This holiday season, North Country EMS, and the Yacolt and Amboy fire districts are coming together to run their annual community toy drive.
The drive started in 2004 and aims to provide toys to local families in the Yacolt, Amboy and Ariel areas.
“We coordinate with the Giving Tree program in Yacolt Primary and Amboy Middle School, who provide needed items like clothing and household items,” said North Country EMS Finance Manager Kim Pitts. “We do our part by helping collect toys so all the families can enjoy Christmas.”
Pitts said the groups collect toys at Yale Elementary School in Ariel, the Amboy Fire District 10 station, and the North Country EMS station. Typically, they receive around 200 toys which are distributed to around 100 families, she said.
Through the Giving Tree, which is in its 23rd year, the group coordinates with families in need and provides each family member with two items. One of those is an item they need, while the second item is something they want. The list of items is turned into an ornament which is then put on the tree. Community members can grab them and then purchase the gifts for the family.
The Giving Tree uses the items the fire stations collect and displays them like a free store, said Lori Homola, a volunteer of the Giving Tree who helped organize the event.
“It’s been going on for so long that everybody looks forward to it,” Homola said. “They just go drop off toys and we get really nice stuff, so we ask kids what they want, and we lay them all out like a store, and then we fill these ornaments from the toy drive.”
Homola said the families who receive gifts remain confidential.
“It’s a really neat way of getting gifts for people who might be having some type of hardship,” she said.
Homola said those hardships vary. Sometimes there’s been a death in someone’s family, a loved one has cancer, or someone might be new to the community. Organizers reach out to families based on referrals to ask if they want the toys or items first. Families are also welcome to call the Giving Tree to be included on their list.
Some families say it doesn’t matter what item they receive, while others are more specific, and Homola said the Giving Tree does what they can to accommodate both.
“A lot of little girls want Barbies, so we donate them when we can,” she said.
Homola said families are never asked why they need the items and are provided what they ask for.
One thing Homola said is amazing is that when families donate, it inspires others to do the same.
“We have such an awesome community that everybody helps everybody,” she said. “I’ve had people call me and they say, ‘now I’m on the giving end because I was on the receiving end for five years and now I can be on the giving end.’ I think they’re so thankful that they want to turn around and do that for someone else.”
With rent costs being high, Homola said she makes sure the adults in the family receive Christmas items as well.
