The Toys for Sequim Kids, sponsored by Sequim Community Aid, had its beginning 67 years ago, when there were fields and cows and a very small town but there were needy families then also.
Sequim Community Aid was not called by that name; originally it was called Christmas and Christ and members put together a food basket and a toy for each child and delivered them to needy families.
I joined SCA in October 1983 when they called for a reorganization because they had run out of money for helping with PUD and rent. The food bank was now on its own and SCA provided the heating, electricity and housing monies for needy families.
Churches and individuals who hear about the organization pitch in to get the SCA helping your neighbors over the hard times.
But through all this every year since 1947, SCA has been providing families with toys for Christmas. Board members make the decisions whether it is for our 12 months of the year or our Special Christmas Children’s giveaway.
At the Toys for Sequim Kids, the rules are simple. Parents or guardians of children, babies through eighth grade, can bring a picture ID and a current address on an envelope, PUD bill, some letter from the school and the ages of their girls and boys. We do not care about your income because no money is needed to get the toys, clothing, warm bedding, stuffed animals each child in his or her family is given by Sequim Community Aid.
Now back to the thanking of the community. Co-chairman Jim Davis and I, Donna Tidrick, are in charge. Jim gets the “stuff” from the Fifth Avenue fire hall that is left by Sequim area Christmas parties, the kids who with Fireman Lawson collected toys by the old fire engine from neighbors, private individuals who know all the toys at the fire hall will stay in Sequim.
The other groups supplying items for the tables are three great Scout groups who stood outside The Grocery Outlet and QFC collecting warm bedding. St. Luke’s collected 50 this year and the annual blanket drive by the Sequim Realtors headed by Jo Cummins made it possible for 158 families to receive a warm blanket or throw.
There are knitters, tree tags for toys at QFC, Walmart, Safeway, The Grocery Outlet, Oak Table Cafe, Co-op Farm & Garden, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Costco, Rite Aid and many local clubs who have donated every year, too, to make it possible to provide the gifts on Dec. 19 by Sequim Community Aid.
But there are the persons who set up the tables at the church, persons putting out the gifts and the trailer man bringing the gifts from storage to the church hall, the elves that take time to get with each parent to choose what Santa was asked by the kids to bring, the nursery care person so parents can shop plus all the SCA members who are in charge of each table by ages so it looks neat from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. when the doors are closed for another year.
There is one part that is the most important — the parents themselves who come to the first stop, IDs and addresses. I hear all the sad reasons they have to come this year because they know we will listen. “I got my hours cut but my PUD bill for December was over $150. Where was I going to find money for my kids’ Christmas when I can’t pay my PUD?”
“Or rent, which by the way, will be $10 to $15 more Jan. 1. I lost my job and my boss didn’t have a new job — maybe next month or not until March and nobody is hiring now that Christmas sales are done and Christmas parties at restaurants are over, they will not need all the waiters or waitresses. I am so thankful to you and SCA for this event. Can I have a hug?”
Or my reply to them, “Do you need a hug?” I have never been turned down and hugs are free and make us feel wanted.
People around town ask me when I am going to retire. My answer is as long as there are kids and needy parents to provide for in Sequim, I will continue to make Toys for Sequim Kids available to them and the community of Sequim. As long as you all provide the “stuff” it will happen.
Thanks for reading a grateful Sequimite.
P.S. Next year the warm tree will be KSQM 91.5 FM, 577 W. Washington St., and the Co-op Farm & Garden, 276 E. Washington St.
Donna Tidrick is president and co-chairman of Sequim Community Aid and Toys for Sequim Kids.
