Season of giving

Local organizations are helping to make the holiday season brighter and welcome donations. Most report that, because of the economy, there’s more of a demand for their services. Either gifts or cash donations are welcome.

Firefighter’s Toy Box

The Firefighter’s Toy Box Drive serves the children of Colfax and greater Whitman County.

According to retired Volunteer Fire Chief Jim Krouse, providing low income children with toys at Christmas time was the brainstorm of former volunteer firefighters Les Walker and John Dibbler more than 30 years ago. He said the two men recognized the need and fellow firefighters joined the cause.

“Les was always looking for a way to help somebody,” Krouse said.

During the first few years, Krouse said they put toys on a large table and families came to pick out one toy for each child. Now, the firefighters work with DSHS which provides lists of age groups and genders so the firefighters can select suitable toys for boys and girls.

Krouse said the recession has affected not only the amount of donations but the number of children in need. He said 2010 was very difficult with few donations, making firefighters spend thousands of dollars to make sure Whitman County kids were taken care of.

“We don’t only serve Colfax kids,” Krouse said. “We serve all of Whitman County, except Pullman.”

Krouse also said many people, who prefer to remain anonymous, work behind the scenes to help make Christmas special.

Donations are accepted any time until Christmas.

Make donations to: Volunteer Firemen, Inc., P.O. Box 226, Colfax, WA 99111, or in person at the Colfax Fire Department, 400 N. Mill Street in Colfax.

Library Christmas Book Box

New children’s books are being collected at the Colfax Library.

Whitman County Youth Services Manager Sheri Miller said books may be dropped off at the donation box next to the main desk by the Boy Scout Christmas tree in the library.

Last year about 45 books and cash were donated. This year, more books are needed, Miller said.

“We like to target all ages, from beginning readers to teens,” she said. “We’d like to see a variety of all reading levels.”

Donated children’s books are taken to the Colfax Fire Department to be included with its annual Toy Drive.

Whitman Hospital Auxiliary

Whitman Hospital Auxiliary sponsors a Christmas tree decorated with angels each year. Donations for angels are in memory of or in honor of a loved one.

All donations go back to the hospital for equipment, supplies and scholarships, according to auxiliary president, Shirley Simmons.

Simmons said donations can be in any amount and are accepted until Christmas.

Dorla Scholz said she and Leona Herman, both auxiliary members, began the angel tree 20 to 25 years ago as a way to raise more funds for the hospital’s needs.

The angel tree is in the waiting room near the gift shop.

Donations can be mailed to Whitman Hospital Auxiliary, 1200 W. Fairview, Colfax, WA 99111. Include the names of people who should be listed on an angel and who the donor is. Donations also can be made in person at the front desk of the hospital or at the gift shop.

Giving Trees

Giving trees for

developmentally disabled

Three trees in county buildings help provide gifts for the county’s developmentally disabled. One tree is in the courthouse lobby, another is on the main floor of the Public Service Building in Colfax and the third is in the Human Services Building in Pullman.

According to Janel Goebel of the county Parks and Developmental Services Department, the department receives a list of people who live in assisted care facilities and get gift requests from the residents. They list two to three gifts per resident with a $15 limit on each gift.

The county department also works with Colfax High School FCCLA students who provide amenity gift bags that can include soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste and wash cloths.

Deadline for giving these gifts is Friday, Dec. 7. For more information, call 397-6238.

Giving trees for children’s clothing

Three giving trees will help supply local children with warm clothing this holiday season.

Organizer Gail Webster of Community Action Center said the trees are at US Bank, Bank of America and the Colfax Post Office.

Each tree is decorated with tags which describe clothing suggestions for the child. Webster said last year, 90 children received clothing and this year, she has 66 children in need so far and is getting referrals every day. She said numbers of needy children are increasing every year. Children from one month to 18 receive gifts from the trees.

She said each gift should be wrapped with the tag attached to it. Deadline for giving is Dec. 14.

Children’s Christmas Stocking Project

Every Christmas, the Colfax office of the Community Action Center partners with the Council on Aging Nutrition Program to provide holiday food baskets for local families, according to Suzy McNeilly of COA.

The baskets are given to families who meet the criteria for a family in need. Children also receive Christmas stockings.

After learning that the original group couldn’t provide the stockings, volunteers took over the project and are working with Community Action to provide the stockings for the children.

The center has identified about 150 children who will receive stockings this year.

They are asking for sponsors for stockings and donations to fill the stockings.

Volunteers also are needed to stuff the stockings and are invited to the Christmas Stocking Stuffer Extravaganza on Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Colfax Food Bank.

Suggested items for stockings include: gift certificates for McDonald’s, candy, gum, small games, craft items or kits, lotions, chapstick, lip gloss, manicure kits, nail polish, brush and comb, hair accessories, stationary, pens and pencils, socks, gloves and mittens, cocoa packets, apple cider packets, cookies, crayons, coloring books, paper dolls, beads, bubbles, puzzles, costume jewelry, shower gels, gifts for teenage girls and boys.

For more information, call Suzy McNeilly, (509) 397-4305.