The Pullman Fire Department is asking residents to bring food, toys, clothing, blankets and new personal hygiene items to Fire Station No. 1 until Dec. 19 for the annual Christmas drive.
Donations will be distributed in association with the Community Action Center and Pullman Child Welfare. Christen Lockler, the department’s administrative specialist, said they are emphasizing the importance of food donations this year due to the cut of SNAP benefits during the recent government shutdown.
“I don’t think the food banks are going to turn away any amount of food we donate,” Lockler said.
Lockler said all food contributions will be sent to the Community Action Center, a Whitman County nonprofit organization that, among other services, operates a food bank located in Pullman. The center distributed over 288,000 pounds of food last year, according to its website, and is currently in need of canned proteins, halal foods, cultural foods and gluten-free and diabetic options.
Lockler also said the center is hoping community members will donate ready-to-eat meals, as it can often be difficult to provide food for those in need who do not have access to electricity and are unable to cook or heat up food.
The fire station is also looking specifically for clothing that will fit pre-teens, Administrative Assistant Brenda Davison said. She said pants, shirts, sweaters and jackets sizes 8-13 are rarely donated every year.
“We’ve gotten plenty of little kids’ clothing in the past,” Davison said. “People don’t consider middle-school-aged children as much, but it would be great if we got more donations for them this year.”
Davison also said they prefer new or gently used items to be delivered to the station and expressed hope the drive may be as successful as it was a couple of years ago. Pullman Child Welfare, Davison said, distributes all toys, bedding and school supply donations the station receives. She noted that the station has been working with Pullman Child Welfare for at least the 23 years she has been employed with the fire department.
Pullman Child Welfare’s secretary Frances Clark said she was unsure when the Christmas toy drive first started but estimated the tradition had been around for at least 30 years. Clark requested that Pullman residents who wish to assist their community, but do not have items to donate, volunteer with Pullman Child Welfare directly. The organization’s website says residents can do so by filling out the volunteer request form on pullmanchildwelfare.org or by contacting their office at (509) 338-0801.
Clark said families in need of emergency supplies can fill out an assistance request form on their website. Families receiving supplies from the Christmas drive have already been selected, Clark said, and the organization is no longer accepting requests for this distribution event.
Pullman Child Welfare’s food bank is open year-round, however, and people can still reach out for an appointment at any time, Clark said.
Both Davison and Lockler shared an anecdote about 2023’s Christmas drive, during which the WSU women’s basketball and volleyball teams donated many toys to the station. Lockler described the amount of donations as “a truckload,” and estimated the group gave them around 150 teddy bears, among other gifts.
Lockler said the massive donation was difficult to manage and distribute since it was made so close to the end of the drive, but sizable contributions are more than welcome from WSU students and Pullman community members.
All donations should be brought to the Fire Station No. 1 administration office located at 620 S. Grand Ave. The station accepts items Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
