One way to give back this holiday season is through Sequim Community Aid’s Toys for Sequim Kids.
Each year, volunteer elves take family members to choose toys, games, clothes and more for their children on Christmas morning.
This year’s event is slated for 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road in Sequim.
Donation boxes and/or trees can be found at:
• Anytime Fitness, 10135 Old Olympic Highway Highway
• Coastal Farm & Ranch, 990 E. Washington St.
• The Co-Op Farm and Garden, 216 E. Washington St.
• Sequim Valley Foursquare, 9090 Old Olympic Hwy.
• Starbucks, 1095 W. Washington St.
• YMCA of Sequim, 610 N. Fifth Ave.
Organizers say donations will be accepted through Sunday, Dec. 10.
They seek items for for children ages 1-18, including new toys, games, art and science kits, clothing, sports equipment, Lego sets, video games, bikes, scooters, skateboards, gift cards and coats.
Parents and guardians must show proof of Sequim School District residence. Only one adult will be allowed to enter, organizers said. Child care will not be available.
Co-organizer Kathy Suta said the most important need remains items for middle and high school-aged students, such as popular/name brand clothes, gift cards and video games.
Toys for Sequim Kids provided items for about 350 children in the Sequim area.
The group plans to request some items from Toys for Tots mostly for older children, and they’ll try to buy some hoodies and sweatshirts, too, Suta said.
Blue Sky Realty, 190 Priest Road, continues to collect new blankets and new clothing for the event, too.
Fire Brigade
Santa’s Toy and Food Fire Brigade with Clallam County Fire District 3 will travel across Sequim from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Dec. 4-7 with an appearance by Santa Claus and festive music playing.
Firefighters and volunteers seek new toys and monetary donations for Sequim Community Aid’s Toys for Sequim Kids (Dec. 12) and monetary donations for Sequim Food Bank.
On Monday, Dec. 4, find the truck west of Sequim Avenue in downtown Sequim; on Tuesday, Dec. 5 in downtown Sequim east of Sequim Avenue; Wednesday, Dec. 6, in Emerald Highlands and Elk Creek Apartments, and Thursday, Dec. 7, in Sunland and Sun Meadows.
Further help
Volunteers are needed both for Toys for Sequim Kids and Sequim Community Aid’s ongoing utility/rent assistance program.
• Toys
Suta said they’ll need people to help set up Toys for Sequim Kids starting at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, and help families on Dec. 12. Shorter shifts are available, Suta said.
For more information, call 360-681-3731 and leave a message.
• Utilities/ rent
Volunteers continue to age out of being able to help, Suta said, so they seek people to help assist locals with phone calls for utility/rental assistance particularly in the winter as it gets colder.
“We’re anticipating it going up especially in places with bad heating and insulation,” Suta said.
Call 360-681-3731 to volunteer.
• Donate monetarily
To help the nonprofit with Toys for Sequim Kids, mail donations to: Sequim Community Aid, P.O. Box 1591, Sequim, WA, 98382 and specify checks with “toys” in the memo line.
To donate to the agency for utility assistance, leave the memo blank, organizers said.
For assistance, or to volunteer, call Sequim Community Aid at 360-681-3731.
Editor’s note: No information was available as of press time on Clallam County Fire District 3’s Santa’s Toy and Food Fire Brigade.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Keith Brown of Sequim puts a raffle ticket in a bin for a parent during Toys for Sequim Kids in 2022. On why he continues to volunteer: “I just enjoy seeing the looks on people’s faces,” he said. “It (feels good) knowing we’re giving back.” The event returns on Dec. 12.
