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EHS 'Toys for Teens' drive will benefit kids in local foster care

by Randy Bracht, Editor

Updated December 09, 2025

EHS 'Toys for Teens' drive will benefit kids in local foster care — During a shopping excursion Monday at the local Walmart, ASB student reps and advisors from Ephrata High School were prepared to fulfill Christmas wish lists for 41 teens currently in foster care in Grant County. Photos by Randy Bracht

EPHRATA – Christmas will be a little brighter this season for dozens of teenagers in foster care across Grant County.

Participating in a “Toys for Teens” fundraising drive, over $12,500 in cash donations for gift buying plus an additional $1,000 worth of purchased gifts were achieved Monday by students and staff at Ephrata High School.

Those monies will be used to fulfill holiday “wish lists” for 41 foster teens, ages 13 to 18, said EHS ASB advisors Sheila Massey and Laina Mitchell.

“Our goal was high. We shot for $8,000 in hopes of being able to spend about $200 per child ….” Massey and Mitchell announced to district personnel. “(We’re) thrilled to report that we met and exceeded that goal!”

High school teachers and students were grouped into eight teams which participated in the fundraising effort. The two ASB advisors said they were particularly appreciative of large donations from Granco Federal Credit Union, Pro Auto Repair LLC, L.R. Drywall Systems Inc., and Morgan Investments LLC of Woodinville.

“Each of these businesses has connections to students in our school and gave generously,” said Massey and Mitchell.

And what did the teens hope Santa – via his Tiger helpers – would bring them?

Clothing was a popular request by both boys and girls – particularly for pants, hoodies, and shoes – along with gaming components, electronics, and gift cards.

EHS ASB representatives Evangeline Springs (left) and Hunter Mansford were browsing for electronics, a popular gift request.

But there were plenty of other esoteric items on the wish lists: makeup and hair coloring, a thick blanket and pillow, LED lights, Squishmallows, vanilla candles, Pokemon cards, “anything pink” (and other favorite colors), a Camila Cabello poster, shampoo and conditioner, jewelry, pots and pans for a future apartment, and always popular food fare on the teen menu – Monster energy drinks, Ritz crackers, Gatorade, Cheetos and Doritos, Jolly Ranchers, and “anything chocolate.”

(Making America Healthy Again can be suspended for the holidays, right? That starts up again with those New Year’s resolutions.)

Gifts have been purchased from several retail outlets, both local and online. On Monday afternoon, 18 ASB student reps were pushing shopping carts through the aisles of the Ephrata Walmart on a quest to meet the fulfillment requests.

Yaritza Rodriguez (above) and Natalin Abundiz and Alexandra Estrada (below) were among Santa's helpers in the high school's gifting project, which received over $12,500 in cash donations.

The school’s collective effort prompted a response from the Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families, which oversees adoption, child care, foster parenting, and child development services in the state.

“Your donation provides Christmas gifts to children & teenagers like you. These children do not live with their parents. Some of them do not get to experience a traditional Christmas holiday or have anyone who buys them anything,” the DCYF said. “From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for making someone’s Christmas extra special!”