Holly House Summer 2014 Update

Holly House volunteers are busy year-round getting things ready for the event in December that helps 2000 low income children in the Edmonds School District. We are always looking for volunteers and other ways we can meet the needs of Holly House (fundraiser ideas, collection bins, etc). If you are available to help or have some ideas, please contact us using the button to the right!

Here's a look at what is going on this summer:

• Planning is commencing for our 2015 Fundraiser Gala event. If you'd like to be part of the planning committee, we would love your help! Our first meeting will be 7/23/14 - see Volunteer link for more details. 



The Mountlake Terrace knitting group at work

•  Garage sale donations needed – Christmas, household, and kitchen items.  By gathering items that might otherwise go to Goodwill or Salvation Army, we can provide (for free) our families 15-20 gently used items to help supplement their households.
• The Mountlake Terrace Senior Center knitting group is busy making scarves and hats for the children. We acquired some adorable hats for our Holly House kids and needed scarves to match. Thank you all for taking the time out of your knitting group to make sure the kids have matching hats and scarves this winter. They are adorable and the kids will be the "cats meow" when they wear them. Oops, I think I just dated myself...

Here are some of our current volunteer opportunities. Also see the Volunteer page to learn more! 

• We are still in need of a warehouse manager to help facilitate effective storage solutions for the donations we receive year-round. 
• We are in need of volunteers to help sort/organize/pack/move donations 
• We are in need of volunteers to pick up donations from collection bins throughout the year. 

A big THANK YOU to:

Thank you to our volunteers who have helped us these past 7 months of 2014 already, we can't do it without you!

Volunteers helping pick up the shoe donation

Thank you to Redeeming Soles for a giant shoe donation of 1500 pairs of shoes! These shoes may be just what a fast-growing child needs this winter and we are so happy to have them to distribute.

Work party with Target employees

Thank you to employees from the Lynnwood and Everett Target stores who helped us sort and re-pack the storage unit at a June work party.


Thank you to Run to Win for donating sports camp scholarships for our kids. This camp provides a week of sports related activities, and our kids can go for FREE this summer!





There you have our summer update. We have many more activities and plans in the works, stay tuned! Please contact us if you are looking for ways to get involved - even a few hours can make a huge difference.
~ Pam Martinez, Executive Director

Fundraiser update - it's not too late to show your support!

We had a successful fundraiser this past Tuesday, raising over $1000 for Holly House. We are working hard to keep up with the demand, and all of the funds will go towards ensuring this program continues for the low-income families in Edmonds School District. 

Two of our clients, Maria & Rachel, shared touching stories of what Holly House has meant to them and their children.

Rachel sharing her story

Maria talked about how hard she works to take care of her two little girls but it’s such a struggle, especially during the holidays. Without Holly House her children would have gone without.

Rachel shared that because of Holly House her family is able to keep up with their holiday traditions, even though throughout the year they struggle to make ends meet due to disabilities and injuries.

"My kids are old enough to question Santa Claus because other kids tell them he's not real. But I can tell you that on Christmas morning when they see what's under the tree, they believe."

 Instead of just new and much needed clothes for school, they are able to get things from their wish lists that the parents can select from Holly House.

Donors ready to help

In order to provide the joy of gift giving (and also some necessities like socks, underwear, and pajamas), we need your support.

Our operational costs are only 8% of our total $500,000 budget. Can you help us keep Holly House running smoothly and help out 2000 kids served in 15 Edmonds Schools? Our goal is to be able to support all 43 local schools, giving any family who requests it the joy of the holidays - without worry of meeting their household needs at the same time.

You can donate online by clicking the DONATE button on the right side of the screen, or you can mail a check to:
Holly House/Protocol Foundation
17561 110th Lane SE
Renton, WA 98055
(All donations are fully tax deductible. Protocol Foundation is our fiscal sponsor and is a 501(c)3 charity.)

Holly House Fundraiser 5/27/14

We invite you to attend our first ever fundraiser for Holly House! As our charity has grown, so have our operational costs. We rely 100% on donations and grants to fund this program which reaches 2000 children in the local Edmonds School District. Please come learn more about our program, our goals, our needs, and ways that you can help. These children need a hero in their life - could it be YOU?

Join us Tuesday 5/27 from 7-9pm for appetizers, wine, and dessert at Madison Alderwood Park Apartments Clubhouse (18031 36th Ave W, Lynnwood). RSVP to Pam Martinez 425-435-1403 or pjkringle@comcast.net

Edmonds School Board meeting

Alicia and Pam attended the latest Edmonds School District Board meeting and presented our slideshow as well as fielded questions. The goal was to spread the word about Holly House and gain support from the District for the program that services children who attend there. It was highly successful, and we look forward to working with the district more closely.


My Edmonds News reported on the meeting, mentioning Holly House as well as the other topics discussed at the meeting. Another topic of interest to those with school age children is the push for healthy options in vending machines. You can see the article here.

Slide Show presentation - Holly House overview

Last week, we had our first "Learn about Holly House event" and met some wonderful people who are excited to help with Holly House. We explained our mission, with the help of the presentation below, and wanted to share it with everyone who couldn't make it. One of our past clients shared her story and it was very moving to hear how Holly House has helped her, and now she is giving back.  

Four years ago she wasn't sure how she was going to take care of her two little girls. Unforeseen circumstances had placed her in a place of great need and she didn't know where to turn.With tears she began to talk about finding Holly House, the help she received and how it has led her to volunteer for the last 3 years and to bringing other volunteers with her.

It was a moving and humbling story for those of us listening. How so little, a coat, some socks & underwear, a pair of pajamas, a few toys and books did so much to turn a family around.


Volunteer opportunities are plentiful, and it takes a lot of work year round to get the one day event pulled off for these low income families. Please join us - from collecting and/or donations, small tasks, unloading a truck or two, or larger responsibilities like a warehouse manager, we have somewhere you will fit in.

(use the buttons at the bottom of the slideshow to view the slideshow)

Informational Open House 4/21

Holly House is hosting an informational open house and meet and greet on Monday 4/21. Come and learn about our work, the team of volunteers, and how you might be able to help. We have so many opportunities to volunteer (big and small) - maybe something will call to you.

Please join us 4/21 at 7pm at the Clubhouse at Madison Alderwood Park apartments.

Sock and Underwear drive results

Holly House collected 675 socks and underwear during our sock and underwear drive at Fred Meyer's on 196th in Lynnwood. Thank you to Fred Meyer, the Manager, David, the wonderful teenagers who gave of their time, energy and charm and for all of the people who donated to our kids. We are well on our way to making sure our kids get what they need.