Santa Brigade gathers goods for Sequim kids’ Christmases

By Matthew Nash • December 15, 2021 1:30 am
Santa Brigade crew members, from left, Marc Lawson, Santa Claus (John Brygider), Parker Horst, Connor Horst, Isabel Lawson, and Len Horst gather at the end of three days of gathering goods for Toys for Sequim Kids. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Santa Brigade crew members, from left, Marc Lawson, Santa Claus (John Brygider), Parker Horst, Connor Horst, Isabel Lawson, and Len Horst gather at the end of three days of gathering goods for Toys for Sequim Kids. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Saint Nicholas and a dedicated volunteer crew of firefighters and their families braved the cold last week to help bring in donations this Christmas for Sequim children while passing out a few candy canes.

The Santa Brigade collected toys and monetary donations Dec. 7-9 by Clallam County Fire District 3’s antique fire truck, playing festive tunes at the Sequim Village Shopping Center, 651 W. Washington St.

Doug and Veronica Weatherly said they’ve taken their children’s photos with Santa for years and before the COVID-19 pandemic, they’d seek Santa out through town when the fire truck would travel through Sequim collecting donations.

This was Santa’s ninth year with the event, said his friend John Brygider, a facility technician and volunteer firefighter with the district.

All donations went to Sequim Community Aid’s Toys for Sequim Kids on Dec. 15 at the Sequim Prairie Grange, where in-need families can receive gifts, books, clothes and more for local children from babies to 18-year-olds.

To help Sequim Community Aid assist locals with utility and rent, mail check donations to: Sequim Community Aid, P.O. Box 1591, Sequim, WA, 98382. Checks for Toys for Sequim Kids should state “toys” on the memo line. To donate to the agency for utility assistance, leave the memo blank.

Call Sequim Community Aid at 360-681-3731 for assistance and/or to volunteer.

Veronica Weatherly holds Tucker, 3-and-a-half, for a photo-op with Santa Claus as her husband Doug takes a photo. The couple said they come every year for the Santa Brigade and used to seek Santa through town to get photos when the fire truck traveled through Sequim. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Veronica Weatherly holds Tucker, 3-and-a-half, for a photo-op with Santa Claus as her husband Doug takes a photo. The couple said they come every year for the Santa Brigade and used to seek Santa through town to get photos when the fire truck traveled through Sequim. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Morgan Snell holds her niece Remi Rigg, 2, after meeting Santa Claus and receiving a candy cane while stopping at the Santa Brigade at the Sequim Village Shopping Center on Dec. 9. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Morgan Snell holds her niece Remi Rigg, 2, after meeting Santa Claus and receiving a candy cane while stopping at the Santa Brigade at the Sequim Village Shopping Center on Dec. 9. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

The Smith family stops to drop off items for the Santa Brigade on Dec. 9 and take a family photo, with, from left, mom May, Santa Claus, Brayden, 6, dad Ryan, and Alyx, 3. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

The Smith family stops to drop off items for the Santa Brigade on Dec. 9 and take a family photo, with, from left, mom May, Santa Claus, Brayden, 6, dad Ryan, and Alyx, 3. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Brothers Connor Horst, 9, and Parker, 7, count the remaining candy canes to help Saint Nicholas during the Santa Brigade collection drive on Dec. 9. Donations went to Sequim Community Aid’s Toys for Sequim Kids on Dec. 15. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Brothers Connor Horst, 9, and Parker, 7, count the remaining candy canes to help Saint Nicholas during the Santa Brigade collection drive on Dec. 9. Donations went to Sequim Community Aid’s Toys for Sequim Kids on Dec. 15. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash