

Another big donor, Murrey’s Olympic Disposal and its employees, provided 27 bikes that were raffled off for free. Several businesses also donated, including Big 5, Costco, Safeway, Swain’s General Store, and Walmart.

This year, a few quilters from Project Linus volunteered in person after donating many quilts/ blankets each year. They made and donated 420 this year, and the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club, another major supporter, made hundreds of quilts too.

Blue Sky Realty Sequim gathered new blankets and coats for the event, and the Sequim Prairie Garden Club, Sequim Valley Car Club, and Olympic Peninsula Doll Club each contributed money, gift cards and toys.

In early December, Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade went through Sequim over a series of nights to collect a literal bus load of toys and food and more than $4,000 to be split with Community Aid and Sequim Food Bank.

To have enough items for children ages 1-18, Suta said they need at least 1,300 toys/items a year.

Toys for Sequim Kids also couldn’t happen without leaders at the Sequim Prairie Grange donating the use of its building for free, Suta said.

Event organizers also continue to keep the event open later for families unavailable in the day, and she estimates they saw about 20 families.

“And it’s paying off,” Suta said.

Year-round help

While Toys for Sequim Kids is a key element to Sequim Community Aid’s service, Suta said the nonprofit’s volunteers work year-round to offer utility and/or rent assistance to Sequim residents.

“This time of year, we need more help as the weather gets colder,” she said.

As always, 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.

For more information on support, donations, and/or toys, call Sequim Community Aid at 360-681-3731.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ First-time volunteer Charlie Buckley of Sequim helps sort a Squishmallows plush toy during Toys for Sequim Kids. She learned about the event on Facebook and wanted to help, Buckley said.

Volunteers Joy Edge and Steve Downer look through the books at Toys for Sequim Kids on Dec. 17. Edge said she learned about the event in the newspaper a few years ago and was able to help this year for the first time.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Each child receives a stuffed animal through Sequim Community Aid’s Toys for Sequim Kids.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Hundreds of quilts and blankets were made by volunteers with Project Linus and Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club for Toys for Sequim Kids. Blue Sky Realty also collected blankets and coats for the event.