For years, Vashon’s Kiwanis club held a toy drive each Christmas, but with the local chapter closed, John L. Scott is sponsoring this year’s drive.
The real estate company has already collected some items, but islanders will have several opportunities to donate cash and new, unwrapped toys and clothes this holiday season. Collection bins will be set out at a variety of island businesses on Friday, and when Santa comes to town on Saturday evening for the parade and tree lighting, the John L. Scott truck will be near the main intersection in town, with employees collecting more gifts.
Joyce Smith, one of the longtime organizers of the drive, said she is hoping islanders will donate generously again this year.
“My goal is to have a pair of pajamas for every child and toys or games and something for older children, even if it is gift cards. They are great for older children,” she said.
The drive is intended for children from infancy through age 18, and Smith said she will appreciate all donations, but she highlighted the need for gifts for older kids and teens.
“We just never seem to have anything for them. It is hard for the high schoolers and junior high students, too,” Smith said.
New this year is that Smith and fellow organizer Jan Lyell are asking for donations of coats, hats, scarves, gloves, pajamas and slippers, instead of a general request for clothes.
Donations will be accepted until 20, and the toy drive “store” will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, in the former home of the Vashon Bike Shop near the Vashon Post Office. On those days, people in need are invited to come pick out gifts for their children. The number of gifts allowed will be determined by how much is donated.
The drive is starting out with some money in the bank, including $1,000 from Ken Zaglin, who owns John L. Scott. Typically, he said, he buys the agents who work for him a gift at Christmas, but this year his employees asked him to donate to the drive instead. Additionally, when Kiwanis closed, it gave $7,000 to the drive, but Smith said she wants those funds to last for as long as possible. A challenge this year is that Skanska, the construction firm that built the high school, will not be donating now that their work on the island is finished. They donated generously in the past, and Smith said she is hoping another large donor will step up.
Smith, who said she has never forgotten the help she received one year at Christmas to provide gifts for her six children, has organized the toy drive for the past eight years.
“I love kids and seeing them happy at Christmas morning. I think every child should be able to get up on Christmas morning and have something,” she said.
To donate money to the drive, send a check made out to VYFS to John L. Scott, P.O. Box 2009, Vashon, Washington, 98070.
