By Lindsay Peyton

Local firefighters are asking the community to jump into action – and help them make this the best holiday yet for families in need.

King County Fire District #2, which serves Burien and Normandy Park, has been collecting toys, canned goods and donations for three decades for its Holiday Outreach.

Fewer goods have been coming in this year, Capt. George Stoess, fire inspector, said.

He wants to ensure that families will have a Christmas to remember – by giving a boost to the annual drive.

“It’s pretty sparse at the moment – especially for being ongoing since Thanksgiving,” he said. “But we do hope it’s going to pick up.”

Donations will be collected until Thursday, Dec. 14 at a number of locations including Fire Station 18 at 1243 SW 112 St, Fire Station 19 at 1606 S 128 St, Fire Station, 28 900 SW 146 St and Fire Station 29 at
135 S Normandy Rd.

In addition, new toys and canned goods may be dropped off at Boulevard Park Place Retirement Community, 2805 S 125 St, Burien Chevrolet 14400 1 Ave S, Burien Toyota, 15025 1 AVE S,Dominic's Red Apple Market
, 9627 Des Moines Memorial Drive S, and Economy Wiring, 633 SW 148 St.

Donation bins are also available at the Burien Fred Meyer, 14300 1 Ave S, Normandy Park Market 19805 1 Ave S, Ola Salon, 1835 SW 152 St. and the Safeway stores at 12725 1 Ave S and 
138 SW 148 St.

The toys will be sorted according to age of each child – from newborn to 18 years old -- all nominated by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

There are 52 area families on the list. Each child will receive multiple toys – and each family will get boxes of canned goods.

“Every family gets a turkey meal – turkey, stuffing, vegetables and all the sides, plus pie donated by Plush Pippin Pies in Kent,” Stoess said.

Checks and cash donations may be made at Fire Station 28, 900 SW 146 St. in Burien, to help fund the dinners and to provide gift certificates for older children.

Stoess explained that each year, a whole new group of families is selected as recipients.

“That’s how much need there is in the area,” he said. “In most cases, these kids would not be getting a present at all if it weren’t for this.”

He said the first year he participated, about 16 years ago, more donations were made.

“When I started, I recall dropping off 10 plus boxes of food to each family,” he said. “Last year, I think we were at four.”

Firefighter Chris Reed has also witnessed the number of donations drop since he began volunteering for the event in 1994.

“It was a tremendous amount of goods,” he said. “It was a lot bigger back then. It was even a lot bigger 10 years ago. The need has been there for years. It hasn’t gone away.”

Reed said this drive is unique because volunteers spend time selecting gifts specifically for each child, based on information given to them by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

“We get to tailor it to them,” he said. “It makes a big difference. It’s a lot more meaningful that way.”

Reed added that providing canned goods and a hot meal for the family also makes the drive unusual.

“Gifts are nice, but at the end of the day, people have to have food,” he said. “Sometimes, that’s overlooked.”

The Fire Department’s Holiday Outreach was started by volunteer firefighter and former fire commissioner Max Roushman and his wife Josephine.

Stoess said a number of groups come together for the drive, including King County Fire District #11 and CHI Franciscan Health-Highline Medical Center. Sylvester Middle School hosts a food drive each year to donate to the cause.

On Thursday, Dec. 21, firefighters and volunteers will distribute everything to the families on their list. Santa will accompany them on the journey.

Members of the Exchange Club volunteer to drive box vans full of donations to their destinations. Fire engines join in the parade. “It’s kind of like a convoy going to one place,” Stoess said.

He just hopes the trucks are filled to the top this year.

To learn more about how to help, visit www.burienfire.org.