Community

FISH toy drive made holidays merrier for 920 local children

Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank’s 2023 toy drive provided gifts to 920 children from 315 local families. That’s the most families and children ever served by the annual gift drive.

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Skateboards are always a popular item in FISH’s annual Holiday Toy Drive. Photo courtesy FISH

The community donated 5,368 gifts and toys, FISH said. Of that, 2,289 — along with many gift cards — came via the Gig Harbor Lions Club’s 45 Giving Trees inside local businesses.

Nearly 100 volunteers worked on the 2023 drive, which occurred while FISH’s food bank experienced its busiest month in history.

“We are incredibly grateful to the greater Gig Harbor community for its generous support through donations of food, toys and funds,” said FISH communications coordinator Sue L. John. “And for the many people who gave their time not only at the toy drive warehouse or food bank, but also in their neighborhoods, churches and businesses to make all this possible.

Somebody got a Mercedes for Christmas. Photo courtesy FISH

How to help

Food banks often experience a post-holidays lull, when the need in the community remains but donations abruptly drop off. A few ways to help:

• Donations can be made directly at the Food Bank at 4303 Burnham Drive.
• Saturday, Jan. 13, is also a pick-up day for the Gig Harbor Food Project.
• Here is FISH’s Donate Now link.

Jennifer Clark and Betsy Cheney, co-chairs of the toy drive. Photo courtesy FISH