After COVID-related changes last year the Washington Kiwanis AM’ers group is eager to reincorporate the Washington Middle School Builders Club in their annual Lonny’s Kids Secret Santa program.

The groups will shop this week for toys, clothing, and other items for children in 12 Washington School District families that could use a boost this holiday season. Around $175 will be spent for each family, and Project Organizer Xiomara Levsen shares what sorts of gifts they purchase, “Educational toys or clothing. I know last year I got a lot of art stuff for kids because they have awesome art pencils and stuff and then books. No videogames or anything like that. It’s just toys that they can benefit from and a lot of families ask for clothes so that’s the main thing we do.”

The shopping will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Washington Walmart, with gift wrapping from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the middle school. The AM’ers are also providing food boxes with help from the Washington Fareway to help keep families’ pantries and fridges stocked during the winter break. The gifts and food boxes will then be delivered or distributed from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday from the middle school. Unfortunately the number of families gifted this year is smaller as the AM’ers were not able to hold their annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser, which Levsen hopes they will resume in 2022. She encourages anyone to join who would like to help with the Lonny’s Kids project, particularly the gift wrapping on Thursday. You can hear more from Levsen during today’s Halcyon House Washington Page.