Plateau organizations ask for help during holidays
Published 10:08 am Thursday, December 11, 2008
By Brenda Sexton-The Courier-Herald
Despite the massive toy recall, there is one Christmas tradition that will continue this year - the Enumclaw Police Department and Citizens Auxiliary's Cops 4 Kids toy drive.
The drive, which provides hundreds of new, unwrapped toys for needy children in Enumclaw, is under way and will continue through Dec. 15. This year, however, due to the large number of toy recalls there is more emphasis on cash donations that allow police auxiliary members to purchase toys.
“We're requesting people not buy unsafe toys like those that are magnetic or have lead,” Patrolman Dave Voss said. “Cash donations are good so we can buy the correct toys.”
He's encouraging those who wish to make a toy donation to check first for recalls at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site, www.cpsc.gov/recentrecalls.html.
Voss said the greatest need for gifts is for teenage boys and girls, especially those 11 to 17 years old.
All donations stay in town, Voss said.
Donations are accepted at drop boxes found at city banks and the police station, 1705 Wells. St.
Buckley's Giving Tree
The Buckley Fire Department is hosting its annual “Santa Project” Community Giving Tree again this year.
The department is currently taking applications for families in need until Dec. 12 for delivery on Dec. 15.
The Santa Project is in conjunction with the annual Santa Run with Santa traveling through town on the back of the department's antique fire engine visiting with the children in the community. The run begins Dec. 10 and continues through Dec. 14.
The fire department is collecting donations of toys for children ages newborn to 17 who live in the White River School District area. They are also collecting wrapping paper and cash donations.
For those who wish to shop for a child of specific age, a tree with gift tags is set up at the Buckley Police Station, 133 S. Cedar St.
The department will also be collecting food for food bank, toys and donations during its Santa truck runs.
For more information contact Lt. Angie Riggsby at 360-829-1441.
The Giving Tree
A “giving tree” for residents of Evergreen Enumclaw Health and Rehabilitation can be found at Maple Thicket Florist in downtown Enumclaw. All are invited to take a tag from the tree, purchase the item listed, wrap it and return it to Maple Thicket by Dec. 17. For information, contact Sandy Earlywine or Beth Sprau at 360-825-2541.
Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald.
