This week has been amazing here at Kidzz Helping Kidzz!
Our first task this week was to load our rented 26’ U-Haul truck with all of the 7,018 boxed toys.
Our Advisory Board of Kidzz showed up in full force and through the “organized chaos” and fun, we loaded the truck in just under 60 minutes.
Now you know how we define “organized chaos” at Kidzz Helping Kidzz!
The following morning we met early at "Kidzz Helping Kidzz headquarters" (aka Zach’s house). We reviewed our itinerary and quickly headed off in three cars and a 26 foot U-Haul filled with toy donations.
We had delivered toy donations to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital last month, so our focus today was delivering to St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
We arrived at St. Michael Medical Center promptly at 8:15 AM, and were greeted by Chad Melton, President and his amazing Leadership and staff.
They all helped us to offload the toys from the truck. We brought the boxed toys to their very large Christmas tree in the lobby.
Chad Melton honored Zachary and our Kidzz Helping Kidzz Advisory Board for their civic leadership and asked if any of them wanted to come work with his leadership team.
Chad then presented Zach and the other Kidzz Helping Kidzz Advisory Board members with gifts.
The kids received beautiful blankets, Seattle Sounder soccer socks, and other fun gifts. They also treated our entire team to Starbucks hot chocolate and cake pops. This was the perfect breakfast for the kids who had forgotten to eat.
We also recognized Paige, a longtime member of our Advisory Board who turned 14 today. We sang Happy Birthday to her.
We then headed off to Seattle Children’s Hospital.
We arrived promptly at 11:15 AM, and were greeted by friendly staff and a wonderful King 5 Reporter named, Leah.
We were able to offload our remaining 3,500 donated toys in just under an hour.
This is the fastest time we have ever delivered so many Holiday toy donations! All of our gift donations were in large boxes, so this helped with our efficiency.
We then drove to Taco Time to eat lunch and celebrate Paige’s birthday. Paige was not thrilled with the prospect of us singing Happy Birthday to her again, so we just honored her quietly.
The kids talked non-stop as they reflected on their day. It was certainly memorable for us all.
It is a true gift to be able to give to others in this way!
We greatly appreciate the support of our community! We simply could not have done this toy drive without our amazing sponsors who provided us with necessary funding, warehouse space, storage space, and toys!
Kidzz Helping Kidzz is run entirely by volunteers and we had amazing volunteers assist us in so many ways this year!
We are so grateful to the following individuals for taking time out of their busy schedules to help us.
Volunteer U-Haul Truck and Van Drivers:
Janis and Dave Gibbard
Bob and Julie Dikeman
Wendy and Marcus Kyle
Debbie Slaton
Rhandel Darner
Volunteer Toy Delivery Drivers to Hospitals:
Stephanie Devey
Ashley Kirk
Courtney Blair
Rhandel Darner
Volunteers Who Picked Up Toy Donations Throughout Kitsap County:
Pam and Larry Keller
Laura Leder
Beverly Basile
Debbie Slaton
Pamela Grossman
Clint Boxman
Our Amazing Advisory Board of Kidzz Helping Kidzz:
Zachary Darner (age 13)
Paige Devey (age 14)
Makayla Devey (age 16)
Everette Crouse (age 14)
Leighton Hill (age 13)
Logan Hill (age 11)
Maisey Blair (age 13)
Tate Blair (age 10)
Arianna Guy (age 14)
Selah Guy (age 11)
Jameson Neumann (age 14)
McKenzie Stithem (age 14)
Grace Orford (age 14)
Jane Frandsen (age 14)
Since our humble beginnings in 2016, Kidzz Helping Kidzz has distributed 30,000 toy donations to children at St. Michael Medical Center, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
That’s 30,000 lives that we have been able to brighten!
Please consider supporting Kidzz Helping Kidzz by donating toys, time or money to our cause.
Thank you
What a privilege and what an honor to have met and shared time with the founder and the President and Vice President of Kidzz Helping Kidzz. Your family, Randel, is changing the "arc of the moral universe." Martin Luther King, Jr., reminds us that that "arc is long, but it bends toward justice.” God bless you and your family and all the children and adults you serve and help.