Santa’s satellite workshop in Oak Harbor may be a little light on gifts for some boys and girls this holiday season.
As volunteers dutifully organize and prepare this year’s Holiday House, they’ve noticed Santa’s helpers got a little behind in some areas.
With the gift giving program for families in need scheduled to start Wednesday, 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.
HOLIDAY HOUSE is run mostly through volunteer support through the island wide Readiness to Learn organization and in partnership with the school districts on the island.
There is a South Whidbey location and North Whidbey location.
The North Whidbey location serves both Oak Harbor and Coupeville children, said Vivian Rogers Decker, 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 held in Coupeville until about four years ago.
Each year Decker plans and organizes the program with her army of volunteers.
LAST YEAR, the Oak Harbor location served more than 500 children, from infancy to age 18.
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 being served.
Estimated value of gifts each child gets is $80 to $100, Decker said. “We try to have a good selection.”
This year, Holiday House is lacking in gold items available for children and babies.
Christina Wertz, a single mother who volunteers and also utilizes the program, said Holiday House could still use art kits for teenagers, anything technology related and anything Star Wars or Seahawks.
Tablets are also a highly requested item for teenagers that Holiday House could use, Decker said.
WHILE HOLIDAY House 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.
Families are brought through Holiday House on a by-appointment basis. Each appointment lasts about 20 minutes.
Each year Holiday House moves locations to a space that is provided free of charge. Spaces used 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. The location is also usually not publicized because they don’t want people just walking in.
THIS YEAR, Decker said she had more difficulty locating a space and ended up in school district space.
There are currently 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.
n For information about volunteering, utilizing or donating to Holiday House, call 360-279-5514 or email mckinney@ohsd.net
