Toys Badly Needed at Hopelink Holiday Gift Rooms

Toys Badly Needed at Hopelink Holiday Gift Rooms

Shelves are Nearly Bare at Shoreline Center

Redmond, WA – Thousands of local kids whose families count on Hopelink for a special toy during the holiday season may not have a gift to open this year without a little extra help from their neighbors.

Last year, nearly 7,000 children received a new toy from one of Hopelink’s five Holiday Gift Rooms. Demand is high again this year, but shelves are nearly bare at some centers.

Donations can be dropped off at any Hopelink Center through Friday, December 14 – including the Shoreline Center at 15809 Westminster Way N. The Shoreline Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and can be reached at 206.440.7300.

Toy and gifts are needed for all ages, but in particular demand are gifts for older kids and teenagers – such as electronics, sports equipment or clothing, makeup and jewelry, and gift cards for local stores.  

Hopelink President and CEO Marilyn Mason-Plunkett said the Holiday Gift Rooms provide a few brief moments when kids are able to just be kids.

“Oftentimes, the gift a child receives through one of our gift rooms is the only new toy they will be given all year,” she said.

“All of our Hopelink families are working hard every single day toward self-sufficiency, but many of them cannot afford to buy even the smallest toy or gift for their children. Our gift rooms provide a way for them to create their own special moments of joy for the children in their lives.”

Hopelink, the largest social services agency serving east and north King County, stocks the rooms with donations from local toy drives, corporate-sponsored giving trees, and individual contributions. The gift rooms are in their 18^th year.

In Shoreline, Hopelink is part of the Holiday Baskets program that has helped needy Shoreline families enjoy a happier holiday season for 30 years. Other partners in the holiday program are the Shoreline PTA Council, Shoreline Fire Department, the Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park, the Rotary Club of Shoreline, the Shoreline Breakfast Rotary and Rain City Rotary.

A list of toy and gift suggestions is available here: http://www.hope-link.org/Hopelink_Gift_Guidelines_2012.pdf

For information on hosting a holiday giving tree, visit: http://www.hope-link.org/take_action/holiday_giving/giving_trees/?take_action/lahh/giving_trees/