Early every December, Giving Trees begin to quietly appear across the lobbies of the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties. They aren’t flashy – just a few ornaments. The real highlight is the tags they’re decked with, each a representation of a family who could use extra support during the holidays.
In 2025, our members, staff, and volunteers showed up for those families in extraordinary ways.
In Lakewood, the Giving Tree supported over 422 children, many from facing food insecurity or financial hardship in their families. Staff shared story after story of families overwhelmed with gratitude while picking up gifts. One application came from a grandmother, who is raising her five grandchildren. "When I called to let her know the gifts were ready, she immediately started crying on the phone," said Yvette Wilson, senior health and well-being director at the Lakewood Family YMCA. "At pickup, she shared just how much of a blessing this was for her and her grandchildren."
In Gig Harbor, hallways and rooms of the Tom Taylor Family YMCA quickly filled to the brim with wrapped gifts. More than 265 children and 94 families were supported beyond what had been initially asked. After wish lists were fulfilled, families were invited to choose additional gifts that had been donated.
At the Gordon Family YMCA in Sumner, the Giving Tree reached 229 families and more than 500 children, including teens navigating housing instability. For many of these young people, the most meaningful gifts weren’t toys or gadgets, but moments of normalcy: gift cards that allowed them to grab food with friends without having to worry about money. Small freedoms like that help vulnerable teens not feel left out of everyday experiences.
At the Pearl Street Family Y in Tacoma, more than 115 children received gifts, including one who listed a bike as a long-shot wish. When the child’s mother arrived, she wasn’t sure if that wish would be granted. She broke down in tears when she learned she’d be taking home two bikes, one for each of her children, so they could ride together.
In Puyallup, at the Mel Korum Family YMCA, over 270 children received something from the Giving Tree, along with additional gifts for patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital. One parent shared with staff that the help they received from the Y “changed everything” for them, as they were unsure how they were going to make the holidays happen at all.
Stories of gratitude, joy, and relief were echoed by Giving Tree recipients across Pierce and Kitsap Counties. Families often arrived unsure what would be waiting for them and left with arms overflowing with gifts. Some paused to collect themselves before loading the car, while others stopped to offer a final ‘thank you’ to staff.
The scope of support reflects the generosity of the Y community. Across Pierce and Kitsap Counties, Giving Trees helped provide gifts for hundreds of families and thousands of children. Each gift represents time, resources, and care offered by members, donors, staff, volunteers, and community partners. Together, those efforts ensured that families across the region were supported during the holiday season, with Giving Trees serving as just one way the Y shows up for the communities it serves.