Holly House has a dilemma....A good dilemma, but one nevertheless

Do you have connections that might be able to help us find and secure a storage solution for Holly House? Unused warehouse space that could be donated? A church? School? A Realtor connection?  An unused storage unit? 

A work group in the midst of a cramped storage unit

We are currently brainstorming solutions to our storage dilemma! The good news is we have lots of donations coming to us for our kids. The bad news is we are out of places to store them until the event in December.

Each year, we work to accumulate items for our families (toys, books, pajamas, stocking stuffers, socks/underwear, coats, and shoes, plus gently used household items). This has to happen throughout the year in order to get it sorted, organized, and planned for distribution at the Holly House event that takes place the first part of December.

We have a couple of donated storage units at Armadillo Storage in Edmonds, but they are just too small. Each year we seem to have a "just in the nick of time" solution that comes by the grace of God, but we are desperate for a permanent solution. And, in fact, are in need of a solution through the end of 2014 at a minimum. 

Sorting PJs outside of the storage units - no rain this time!

If you have been to a Holly House sorting event, you know that we work (in sometimes less than perfect weather conditions) outside the storage units and then have to pack the unit "Tetris style" to make everything fit, push the boxes to the back, and bring the door down before they come exploding out. 

We would love to have a place that can handle incoming donations (drop-off location), pallet deliveries (from large distributors), a place to sort and organize these donations, PLUS a place to store them. Perhaps this is multiple locations until we are able to get a warehouse of our own. Right now we are open to ideas!!! Our dream is to one day have a place that houses the items and then serves as the distribution center. We are taking baby steps...or maybe giant steps?

Please share your ideas and/or leads with us. Your gift of your time and energy in making this happen is truly appreciated. 

You can contact Pam Martinez at 425-673-1578 or via the blog's contact “us” button. 

Available now: Donate via the blog

Our warehouse space is shrinking and our potential for getting more goods is growing!!

We got a pallet of toys donated to us...now, where to put it??

We are in dire need of a permanent storage solution for Holly House. Currently we have three small storage spaces (not all together), and when we get a large shipment of items it requires serious logistics to get everything to fit (and we have limited space for people to help). If you know of any open retail, warehouse, or storage spaces that would be looking to donate space to help our cause, please get them in touch with us! In addition, monetary funds donated to Holly House could go to help pay for more storage space.

 

A small example of what we COULD get, if we had the funds

We have an incredible opportunity to get a FREE truckload of toys from a partner organization. All they ask is that we cover the freight charges (a container truck from New York), at a discounted rate. This amounts to about $3,000 - which we don't currently have. The ability to get these toys would be a huge boost for us this year. (We have already received one pallet of toys from them, see photos! They have so much more to offer us than this.)

In order to get the best deals and get things arranged for the end of they year, the process starts now. Please consider donating year round to Holly House and help get us set up for December.

You may now process donations directly from the blog! Find the "Donate Now" button on the right side of the screen. Your payment will be processed securely through Paypal. (Our fiscal sponsor, MS Helping Hands, shows as the Paypal account.) 

Volunteers Jonathan and Jeff helping to sort toys and re-arrange our storage space to make room

Thank you for your support!!

Storage organization helpers

Last night 24 volunteers showed up at our Holly House storage unit to help us sort, size and pack stuffed animals, toys, stocking stuffers, table clothes, gently used items and to match knitted hats and scarves. 

A much needed pizza break.

There was so much to do and we are so grateful for all the help from the volunteers from Molina, Premera, Kohl's, Laurie and the teenagers she brought, Deidre and her family and of course, some of our Holly House Team. And if I forgot to mention anyone please forgive me. We are so thankful and blessed.