The Q13 Cares & Les Schwab Toy Drive receive thousands of toys for children in need



SEATTLE, Wash. -- Thousands of children who may not have had a Christmas otherwise will soon be unwrapping new toys thanks to your donations through the Les Schwab Toy Drive and Q13 Cares.

At last check, more than 23,000 toys had been collected but more toys are still coming in.

Instead of sleighs, toys filled more than 50 Les Schwab trucks.

“It feels great to be a part of something like this, something this large,” said Les Schwab Manager Paul Howell. “These are fellow managers and we have a business to run, but we also like to give back to our communities and being able to give back is probably one of the most fulfilling for Les Schwab.”

All this as part of the Les Schwab toy drive to help more than 13 different organizations distributing toys to children in need across Western Washington.

“Most of these families wouldn’t have toys for their kids if it weren’t for organizations around the community who provide these gifts for these kids,” said Gregg Milne with Christmas House.

From organizations like Christmas House in Snohomish County, Toys for Tots and the Forgotten Children’s Fund, thousands of kids will get a special delivery from Santa on Christmas Day.

“I can’t imagine what it’s like to grow up where you don’t have a lot of the things other kids have and to all of a sudden, in comes Santa Claus with a bunch of elves, and gives you a new bike for Christmas,” said Larry Longfelder, the president of Forgotten Children’s Fund.

But before anyone can see the joy on the children’s faces, it will take hundreds of volunteers to wrap the toys and then distribute them-- well worth it say this group of Santa’s helpers.

“Our children are our greatest asset and without them, we don’t have a community and we don’t have a country, so we must care for them, and being able to be a part of that is the greatest joy I can experience,” said George Hight with Pierce County Toys for Tots.

Les Schwab will continue to take unwrapped toy donations until Christmas Day. Just drop off a new, unwrapped toy at any Les Schwab location.

You can also make a monetary donation directly to the Forgotten Children's Fund by CLICKING HERE.