451 children. 213 families. 75 volunteers. 35 businesses. Originating with the efforts of a Chimacum schools bus driver broken-hearted for kids who received no Christmas gifts, Jefferson County’s Christmas for Children now brings joy to more kids and families than ever before.
In 1973 several children told Janice Schauer, a school bus aide, that they had not received any gifts for Christmas. The following Christmas, out of her own pocket, she bought socks and other modest gifts for the small children on her bus route she knew to be in need. This was the start of “Tri-Area Christmas for Children.”
Schauer’s daughter, Laurie Schauer Liske, and her husband Tony then took up the program. They were followed by their son Tony and his wife Kelly, the third generation of the Schauer/Liske family to spearhead this highly organized, very cost-effective, far-reaching and growing outpouring of Christmas spirit.
Assembly of gifts for children from an earlier year
A similar program to serve needy Port Townsend children folded in 2013 and the Tri-Area Christmas for Children group took up the call, nearly tripling in size the number of children reached. Known now as Christmas for Children, it serves families in Port Townsend, Nordland, Chimacum, Port Hadlock-Irondale-Chimacum (the “Tri-Cities”) and Port Ludlow. The numbers, so far: 451 children in 213 families getting loved on, by 75 volunteers and 35 businesses hosting Giving Trees. You can pick up a tag and fulfill some child’s Christmas wish at the businesses on this list.
Kelly Liske says that kids get more than just the gifts on their wish list. “They also receive toothpaste, floss and toothbrushes donated by local dentists, socks, hats and gloves, candy assembled by a local Girl Scout Troop, and stuffed animals. I would say that the community, together with our financial support, is likely spending over $50,000 each year on this project. Our organization works on a budget of less than $10,000 annually…. We could not do this without the support of the community and their generous giving!”
As explained on the group’s website: “By October 1 of each year, applicants who are seeking gifts for their children fill out an application, which is then submitted to program volunteers to generate “tree tags” for the ‘want’ and ‘need’ for each child. Those tree tags are then distributed throughout Jefferson County to approximately 35 “Tree Hosts” to be placed on “Giving Trees”. The local businesses that accept the tags see that their customers or employees take the tags and then purchase the items requested. The purchased gifts are returned to the Tree Host site by a set date to be picked up by our teams.”
Liske encouraged Port Townsend Free Press to hurry up if we wanted photographs of the giving trees. “The tags go fast,” she said. She was right. The Giving Tree we found at Evergreen Fitness (shown in the feature photo with owner Michelle West) had been picked nearly clean, as members took up the children’s requests by plucking tags from the tree.
Christmas for Children depends on generous contributions from the local Rotary, Elks and Kiwanis groups, as well as financial support from local businesses. The Jefferson County Fair Board is a key partner, making its buildings available for storage, assembly and distribution of the Yuletide haul. Christmas for Children has developed a close relationship with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program and makes deliveries for them. Says Liske, “Toys for Tots can’t supplement any clothing items or anything really other than toys per their mission and guidelines, so the cash donations that come into [Christmas 4 Children] are used to purchase the items that are considered needs rather than toys (socks, hats, gloves, coats, shoes, clothing, diapers, hygiene items, blankets, car seats, etc.).” Donations may be sent to Christmas for Children 1240 W. Sims Way #286, Port Townsend, WA 98368.
The organization doesn’t want any children overlooked. “Teens always get forgotten,” says Liske. “Most people like to buy toys for little kids, so we have an abundance of items typically for the 0-8 year-old group. The 9-16 year-old group are hard to buy for and we typically are short of donations in this area!”
Christmas for Children will be assembling the gifts and other supplies for needy children at the Fairgrounds on December 17 and 18. Families share the outpouring of the community’s generosity and Christmas spirit on December 19. Christmas doesn’t end December 25. “There are often gift tags that are left over from the Giving Trees that our program must try to fill,” the group’s website states. “That is where it is vital that we receive cash donations throughout the year.”
Jim Scarantino was the editor and founder of Port Townsend Free Press. He is happy in his new role as just a contributor writing on topics of concern to him. He spent the first 25 years of his professional life as a trial attorney, then launched an online investigative news website that broke several national stories. He is also the author of three crime novels. He resides in Jefferson County. See our "About" page for more information.
Thank you for reporting on this, Jim. I’m so happy to see our community making sure every kid feels the spirit of the season.