As they walked into the Hermanson Company’s building Tuesday to pick up the employees’ donations to their Toys for Joy toy drive , the Kent firefighters’ jaws dropped as they looked around the room.
Piled around a pair of Christmas trees and spreading out from every wall were hundreds – maybe thousands – of brand-new toys. There were bikes and skateboards, keyboards, stuffed animals, basketballs, playsets, Disney Princess dolls, Hannah Montana toys, robots, board games – including 12 Candylands – Star Wars toys and remote-controlled cars.
Turning to his fellow firefighter Paul Lyons, the coordinator for the Toys for Joy program, Scott McClelland summed it up.
“You’re going to need to get a truck, Paul,” he said, a smile spreading across his face.
But Hermanson Co. provided that too, as workers helped the firefighters carry all the toys out to a flatbed truck to be whisked away to the Fire Department in time for the department’s wrapping party to ensure all of the toys find their way under a tree.
“This is absolutely unbelievable,” Lyons said as the toys were loaded, filling one of the company’s flatbed trucks. “I’ve got goosebumps.”
But the giving wasn’t over yet.
Company President Rick Hermanson presented the firefighters with a check for $10,000 – the company’s match of its employee contributions.
“Abslutely unbelievable,” Lyons said again, after thanking Hermanson and his employees.
“It’s our way of giving back,” Hermanson said as the toys were loaded out of his building.
“We’re a very fortunate company with some great people in it,” he continued. “It feels good to be able to help some of the other folks who aren’t as fortunate as we are.”
The toy drive was the company’s first, though not its first try at charity work. Last year, company employees collected food, filling two truckloads for the Kent Food Bank.
This year, to add a little excitement to the process, the company’s Christmas committee divided everyone into 10 teams to see who could bring in the most toys.
“We threw a little challenge out there,” Hermanson said. “And these folks? They respond to competition.”
The winning team was comprised of three of the company’s Seattle job sites, including the Skyline Retirement Home, the Hyatt Place and Wesley Square.
Erin Eaton, team captain for the winning group, said here secret was to simply ask people to bring in toys for the drive.
“You’d be really surprised what people will donate if you ask,” she said.
The prize for winning? A pizza party, which Hermanson admitted would probably be for the whole company anyway.
“It’s more that they can hold it over their co-workers,” said Christmas Committee Employee Beth Chandler.
However they did it, the firefighters sent to pick up the toys were blown away.
“This is without a doubt the largest contribution we’ve ever gotten for Toys for Joy,” Lyons said.
Captain Kyle Ohashi said the department was worried about being able to keep up with requests at the food bank, where the toys will be delivered after they are wrapped. According to Ohashi, the food bank has seen double-digit increases in requests each month this year and in times of economic downturn, priorities for many families are elsewhere.
“Obviously there’s a need for basic human needs, let alone toys,” he said, adding that this would go a long way to bringing those families a merry Christmas.
And as the truck piled high with toys pulled away, led by grinning firefighters, the employees – all still smiling themselves – turned to head back to work, slapping each other on the back as they went.
“Santa’s got nothing on us!” one said triumphantly.
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