Donations, gifts needed for Christmas for Children and Toys for Tots

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The Christmas for Children program and Toys for Tots are collecting toys and clothes for what's expected to be a season of even greater need than years past.

The Kiwanis Club of Port Townsend, which sponsors the Jefferson County efforts for the national Toys for Tots program, reports than more families than ever will need help getting gifts to put under the Christmas tree due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Approximately 231 families have already signed up for Christmas gifts from Christmas for Children, which represents 520 kids needing presents.

Last year, 218 families signed up, and organizers expect that help will be needed for 250 or more families.

Christmas for Children (C4C) attempts to fill one specific "wish" and "need" each that the child requests, and uses other local donations of dental supplies, hats, gloves, socks, and candy bags to provide happiness for every child in the program. 

Each child also receives a book or game, and all babies and toddlers get a stuffed animal. C4C also noted the needs often are for shoes and coats, and wishes include a variety of toys, sports equipment, and other items.

Toys for Tots is a national program of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and all collections made in Jefferson County stay local.

Kiwanis Club members have placed both toy collection and cash donation boxes in all areas of the county but the club said there are numerous locations not able to host them this year due to closures and limited space.

The following locations have the Toys for Tots boxes and will collect donations until Wednesday, Dec 9:

• Brinnon-Quilcene: Brinnon Fire Department, Quilcene Fire Department, 101 Brewery and Twana Roadhouse.

• Chimacum-Port Hadlock: Olympic Equipment Rental, Port Hadlock Building Supply, Jefferson Co Sheriff’s Office, Edward Jones, Kitsap Bank, Tri Area Pharmacy, QFC grocery, and Dr. Dam Chiropractor. 

• Port Ludlow: Port Ludlow Fire Department, Edward Jones, and Coldwell Banker Best Homes.

• Port Townsend: Aldrich’s Market, Edward Jones, Auto Works, Elks Lodge, QFC Foods, Safeway, Caldwell Banker Realty, Quimper Mercantile, Don's Pharmacy, Avamere of Port Townsend, Jefferson Hospital, 1st Security Bank, Kitsap Credit Union, San Juan Tacqueria, Sunrise Coffee, Salish and Blue Heron School offices.

For those who are not able to donate in person, online purchases can be sent to Don Olsen, the Toys for Tots coordinator, and that could include purchased gifts or gift certificates in any amount. Olsen can be reached at 509-366-9468.

The Kiwanis Club also noted that the C4C program did not put up Giving Trees to help fill the requests, so the toy and clothing donations are needed even more this year.

According to the Kiwanis, Toys for Tots is expected to fill about half of the needs and wishes of children this holiday season, while the use of the Christmas for Children reserves will help with the rest.

Organizers estimate the two programs together have paid out well more than $15,000 on toys and clothes and, with the donations, will provide more than $30,000 total in gifts.

In addition, the Toys for Tots program gives many local nonprofits toys to help the children in their programs, including organizations such as Dove House, veterans programs, the YMCA, foster kids and others.