2013 Holly House Event

They toy area being set up (click image to enlarge)

Holly House was such a huge blessing to so many families this year. It could not have happened without the help of all of the amazing volunteers that showed up to help. And of course, the Holly House Team and Board Members. This year we served almost 1600 children.

 Please click here to see more photos from the event this year.

We take boxes and boxes from storage, bring them to the gym in piles, and actually transform it into a magical shopping experience for our families. We have from 3:30 pm Friday till Saturday night at 11 pm to do this. Only a miracle and lots of volunteers working really hard can pull this off.

Thank you so much to all the people who donated toys and gifts to our kids. For most of our kids this is the only toy they will get for Christmas. Hopefully, with your help, next year we will have enough toys to give them two toys.

Among the thing we were able to give each child were:

• a bag of stocking stuffers
• dental supplies
• a stuffed animal
• books
• a toy
• a pair of pajamas
• socks/underwear
• a hat and scarf

Jan & Phyllis setting up the coat display.

• one coat (per family)

Holly House is not just about toys at Christmas time. Our children need basic things like pajamas and coats. So many of our families can't afford to keep the heat on at night so their children go to bed cold. Warm flannel and polar fleece pajamas are a simple solution to a serious problem. 

This year, thanks to a huge donation, we were able to give each family one coat. One day...a coat for every child. So many of our kids don't have a coat. So often, a hat and scarf is the only thing that keeps them from the biting cold.

We fill the stockings with make-up, shaving cream, deodorant, body lotions, hair accessories, etc and of course, candy, toys, books, puzzles....fun stuff. Also thanks to the Verdant Health Commission we were able to pass out dental supplies as well. 
 

If you want to get your children involved with Holly House, have them sort through their stuffed animals and give the ones they don't play with any more to Holly House. They can even get their friends involved. Kids love to help and give and we need a lot of stuffed animals.  

A volunteer helping a parent pick out pajamas for her children

There are huge sales going on. Pick up an extra pair or two of pajamas and drop them off at the office at Armadillo Storage on Hwy 99 in Lynnwood, MS Helping Hands under the IGA in Edmonds, and the Mountlake Terrace Senior Center (they all take donations year round).


We have volunteer opportunities all year long in order to get Holly House ready for 2014. Please consider donating your time - it's one of our most valuable resources.