Special assistance needed

As the deadline for registrations and donations nears, Christmas Gifts for Cheney Kids volunteers are hoping for a surge in both.

Coordinator Elsy Lusk said they have had 75 children signed up so far to receive gifts, which will be distributed Friday, Dec. 18, at the Wren Pierson Community Center beginning at 9 a.m. The gifts are arranged on tables in the center’s multipurpose room, with parents then let in to select a gift for their child who might not otherwise receive a present this Christmas.

Lusk said past coordinators have told her registrations are generally slow, but speed up near the end of the drive, something she hopes will happen. In 2013, Christmas Gifts for Cheney Kids provided gifts for 197 children.

This year’s registration deadline is 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16. Signups take place at Cheney Outreach, 616 Third St., Tuesday, Dec. 15 and Wednesday, Dec. 16.

Sign ups are limited to Cheney-area families. Parents need to bring proof of residence — a utility bill for instance — income, photo ID and a family Social Security card.

Volunteers are needed, and monetary donations are accepted. Checks should be made out to Cheney Outreach and the phrase “Christmas Gifts” on the memo line and dropped off or mailed to Cheney Outreach, P.O. Box 444, Cheney, WA 99004.

The gifts are for children ranging in age from infants up through teens, with organizers suggesting a price range of $15 – $25 per gift. Gift ideas include hats, scarves and gloves, toys, cologne gift sets, books, games and electronic items along with arts and crafts supplies and stuffed animals.

Over half of kids registered by their families are typically teenagers, which is a tough group to buy for, Lusk said. In trying to present ideas for teenagers, Lusk decided to consult several experts — a pair of teenagers who baby-sit her children. The 16-year-old and the 18-year-old had the ready answer — gift cards.

“That’s kind of the age we live in now,” Lusk said. “That’s something those kids enjoy though.”

Some suggested gift cards include iTunes, Starbucks, Forever 21 (a clothing outlet), Macy’s, Best Buy (especially boys) and Cheney fast food places.

Lusk said donations have also been slow, with most of what has been received being blankets and stuffed animals. In several cases, it appeared as if the donor cleaned out their closets of items and dropped them in the boxes.

Lusk said that while all gifts are appreciated, what a child receives on Christmas Day might be how they remember that morning for the rest of their life.

“Here’s a gift for a child that might be the only gift they get this Christmas season,” she said. “We want it to be special.”

Donations can be made at drop boxes around Cheney up to Dec. 15. Drop boxes are located at Apex Physical Therapy, Cheney City Hall, Cheney Federal Credit Union, Cheney Library, Cheney Owl Pharmacy, Jarms Ace Hardware, SNAP Fitness, Dr. Martinssen Dental office and the Eastern Washington University President’s office in Showalter Hall.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].