SEATTLE - For a few days this week, the Hopelink food banks are transformed into toy banks. Food is pulled from the shelves, and families who register are able to have a holiday shopping spree so their little ones will have a Christmas to remember.
This year, the demand is higher than ever, with the number of registered families catapulting from less than 750, to 1000.
Full time student and mother of two Beatrice Durr is one of them.
"We can just pick up anything?" she asks her volunteer personal shopper as she strolls through the isles.
Durr was not sure what to expect when she signed up to collect gifts for her 4 and 5-year-old daughters at the Kirkland Hopelink. She began her shopping excursion with just one simple request.
"Something that they hopefully won't be able to break," she says with a laugh. "They break everything."
But as she peruses the selection, Durr is quickly overwhelmed with the quantity and quality of choices.
"I wish they had stuff like this when I was a kid!" she says.
For four days this year, beginning last Friday, Hopelink's food banks shift gears from grocery stores to toy stores, and shelves are stocked with new dolls, games, books and balls. They are all donated at local toy drives. Each shopper is allotted five points to spend per child, and at the end some bonus stocking stuffers and gift wrap are thrown in as well. Emergency bags of food are available as well for families who need them.
Durr says she's amazed by the experience.
"I'm happy that they have opportunities like this because where I'm from, they don't. I'm from Chicago and there's just not that many... there's just not that much giving that they do. So I'm thankful."
Hopelink organizers say while gifts are not a necessity like the food they supply, being able to give to your children is a quality of life issue for many parents struggling to make ends meet. Beatrice Durr agrees.
"I know they'll be happy and I'm going to be happy that they're happy."
Hopelink's toy banks are going to be open at most locations today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, and they could still use more gifts, particularly for teens and pre-teens. If you are interested in donating, you can drop toys off at any Hopelink location. For more information, go to www.hope-link.org.
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