HOPE hosts toy collection for Grant County kids

MOSES LAKE - The HOPE Agency Family Services is holding a Christmas toy drive to help bring Christmas to kids in the Grant County area who may not get to experience a traditional holiday.

The non-profit agency provides supervised visitation services for Child Protective Services as well as parents who need supervised visitation or supervised drop-off transfers in Eastern Washington, said HOPE founder Donna Bottineau.

"Some of the families that we serve are low income, and some are homeless," said Bottineau. "So it's unlikely that some of the children will get a present."

Bottineau said the goal of the annual toy drive is to make sure the children they serve get to experience a traditional Christmas.

The agency has donation bins in Ephrata at Les Schwab, Barry Chevrolet and Horizon Credit Union. There are also bins in Moses Lake at Lake Bowl on Stratford Road and Grant County Fire District 5 on Nelson Road.

Donations will be collected until Dec. 21, said Bottineau. Gifts will be distributed to the children the agency serves beginning on Dec. 22.

Bottineau said the agency currently serves about 74 children, and she is hoping to collect enough toys, clothing and other gifts for all of them. Any extra toys the group collects will be distributed to other families in need in the Moses Lake area, she said.

"Every kid deserves a Christmas present," said Bottineau.