Santa Brigade rallies support for Food Bank, Toys for Sequim Kids

By Matthew Nash • December 11, 2024 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade takes a group photo on Dec. 5 at the Cedars at Dungeness with 8-month-old Hadley, dressed as the Elf on the Shelf, with her mom Ashleigh Clark.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade takes a group photo on Dec. 5 at the Cedars at Dungeness with 8-month-old Hadley, dressed as the Elf on the Shelf, with her mom Ashleigh Clark.

Santa, the Grinch, and a merry crew of firefighters, friends and family went through Sequim last week seeking support for the Sequim Food Bank and Sequim Community Aid’s Toys for Sequim Kids.

Organizers with Clallam County Fire District 3 and Clallam County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2933 report Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade received more than $5,000 in cash donations and filled their bus with toys and food for the two agencies.

As tradition, volunteers rode in fire district vehicles, played festive music, provided photo-ops, and handed out candy canes from Dec. 2-6.

Toys

Toys for Sequim Kids, which provides free gifts for children ages 1-18, takes place from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road. Parents and guardians must show proof of Sequim School District residency, with only one adult allowed to enter the event, and no child care available.

Donations at various giving trees around Sequim will be accepted through Sunday, Dec. 15.

Last year’s event provided items for about 450 Sequim-area children, with help from community donations and support from the Santa

To volunteer, call Sequim Community Aid at 360-681-3731 and leave a message.

Food

Sequim Food Bank, 144 W. Alder St., hosts its Christmas Family Holiday Meal Bag event from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 in Carrie Blake Community Park.The facility is also open 1-4 p.m. Mondays, and 9 a.m.-noon Fridays and Saturdays. Call 360-683-1205 or visit sequimfoodbank.org for more information.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Santa Claus (John Brygider) takes a photo with Ashleigh Clark and daughter Hadley on Dec. 5 with Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade. Clark said she’s taken a festive photo of her daughter every day in December and felt the Brigade would be a good photo-op.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Santa Claus (John Brygider) takes a photo with Ashleigh Clark and daughter Hadley on Dec. 5 with Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade. Clark said she’s taken a festive photo of her daughter every day in December and felt the Brigade would be a good photo-op.

The Grinch (Brandon Tucker) meets 10-year-old Amelia Critchfield in Sunland on Dec. 5, during Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade. Amelia said she’s taken photos with Santa’s Brigade the last three years.

The Grinch (Brandon Tucker) meets 10-year-old Amelia Critchfield in Sunland on Dec. 5, during Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade. Amelia said she’s taken photos with Santa’s Brigade the last three years.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade takes a group photo on Dec. 5 at the Cedars at Dungeness. They went through the Sequim area Dec. 2-6 seeking food, toy and monetary donations for Toys for Sequim Kids and the Sequim Food Bank.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade takes a group photo on Dec. 5 at the Cedars at Dungeness. They went through the Sequim area Dec. 2-6 seeking food, toy and monetary donations for Toys for Sequim Kids and the Sequim Food Bank.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Santa (John Brygider) takes a photo with Amanda, mom, and daughter Amelia Critchfield, 10, and grandma Lisa Erickson of Vancouver on Dec. 5 during Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade visit on Dec. 5 in Sunland. The brigade seeks items each to support the Sequim Food Bank and Toys for Sequim Kids.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Santa (John Brygider) takes a photo with Amanda, mom, and daughter Amelia Critchfield, 10, and grandma Lisa Erickson of Vancouver on Dec. 5 during Santa’s Toy and Food Brigade visit on Dec. 5 in Sunland. The brigade seeks items each to support the Sequim Food Bank and Toys for Sequim Kids.