Community

Six ways to spread holiday cheer this season

Posted on December 4th, 2024 By: Marsha Hart

Opportunities to help spread holiday cheer are abundant this season. There are many ways to give to those in need, whether it’s a new coat, toys, food or cash.

Stuff the Bus

Peninsula School District bus drivers are once again hosting the Stuff the Bus event on Saturday, Dec. 7, at two locations: Target and Fred Meyer. It’s the first Stuff the Bus event the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dawnett Wright, director of transportation for the district.

Buses will be stationed at Target off Borgen Boulevard and Fred Meyer on Point Fosdick Drive. Donations of food, toys, clothing, and money can be dropped off 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, she said.

“All of the drivers have been amazing, and a couple of them have headed up the whole thing,” she said. “They went to the stores, and got approval from the managers. They made a sign-up sheet for drivers to help, and they came to me and made the proposal, and asked if it could be done. The drivers have done everything needed to make it happen, and they are inspiring.”

Bus drivers will distribute donations to Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank, Bischoff Food Bank of Key Peninsula and Key Peninsula Community Services.

Santa’s Castle

Toys and gifts make Christmas special, and there are a couple of ways to give to local organizations. Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce CEO Miriam Batttson said new, unwrapped toys will be accepted at the chamber’s tent at the Gig Harbor Christmas tree lighting ceremony from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Skansie Brothers Park.

Those toys will go to Santa’s Castle at Joint Base Lewis McChord. Santa’s Castle needs toys for kids of all ages, from infants to teens.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys at the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce for Santa’s Castle at Joint Base Lewis McChord. A donation bin will be available for drop-off at the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Soundview Drive on Saturday between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Photo courtesy of Miriam Battson

Giving Trees

The Gig Harbor Lions Club has placed 50 Giving Trees at various merchants around downtown and Uptown Gig Harbor, according to club secretary Sharon Kirry.

Those trees have 2,500 tags on them that indicate the gifts that are needed. Shoppers can then drop off the gift at the retailer, where Lions will pick it up.

Gifts will be distributed to the FISH Toy Drive and the Boys and Girls Club at Evergreen Elementary on the Key Peninsula. Stuffed animals will be given to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma.

FISH Toy Drive

FISH is hosting its annual toy drive, which will provide Christmas gifts for 940 children in the Gig Harbor area. Donations of unwrapped toys will be accepted through Dec. 13 at the Gig Harbor Library at 4424 Point Fosdick Drive; and at the food bank, 4303 Burnham Dr. FISH is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Cindy Bohorfoush, co-chair of the FISH Toy Drive committee, said that the need is greatest for kids ages 9 and older.

Shoppers load up their car with items from Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank’s toy drive on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Kathy Cummings/FISH Food Bank

Donors can also give via an Amazon Wishlist or FISH’s website.

Gift cards are appreciated, Bohorfoush said. Marking the amount of the gift card helps volunteers sort donations.

More than 150 FISH volunteers pitch in on the effort led by Bohorfoush and co-chair Lisa Schwab.

“I’m absolutely amazed at this organization, and I used to be an executive director,” Bohorfoush said. “I’ve never seen an organization run so efficiently.”

Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank is setting up for the Toy Drive distribution. Donations are being accepted now through Dec. 13 at FISH, the library, and several businesses where Lions Club giving trees are located. Photo courtesy of Cindy Bohorfoush

Meat drive

No holiday is complete without a good meal, and TAPCO Credit Union on Pioneer is in the midst of a meat drive that will benefit Food Backpacks for Kids. Marketing Director Jacob Rose said they are asking for whole chickens, turkey breast and ham for the freezer that they have set up in the lobby.

They also accept monetary donations. Just designate that the donation is for the meat drive. The meat drive will continue through Dec. 19. Collection hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 am. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Treasures for Humanity

As the temperatures dip, the need for warm coats and blankets increases, and Treasures for Humanity is holding its annual coat drive.

Diane Miller, owner of the boutique on Pioneer Way, said that she began her business six years ago as a “give back boutique.”

“We give to three charities, and we encourage people to give and be kind, give to the community, to friends,” Miller said. “Every year we do a coat drive, and we also accept blankets.”

Coats and blankets are accepted at her shop through January, and will be donated to the Tacoma Rescue Mission.

“We originally wanted to do something local, but at one point they were limiting clothing drives, and the Mission serves a bigger community, so they always have a need.”

Donations can be dropped off 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m Sundays.