While the holidays are synonymous with toys from Santa for kids, it can be a challenge for underprivileged parents and guardians as inflation and the looming effects of the pandemic make gift-buying a major obstacle.

Fortunately for Jefferson County, a local organization has been a longstanding provider of Christmas gifts for the kids of community members that need it most.

The Christmas for Children program is gearing up for another year of collecting toys donated by people and businesses in the area and distributing them to kids from less fortunate families in east Jefferson County.

Going through the process of accepting applications, generating tags for requested gifts, and preparing to distribute them for families in need, the Christmas for Children program is in full swing this time of year.

An assortment of partners such as the Port Townsend Kiwanis, Port Townsend Sunrise Rotary, U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program, and other organizations are teaming up to make the holidays that much better for underserved youth in the area.

Once volunteers have picked up all the donated goods, they bring them to the “toy warehouse” at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds to be sorted and boxed for families, said Lexi Paoli, a key volunteer with Christmas for Children.

For Paoli, what she enjoys most about the program is, “knowing that there’s a need and being able to fill it and do it anonymously, letting the parents be able to give that for their kids.”

Pokemon merchandise, arts and crafts, LEGOs, Hot Wheels, and other toys have been some of the most popular requests this year, Paoli said.

While the program receives a good amount of baby, toddler, and child gifts, volunteers are hoping to receive more teen-minded items from the community this year.

“I’m just thankful that we still have strong community support and everyone is still thinking about kids and the magic of Christmas, and making that happen for people,” Paoli said.

The Christmas for Children program was first started by school bus aide Janice Schauer in 1974 after she encountered several children who told her they didn’t get anything for Christmas. After hearing the heartbreaking news, Schauer provided an assortment of gifts for the kids, and the act of kindness and since evolved into a 40-plus year program aiding the youth of the area. To learn more about Christmas for Children, help donate, volunteer, or help in any other way, visit christmas4children.com/home.