As volunteers organize and prepare this year’s Holiday House, they’ve noticed a few toys that Santa’s helpers forgot to bring.

With the gift-giving program for families in need already underway, volunteers say there’s still time to donate items that may be on some children’s Christmas lists.

In its 11th year, Holiday House offers an opportunity for parents to come into a store-like environment and choose gifts for their children.

The program is run mostly with volunteer support through the island-wide Readiness to Learn organization and in partnership with school districts on the island. There is a South Whidbey location and North Whidbey locations.

The North Whidbey location serves both Oak Harbor and Coupeville children, said Vivian Rogers Decker, Coupeville resident and student and family support specialist for the Oak Harbor School District.

Decker held the same position with the Coupeville School District back when the program was first started and it was organized as just a Central Whidbey program in Coupeville until about four years ago. Each year Decker plans and organizes the program with her army of volunteers.

Decker said she sees Holiday House as a prevention program for families.

Parents are more likely this time of year to put off paying household bills in exchange for getting presents for their children.

“There’s something about your child not having a gift under the tree,” Decker said. “They don’t know their electricity company personally or their phone company. It’s easier not to pay those bills.”

With Holiday House helping with gifts, families can put their money toward necessary bills, she said. And then she doesn’t have families requesting bill assistance come January.

Each year, Holiday House moves locations to a space that is provided free of charge. Spaces used for the program are generally out of the way and not retail storefronts. Because of how the program is set up, they don’t want to confuse anyone, Decker said.

In its first year, Holiday House operated out of Jenne Farm in Central Whidbey, then spent some time in various empty spaces throughout Coupeville, including three years where The Whidbey Examiner now resides in Coupe’s Village.

But finding space in Coupeville became increasingly difficult and the program moved to Oak Harbor four years ago, Decker said.

“I tried to be in Coupeville again this year,” she said. “But I just couldn’t find the space.”

This year, Decker said, she had more difficulty locating a suitable spot and ended up in a school district space.

The location is usually not publicized because they don’t want people just walking in.

Families are brought through Holiday House on a by-appointment basis. Each appointment lasts about 20 minutes.

Last year the Oak Harbor location served more than 500 children, ages infancy to 18 from Central and North Whidbey.

Gifts are separated into several categories based on value — from stocking stuffers to “gold” items, which are gifts valued at $30 or more. Parents are allowed to get a specified number of items from each category for each child that is being served.

The estimated value for gifts each child gets is estimated at  $80 to $100, Decker said. “We try to have a good selection.”

This year, Holiday House is lacking “gold” items for children and babies.

Christina Wertz, a single mother from Coupeville who volunteers and also utilizes the program, said Holiday House could still use art kits for teenagers, anything technology related and anything related to Star Wars or Seahawks.

Tablets are also a highly requested item for teenagers that Holiday House could use, Decker said.

And while organizers may be a little worried about gifts lacking in some categories, they know the community comes through each year.

“People are really generous with giving gifts,” Decker said.

There are already 400 children signed up for distribution this year, with the possibility of more. Holiday House continues serving families until Wednesday, Dec. 23, though Decker said they’ve been known to open on Christmas Eve if a need arises.

The program also accepts donations through the end of distribution. Any leftover items are stored until the next year.

Community groups and businesses continue to hold drives to gather items for Holiday House.

Cascade Insurance in Coupeville is holding a drive to collect socks, gloves, hats and under clothes until Monday, Dec. 21. Items can be donated at the office on South Main Street next to Prairie Center.

It also takes an army of volunteers to pull off Holiday House each year, from moving everything in, decorating organizing and running, about 200 volunteers operate the program each year.

For more information about volunteering, utilizing or donating to Holiday House, call 360-279-5514 or email mckinney@ohsd.net