Mountain View Community Center is hosting three days of Christmas gift and warm clothes giveaways for families in the Edgewood, Milton and Fife communities.
Jesie Holden, coordinator for the Edgewood Community Center, said in its second year of operation it and the food bank hope to serve even more children and families than last year.
Working in conjunction with Toys for Tots, families who qualify for state or federal assistance and live in the Fife, Milton or Edgewood zip codes are welcome to come to the community center Dec. 17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and take home a gift or two for their children.
On Dec. 19, clients of the Edgewood Community Food Bank, which includes hundreds of families from throughout Pierce County, will be able to peruse through children’s toys as well as donated, new winter clothing, socks and underwear as part of the center’s independent event, Christmas Outreach. A turkey dinner and Christmas entertainment will also be offered to food bank clients that afternoon between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Last year, the community center hosted a similar toy and clothing distribution event, and served 126 low-income families, totaling 365 children.
This year, Holden said they hope to help make 500 children’s Christmas a little merrier.
Toys for Tots collection sites are scattered
throughout the county. Toys can be dropped off at Edgewood City Hall, Edgewood Fire Department, Timberland Bank Edgewood branch and Milton Fire Depart-ment. Toys for Tots donations will be dispersed throughout Dec. 17 and 18 to qualifying families. Remaining toys will be given out on Dec. 19.
Donations for the Dec. 19 event, which will provide toys and warm winter clothing to families that use the community center’s food bank, will be accepted at Mountain View Lutheran Church, next door to the community center, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In the month of October the food bank served 2,694 individuals. In the week prior to Thanksgiving, the food bank served 233 families.
Mountain View Community Center is also working with Fife Police Department to collect donations of clothing and toys for the food bank’s giveaway event.
Volunteers are needed throughout Dec. 17-19 to help organize and distribute toys and clothing to families, as well as serve and prepare the Christmas dinner.
Adult sized coats and blankets are also being accepted and will be donated to Calvary Christian Church in Sumner for homeless adults.
Families that qualify for the Toys for Tots giveaway on Dec. 17 and 18 must bring a current D.S.H.S. medical coupon and an approved form of identification, or proof of federal or state funded low-income program (such as ECAP, Head Start, WIC or free/reduced lunch) and two forms of identification showing current address.
Contact the Mountain View Community Center for more information on where to donate, how to volunteer, or if you qualify for Toys for Tots at (253) 826-4326. The center is located at 3505 122nd Ave. E., Edgewood.
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