Every child dreams of waking up to a tree with gifts under it at Christmas time. For low-income families, making this dream come true can be a real burden. In Yakima Valley, these organizations are available to help make this dream come true. Does this Spark an idea?
Christmas Giving Tree
Many churches and businesses in Yakima participate in the Christmas Giving Tree program. Trees placed through out the valley have tags with children's Christmas wishes on them, gender and age. People wishing to contribute to the Tree take a tag, shop and wrap gifts and return them to the original tree, where they are then distributed to the families. For more information, contact the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army
509-453-3139
9 South 6th Ave.
Yakima, WA 98902
P.O. Box 2782
Yakima, WA 98907
OIC
OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Center ) partners with other organizations and has five different programs to help low-income families pay for heat during the winter. Program benefits include assistance with non-working heat sources, electrical heat discounts over the first 600 kilowatts used, budget and energy conservation education, and help with payments and repairs of up to $250 for homes with gas and up to $500 for cascade gas customers when funds are available. Contact OIC for more information about qualifying for these programs.
OIC
815 Fruitvale Blvd.
Yakima, WA 98902
V (509) 248-6751
F (509) 575-0482
Toys for Tots
The U.S. Marine Corps works through the months of October, November and December to collect toys for children in low-income families during Christmas time. The goal of the Toys for Tots program is to provide a message of hope for children, motivating them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders. In Yakima 1st Sgt Michael L. Pullom is the Toys for Tots contact person.
Toys for Tots
1st Sgt Michael L. Pullom
Email: michael.l.pullom@usmc.mil
Phone (509) 575-6935, Ext. 25
Fax (509) 575-0941
Tags: Toys Tots, low-income families, Christmas Giving, Christmas Giving Tree, Christmas time, come true, dream come