Get Involved
Volunteers begin gearing up after Labor Day in the Fall and swing into full speed after Thanksgiving. We collect donations from boxes placed in sponsoring schools, churches, and businesses. When we get cash donations we are able to buy items most requested by families who come off the streets into the shelters: toothbrushes, gloves, even underwear if it is a special request of the shelters.
Register with Bobette Scheid, bobette@holidaystockings.org or (206) 232-9854 and specify the Friday and/or Saturday event. As space fills quickly, we recommend groups sign up early. Give us the approximate number attending and then you may add group member names up until the Dec. 5 deadline. We suggest a 1:3 adult/child ratio for all children under age 12.
Because this is held at a military installation base security requires all volunteer names 16 years and up to be submitted as they appear on their photo ID by Dec. 5th.
All Non-US Citizens must register by November 20 with passport information to enter the base. Volunteers must be registered by name and meet vehicle insurance, registration, and ID requirements to be allowed on the site.
As of 2020 all persons will need an Enhanced Driver’s License, Passport or Military ID to enter the base.
Additional ways to be involved include:
• Assist with grant writing.
• Make a donation of cash or new small gifts (see needed items tab).
• Sponsor a child for $25.
• Decorate a donation box and check on it at a business, school or other organization.
• Contact us for flyers to distribute.
• Mail our brochure to friends and families who might be interested in making a donation.
• Donate holiday fabrics and white felt.
• Donate yarn for hats, scarves and other items.
• Sew stockings. Contact Pearl Grantham (pearl@holidaystockings.org) or Bobette Scheid (bobette@holidaystockings.org) for a pattern and materials.
• Contact a specific business for donations such as socks, deodorants, colognes, toothpaste, small toys or other small gifts.
• Sort gifts on Friday (see above).
• Be a Shelter Captain on Saturday morning, and deliver stockings to a shelter.
• Use smile.amazon.com when ordering items and specify our organization - that's all there is to it. Then use smile.amazon.com each time you shop and we receive a donation.
We have chosen a stocking as a gift for these kids because the small items contained in a stocking are going to be those a child can actually carry in a pocket when it comes time for the inevitable move from the shelter. Shelters tell us that the kids actually hang the stockings by their beds for weeks after the holiday as a reminder that Santa, or someone did find them this year.
While we use the word Santa, we try to make our effort as non-denominational as possible. Our goal is to bring some cheer at a time of year where many religions celebrate a holiday.