Toys for Tots keeps Christmas cheerful for local children

Some good-spirited volunteers look to ensure Santa makes his way on Christmas Eve to children across Clallam County.

Toys for Tots — through the Marine Corps League’s Mount Olympus Detachment 897 — has remained a staple in Clallam County for years, with local crews most recently providing 6,860 new, unwrapped toys for 3,084 in-need children last year, according to organizers.

As of early December 2022, Clallam coordinator

Nancy Zimmermann of Sequim said on Dec. 5 the organization has received requests so far from 12 local agencies and 73 families for at least 3,430 children this Christmas.

Eric Miner, a volunteer from Sequim and retired Marine engineer equipment officer, said he’s been volunteering in various roles since the 1980s.

What keeps him doing it? “Knowing there’ll be smiles on kids’ faces on Christmas,” Miner said.

To help ensure that for thousands of children from Neah Bay to Sequim, he and other volunteers distributed more than 140 donation boxes across Clallam County.

Locals can also donate toys and/or money to Toys for Tots from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 17 in three locations: Sequim Walmart, 1110 W. Washington St.; Port Angeles Walmart, 3411 E. Kolonels Way, and Swain’s General Store, 602 E. First St., Port Angeles.

Process

One notable presence for Toys for Toys has been Santa Claus, aka Don McIntyre of Diamond Point, making appearances and advocating for the group.

He hands out candy canes and coal, depending how good you’ve been, and remains at it 50-plus years later.

McIntyre, an orphan himself, said in a previous interview that his reign in the red suit started at age 18 in the Marines, when his sergeant asked him to play Santa.

Since then he’s developed a particular taste for cookies particularly oatmeal with walnuts and cranberries.

With McIntyre’s continued advocacy, donation sites across the county, and giving-minded communities, Miner said Toys for Tots provides gifts to an average of 3,500 children each year.

“We start to get the big picture in late summer of what the need will be,” he said.

Organizers tend to buy some toys in bulk in the late summer from dealers and make local buying trips closer to Christmas, Miner said.

On Dec. 1, a small team purchased more than 600 toys from Port Angeles Walmart with most of those for children ages 0-3. Volunteers filled about 20 carts, with everything from large trucks to talking dolls to headphones.

Miner said monetary donations primarily come from Clallam County and all funds and toys collected in the county stay here.

Once toys are gathered, the “elves” take the toys to their unlisted “workshop” where more volunteers sort toys by age, gender, and agency/family; then they assess what ages/genders need more toys.

Zimmermann said items for children 0-3 and 13-and-older continue to need the biggest boost in items. For those looking for tips, volunteers can share shopping recommendations on those Fridays and Saturdays in front of stores.

Financial donations can help fill any gaps, Miner said.

Gary Dills of Sequim was one of the volunteers on Dec. 1 saying he got involved for the first time this year following his neighbor Miner.

“It’s a great thing to do at Christmas time,” Dills said. “It keeps me busy and it’s hard work but fun.”

Miner said Toys for Tots’ efforts have always continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Miner said.

“We had a (standard operating procedure) that far exceeded the county’s health regulations so we were able to keep going,” he said.

“We had a mission: kids come first.”

For more about Toys for Tots and the local campaign, visit toysfortots.org.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ In his first year volunteering, Gary Dills of Sequim helps pack a Toys for Tots box on Dec. 1. “It’s a great thing to do at Christmas time,” he said. “It keeps me busy and it’s hard work but fun.”

Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash Cody Avila with Walmart helps ring up Mr. Potato Heads, plush elephants and about 600 other toys for Toys for Tots volunteers Guy Iredale, Ron Zimmermann and Eric Miner.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Jeff McFarland helps Gary Dills unload boxes of toys to be sorted for local agencies and families through Toys for Tots this Christmas.

Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash Volunteer Ron Zimmermann helps check out the hundreds of toys he and other volunteers picked up for Toys for Tots in Clallam County.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Organizers of Toys for Tots in Clallam County said the biggest need they have is for children ages 0-3 and 13 and up. Items can be donated at one of 140-plus drop boxes, and in front of Sequim and Port Angeles Walmart stores, and Swain’s from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Dec. 17.