Christmas is a magical time of year, however, for families struggling financially it can also be heartbreaking. One organization in Seattle is working to change that. The Forgotten Children’s Fund (FCF) is a non-profit that delivers Christmas presents to underprivileged families in the greater Puget Sound area. It was founded in 1976 by Dick Francisco and now serves over 800 families and 1,200 children every year and the organization does it all without any employees.
“We’re all volunteers,” FCF board president Greg Bakke said. “We don’t have any single big corporate sponsor so we do all grassroots type fundraising.” The fund currently operates in King County, Lewis County, Chelan County and several northern counties of Washington State. The organization serves on need-based criteria, “we try to help families that aren’t being helped by other charities,” Bakke said. Alongside gifts, families also receive essentials such as blankets, coats, hats, gloves and toothbrushes. “92 cents of every dollar that we get in donations goes straight back to children and families,” Bakke said. Occasionally, the FCF also provides donations of groceries or financial help for utilities and bills.
Throughout December, a rotating crew of volunteers prepare for the big day – Christmas Eve – in a donated warehouse space in Kent, Washington. These volunteers are everyday people who book slots to visit the warehouse, also known as the ‘North Pole,’ and spend a few hours hand-selecting and wrapping gifts for children based on information about age and interests.
Each parent or guardian also gets one gift and teens receive gift cards. However, the magic doesn’t end there. When it comes time to deliver presents on Christmas Eve, volunteers dressed as Santa and his elves pull off something truly unique. “We don’t just bring them the gifts, we sit down and experience the toys with them,” Bakke said. “We are one of the few charities that does an actual full Santa Claus Christmas.”
While the support of their many donations is essential, this organization truly runs on the generosity of their board members and screening team who read and make hard decisions on thousands of applications starting in October. “Some [volunteers] are retired, but most of them have day jobs,” Bakke said. “They’re doing this work in their spare time to try and help the families that are most in need in our community.” The impact the Forgotten Children Fun has on the lives they touch is profound. “We routinely have people walk into the warehouse and say I’m here because you guys helped me when I was a kid, you helped our family and now I’m on my feet and I just really wanted to give back,” Bakke said.
It’s not too late to get involved! Time slots for gift wrapping are available through December 22 and there are also opportunities to get involved with delivery day and cleanup. With every gift wrapped, a child is brought magic, and shown the spirit of Christmas.
