Donate to the KOMO Toy Drive benefiting Santa's Castle to help military families

SEATTLE — 'Tis the season! We're in the homestretch of the KOMO Toy Drive benefiting Santa’s Castle!

As of Friday evening, the community has helped raise $25,000 to help Santa's Castle ensure military families have a happier holiday this year. Click HERE to make a monetary donation.

"Our service members work really hard, and they sacrifice a ton for us, so we want to make sure that we’re not adding to that stress we’re alleviating that stress for them," said Santa's Castle President Donna Handoe. "We’re set up like a giant toy store, they’re hooked up with their own personal shopping elf, and they’re guided around and they pick out a ton of toys for their children."

Santa’s Castle started in 1994 and is a 100% donor funded and volunteer staffed organization. The mission of Santa’s Castle is to ease holiday stress by providing toys, games, and books to active military families in Washington who are experiencing financial hardship.

PHOTOS | Santa photos at Santa's Castle

The organization serves all active military in Washington, including the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and activated National Guard and Reserves.

Service members are referred to the organization by their chains of command, a chaplain or other program. Once accepted, service members are scheduled for a shopping appointment where they come to Santa’s Castle to select gifts for their child or children.

"We get a lot of that emotion, and it’s a great feeling," said Handoe. "It's just wonderful to see that service member relax and know that the holidays are taken care of."

Veteran Anita Vargo is the vice president of purchasing for Santa's Castle. She shops year-round to give back to her brothers and sisters in arms.

"I missed my soldiers, and I missed the community, so I wanted to do something to keep me connected to them," said Vargo. "It's just amazing. They be crying, and it's just so heartwarming to see them here when they’re so excited with everything they can get."

Volunteers like Donna and Anita work year-round collecting donations of new toys, books, games, bicycles, stocking stuffers, coloring books, and crayons which are on display in the castle for service members to select from during their appointment.

The good news is you still have time to help by making a financial donation or shopping from a wish list.

There is also a public drop off for new, unwrapped toys at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Visitor Center for Lewis Main Liberty Gate off I-5 at exit 120. You do not have to have base access to stop at the visitor center to drop off toy donations.

Santa’s Castle is also looking for volunteers to distribute toys this season and special projects all year long.

If you would like to volunteer, click here to learn more and to sign up. Click here to learn more about the family referral process.