The Holiday Toy Drive Helping 14,000+ Kids in Need

This month has been nothing short of incredible at Kidzz Helping Kidzz, and the momentum just kept building!

This month has been nothing short of impactful at Kidzz Helping Kidzz, and the charity growth just kept building! By the time our Advisory Board presented to the Brownsville PTSA earlier this month, our yearly holiday toy drive was already well underway.

The presentation gave us the opportunity to share our youth charity mission, highlight the generous support from the local community response so far, and talk about both our current efforts and our plans for the 2025 holiday toy drive.

We also shared how Kidzz Helping Kidzz addresses hunger relief year-round through food drives and backpack programs—because supporting kids means meeting many different needs.

The PTSA audience was inspired by the Advisory Board’s youth leadership, creativity, and dedication, proving once again that young people can mobilize real change in their communities. Brownsville Elementary School hosted three Kidzz Helping Kidzz toy drop-off locations, and we were honored that our holiday toy drive was selected as the school’s ASB service project.

Big Moves at Charity Headquarters

At Kidzz Helping Kidzz charity headquarters, the pace definitely picked up. With the generous support of Junior Enlisted Association members, Brogan Stewart, Tyree Baker, Anfernee Colman, and Stacey Cabonila, we moved our operations from the back to the front of the storage facility.

This was no small task—they relocated all of our equipment, supplies, and charitable donations and then stayed to help with gift sorting, labeling, and boxing toys. True champions!

The Submarine Officers’ Spouses’ Association SOSA-WA was an absolute powerhouse of community support as well. Working alongside the JEA, this incredible team also helped relocate our operations.

Their efficiency, collaboration, and positive energy made a tremendous impact on the project success of the day, and we are deeply grateful for their time, dedication, and unwavering support of our youth charity mission.

As toys poured in from Kitsap, King, and Pierce Counties, we hosted six work parties where community volunteers labeled, sorted, and boxed toys. Each toy received a Kidzz Helping Kidzz label featuring our logo, contact information, and a QR code that allows kids or family members to “share their story” about receiving a toy.

After labeling, toys were carefully boxed. Boxing toys is harder than it sounds. Some toys fit together easily, while others turn the process into a puzzle. Community volunteers with strong visual-spatial skills thrived here, creating perfectly organized boxes while having a great time.

All Hands on Deck, It's Toy Collection Day!

On December 18, our highly skilled community volunteers headed out across Kitsap County to collect charitable donations at toy drop-off locations. Each driver had a designated route and a lot of holiday cheer.

Meet Our Amazing Team of Drivers:

Team A: Port Orchard & Bremerton Route

Driven by Adam and Andie Wiren, this experienced father-daughter duo navigated multiple locations and tight schedules with skill and enthusiasm. Picking up toy collection boxes isn’t always easy, and they handled it with initiative, creativity, and gusto.

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Team B: Silverdale Route

Driven by Judy Villegas and Alejandro Luna. When our scheduled U-Haul driver became seriously ill and ended up in the ER the morning of pickup, the Junior Enlisted Association stepped in immediately. Within just 15 minutes, Judy and Alejandro dropped everything to help.  They truly saved the day!

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Team C: North Kitsap Route

Driven by Wendy Kile and Alyssa Shaw. This route covered Kingston, Bainbridge, and Poulsbo and involved the most driving. Despite construction on Bainbridge Island, this dynamic duo completed their route in just under four hours, which was nothing short of impressive.

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Team D: Churches Route

Driven by Rhandel Darner, with help from Noah Darner. This route involved picking up toy collection boxes immediately following church services and delivering them in time for our toy sorting party—under two hours. Noah was spotted carrying two large collection boxes at once, putting his muscles to good use.

Community Support That Made It All Possible

We were thrilled to receive two visits from Jeff Grosshans, Event Manager at Puget Sound Region USA Volleyball in Lynnwood.

Over 300 toys were collected by 60 volleyball teams during tournaments, resulting in two full truckloads of charitable donations. We are incredibly grateful to Puget Sound Region USA Volleyball and their amazing players.

We also received a delightful charitable donation of 160 Rock ’N’ Roll plush stuffed animals from Micheline Gibbons at The Band Mates shop in Bothell.

They packed up their car and drove the plush toys all the way to Bremerton. This marks their third year supporting our holiday toy drive, and we are so thankful.

Several churches across Kitsap County generously contributed charitable donations, including St. Anthony of Egypt Episcopal Church, Hillcrest Church, Alive Church, Peninsula Bible Fellowship, The Church of the Latter Day Saints in Port Orchard, Silverdale, Poulsbo, and Bainbridge Island, South Sound Church of Christ, City Chapel of Bremerton, and Charleston Bible Fellowship. We are deeply grateful for their continued generous support.

We also extend heartfelt thanks to the local Xi Gamma Lambda Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.

Kathy Watson delivered over 100 toys from this incredible group and even mentioned the possibility of volunteering at the warehouse next year. We would love that!

Final Push Before The Holiday Toy Drive Delivery

Our largest gift sorting party of the year took place on December 20, just two days before toy delivery. Our goal was to finish labeling and boxing all remaining toys and organize boxes by hospital so we could begin loading trucks the following day.

The Laborers’ Local 252 and 242 Women’s Committee and their children showed up in full force with over 20 community volunteers, armfuls of charitable donations, and an absolutely contagious holiday spirit that filled the entire storage facility.

