11th Annual Giving Garland at Leschi Elementary

We greatly appreciate the past partnership, support and tremendous generosity from our school community (Leschi Elementary families, extended family, friends and co-workers) as well as our local supporters (the Leschi Community Council, Leschi Market, BluWater Bistro, Rainier Food Bank, Northwest Harvest, Food for Schools; Mt. Zion Baptist, First AME and Mercer Island Presbyterian Churches). We welcome and thank you in advance for your support again this year!

The Giving Garland is a charitable event which, in the last 10 years, has supported over 1,300 children and their families during the winter holidays. It is made possible by the Leschi school and neighborhood communities and is sponsored by the Leschi PTA.

This year we anticipate twice as many of families requesting support this year; at this time 93 families with 273 children will benefit from the generosity shown through the Giving Garland. The support we provide families through the “virtual” Giving Garland is even more critical than ever…due to COVID 19, students and families are in greater need of help.

How You Can Help!

Donate Gift Cards for the most frequently requested stores:

Safeway, Grocery Outlet, Costco, Target, Ross Dress for Less, Old Navy

“Cash” donations for gifts and gift cards to be purchased:

Checks made out to “Leschi PTA” (in the memo add “Giving Garland”)

Make donation via PayPal (go to the school website listed below)

Go to the Leschi School website to see WISH LISTS for individual gift items at:

Snapdoodletoys.com (a local toy store!)

Amazon.com

Checks and grocery cards can be sent to 202 29th Ave Seattle WA 98122 or dropped at the school office weekdays from 8am to 2pm.

In 2019 the Giving Garland supported 55 families with 180 children. The event is geared towards the children in the families. In pre-Covid years we hung tags on the garland which represented a gift, this year we will still be giving gifts to families…some items are fun: toys, bikes, art supplies, board games, balls, books and some are basics: clothing, bedding, warm coats or diapers. And every family receives gift cards to easily accessible grocery stores.

There are currently 370 students enrolled at Leschi Elementary, all of whom are attending school via “remote learning”; approximately 50% of the student body qualify for free and reduced lunch and 19% qualify as homeless under the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Our number of homeless children enrolled at Leschi has increased significantly in recent years. Presently there are 70 children attending Leschi who meet the criteria of “homeless”, making the homeless student population at Leschi Elementary one of the highest in the Seattle Public Schools.

Leschi PTA is an 501(c)(3) Organization, Tax ID #91-1391625.

For more information, contact Katie Busby (katiebusby@gmail.com), Jennifer Marquardt (206.423.2781 / jrmarquardt1@gmail.com) or check the Leschi School website: https://leschies.seattleschools.org/school_involvement/fundraising/giving_garland