SMELLS LIKE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
I’m hosting a toy and warm clothing drive to benefit Treehouse for Kids here in Seattle. I could really use your help! Learn more (and thank you in advance for dealing with my babble):
I’ll admit it. I really love this time of year. I’m smitten with twinkle lights and reading by the fire and watching Love Actually with the ones I actually love. I am a fan of wrapping paper, the smell of pine needles, and Christmas crackers on my dinner plate. I love stockings and hot toddys but most of all, I love giving gifts. Anyone who knows me knows this. The look on people’s faces as they open a present, the joy and laughter and disbelief that YOU remembered how much they like X, Y and Z - well, I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I blame my parents.
I was raised by two lovely folks, one Brit and one Scot, who love Christmas as much as I do. Every December, we’d go to the store and pick out one toy each to donate to Toys for Tots. My dad typically went for the trucks or army men, while my mom picked out a pretty doll or makeup set, and I always, ALWAYS, chose a stuffed animal. The fluffier, the better. The more comforting, the best. We’d bring them to the marine stationed in the mall, drop our gifts in the bin, and hope/know that somewhere, a child who might not have gotten a gift would certainly get one now.
There’s a lot of talk of materialism these days, of things vs. experiences, of the haves vs. the have nots. I know that raising money for food banks, or homeless shelters, might seem more important or more necessary at this time of year. But my heart always goes to the kids: the ones who don’t yet know how shitty things can get. The ones who still love cartoons and have imaginary friends and just want to feel special, even if that specialness comes from getting to open one gift that’s just for them. And so, I’d like to announce Smells Like Holiday Spirit. A toy drive!
Toys and warm clothes, to be exact. This year, I’m collecting all the toys and warm clothes you can donate, for kids of all ages, to be delivered to the fine people at Treehouse, helping over 5,000 foster kids in our region each year. Here’s why:
So get hip to Smells Like Holiday Spirit:
- Take a peek at this wishlist or simply pick up some gloves, socks and a treat. I’m hoping we can all forgo a couple coffees or cocktails in the next few weeks and put that money towards one warm clothing item and one toy.
- Tell your friends! Please, please, tell your friends. Share this post, tell your coworkers, shout it from the rooftops. Heck, tell people you don’t even like. I’ll be using my own car for the final delivery, and I’d love to fill it to the brim.
- Gather donations and then tell me. I will come and pick them up from your office or wherever is most convenient for you. Seriously. I will also be collecting donations where I work, if that’s easier for your schedule: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm at 911 Pine Street, Seattle (aka the Paramount Theatre).
- All donations will need to be collected by Friday evening, December 16th. The delivery will be made by me directly to Treehouse on Saturday, December 17th, the final day they are accepting holiday donations. I will post pictures and let you know your gifts have made it safely!
That’s it. It’s easy. I’ve donated to toy drives in Seattle in the past, but I’ve never known if the toys made it to kids - and in one instance, I saw the toys left uncollected after the new year. That’s simply not happening this time.
Smells Like Holiday Spirit! It’s non-denominational, and it’s not about making stuff more valuable than experiences. It’s about making kids smile, which is an experience in itself.
From one music-loving, present-happy gal and (hopefully) ALL of her friends to Treehouse: Happy holidays! xo
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