From the moment they walked in, the energy level skyrocketed. They tackled every task with enthusiasm, collaboration, and smiles, helping to label and box toys at lightning speed. When it came time to move the finished boxes, they efficiently transported all of the charitable donations to the back of the storage facility in preparation for loading day.

Their positivity, work ethic, and genuine joy in giving back made a huge difference and turned a busy work party into an unforgettable celebration of the local community and our collective generous support.

The North Kitsap High School PTSA also showed up in full force! After hearing from our Advisory Board, they were so impressed with our youth charity mission that they volunteered to help on our busiest storage facility day.

Not only did they lend a hand—they set the gold standard for box assembly speed. We’re still trying to keep up!

We were also honored to welcome Washington State Representative Adison Richards, who took time out of his busy schedule to visit the storage facility and show his support for Kidzz Helping Kidzz and the youth leading this effort.

Representative Richards made the nearly two-hour drive to be there in person. His presence and encouragement were a powerful reminder that this work is seen, valued, and supported at every level, and it added even more excitement and inspiration to an already impactful day.

The following day, members of the Academy of Dance from Port Orchard arrived with arms full of toys and an incredible amount of energy. After hosting a fundraiser, they used the proceeds to purchase toys themselves—an inspiring example of youth helping kids in action.

They jumped right in alongside our youth volunteers. Once both trucks were fully loaded, the kids gathered together to create a heartfelt thank-you video, sharing their gratitude with the Kitsap County community for its generous support that made the entire holiday toy drive possible.

Toy Delivery Day of Adventure

The next morning, we met early at Kidzz Helping Kidzz charity headquarters, reviewed our itinerary, and headed out in eight cars and two U-Haul trucks, traveling with 36 youth to mobilize the thousands of toys.

At Swedish Medical Center, we encountered an unexpected challenge—the U-Haul became stuck under an overhang. Thanks to quick thinking and collaboration by Adam Wiren and Kevin Hill, a plan was formed to free the vehicle by letting air out of the tires and adding weight. Kevin even climbed on top while older kids jumped inside the back. The truck was freed safely, and off we went.

Despite missing our scheduled King 5 News visit due to delays, our team successfully unloaded 3,500 toys at Seattle Children’s Hospital using teamwork and determination

We then traveled to St. Francis Hospital, where we were warmly greeted by President Joseph Brown, who congratulated the kids on their commitment to serving others.

After a quick lunch stop, we continued on to St. Anthony Hospital, where Chief Nursing Officer Sunny Porter thanked the Advisory Board and shared a heartfelt story about how one of our toys helped a child just the day before.

Our final stop was St. Michael Medical Center, where Chief Nursing Officer Rosie Apoloisk, leadership, and staff welcomed us warmly and helped unload toys beneath a large Christmas tree in the lobby.

Rosie honored the Kidzz Helping Kidzz Advisory Board for their civic leadership and noted how remarkable it is that the organization delivered 14,295 toys this year and over 67,000 toys since our first drive in 2016. We are deeply grateful to St. Michael Medical Center for their continued support, including providing storage facility space and funding for one of our U-Haul trucks.

While the holiday toy drive takes place during the holiday season, the impact lasts all year. Many hospitals distribute Kidzz Helping Kidzz toys to children throughout the year, providing comfort long after the holidays have passed. Because we are based in Kitsap County, we make it a priority to ensure St. Michael Medical Center always has a sufficient supply of toys available, so that every child who walks into the emergency room can receive at least one Kidzz Helping Kidzz toy—a small moment of comfort during what may be a very difficult time.

With Endless Gratitude

Looking back, we never imagined impacting over 67,000 lives through our holiday toy drive. This work would not be possible without our incredible local community, sponsors, partners, and community volunteers.

Thank You to Our Amazing Volunteers

Volunteer U-Haul Truck and Van Drivers:

Jen and Adam Wiren, Tia and Tony Picini, Wendy Kile and Alyssa Shaw, Cadence Cadengo and Rhiannon Neal, Rhandel Darner and Noah Darner, Judy Villegas and Alejandro Luna.

Volunteer Drivers for Toy Delivery to Hospitals:

Jeannette Forster, Josh Neumann, Heather Yango, Ashley Kirk, Lindsay Weaber, Kevin and Chelsea Hill, Melanie Deshields, Aaliyah Chandler.

Community Volunteers Who Picked Up Toys from Sites:

Pam and Larry Keller, Amber Nash, Espie Pashoukos, Debbie Slaton, Becky Lober, Tia Picini.

Amazing Youth Leadership Advisory Board of Kidzz Helping Kidzz:

Everette Crouse, Zachary Darner, Noah Darner, Zechi DeSchields, Paige Devey, Makayla Devey, Alexis Eams, Arianna Guy, Selah Guy, Leighton Hill, Logan Hill, Cade Kuharich, Liana Kurtzbein, Matthew Manzano, Jameson Neumann, Chloe Schneider, Elim Song, Caleb Song, Hannah Salminen, Parker Presley, Payton Presley.

Since our humble beginnings in 2016, Kidzz Helping Kidzz has distributed over 67,000 toys to children at St. Michael Medical Center, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Swedish Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital, and St. Anthony Hospital.

That’s 67,000 lives brightened—and counting. Please consider supporting Kidzz Helping Kidzz by donating toys, time, or funding. Together, we truly keep the spirit of giving back alive.