It’s a Frostapooloza.
Hundreds of snowmen festoon the home of Linda and Larry Jubie.
What’s not to love about the jolly old souls?
“I’m attracted to snowmen. I just like them,” Linda said. “They are always so cheery.”
There are too many to count, but you are welcome to try during the Dec. 5 Holiday Home Tour by Assistance League of Everett.
The Alverson Boulevard home is one of six stops on the self-guided tour in north Everett. There are also four homes on Grand Avenue and another on Rucker.
We’re talking Tudors and mansions, new and historic. Homeowners open their doors to hundreds of strangers to help out people in need.
The tour is a trifecta of joy.
First: It raises money for Assistance League projects such as providing new clothes and personal care items to thousands of kids in Snohomish County.
Second: Each home is uniquely styled in grand fashion. It’s not limited to baubles and bling. The man in the red suit will be at one home. There is a bright red vintage pickup truck to admire at another.
Third: There is food at every stop. Each home has a chef in the kitchen. Not mere snacks, these are signature items made by chefs. Think: Buck’s American Cafe’s famous peanut butter pie. Other chefs are from Bleachers Grill at Cedarcrest, Rhodes River Ranch, Cama Beach Cafe, LJ’s Bistro &Bar and Kama’aina Grindz.
Added bonus: There are raffle drawings and a gift shop.
Shop. Eat. Admire.
Repeat.
The display homes were selected for their captivating charm and grandeur.
The Jubie home sits on 1.5 acres. It has nine bathrooms, swimming pool, tennis court, eight-car garage, wine cellar, home theater and Greta Garbo room honoring the legendary actress (it came with the house when they bought it).
Sorry, those aren’t on this tour, but there’s plenty to see. In addition to the profusion of snowmen, there are four decorated trees and holiday displays. The world’s largest glass pear from the Schack Art Center is not an official decoration on the tour, but it is very cool.
“We try to make every room different,” Linda said.
It’s a team effort.
“I do the lifting and hauling,” Larry said.
The couple’s two sons, Joel, 28, and Larry, 31, surprised them this year by bringing in all the boxes from storage while they were out of town. Their sons also help every year putting things away.
The Jubies moved from Marysville seven years ago to the Alverson Boulevard house, which they admired on frequent trips to Everett.
Both are volunteers at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. He’s the chairman of the Providence General Foundation board. She co-manages the hospital gift shop, which has kitchen items, jewelry, a spa section, gifts, games and toys, with profits going to fund projects that benefit children.
The holiday season is all about giving, but it is a year-round passion for the Jubies as well as the Assistance League, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to serving those in need.
The tour raises money for the league’s Operation School Bell, which gives kids new school clothes, and projects including financial aid for graduating high school seniors, Everett Community College scholarships and clothing/hygiene kits for assault victims.
About 4,000 kids in the county are clothed every year by School Bell, said tour spokeswoman Amy Knutson.
The league runs a thrift store at its Evergreen Way site with donated clothes and items for the public to buy at affordable prices. It is in the same building as Operation School Bell but is a separate endeavor.
Knutson said there’s a misconception that because of the thrift shop, people often think the kids get used clothing.
“We have a store in the back of the building that is stocked with new clothing with tags on them,” she said. “The children come in and shop. They go home with a bag with three outfits, a coat, hat, gloves, a grooming kit. They’re excited to see the grooming kit. A toothbrush. Sometimes they say, ‘Just for me?’”
It’s bittersweet.
“It makes me tear up to think about how some of these little children come in dressed. Too big shoes. Filthy coats. No underwear. They are so excited to go home with these brand new clean clothes with tags on them. The kids mention there are tags on their clothes,” Knutson said.
“If you live in a world where you don’t see that, it’s easy to not realize how different some people’s lives are and what it means for these children to go to school the next day in new clothing.”
It’s a gift that keeps giving.
“We hear from adults who say, ‘I was one of your of School Bell kids,’ and they tell us what it meant to them.”
Andrea Brown at 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.
Holiday tour
The Holiday Tour by Assistance League of Everett is noon to 7 p.m. Dec. 5. Tour six homes decorated for the holidays. Tickets are $30 advance/$35 on tour day. More at www.assistanceleagueofeverett.org.
Advance tickets are at Assistance League of Everett, 5107 Evergreen Way; Joyworks in Snohomish, Stadium Flowers in Lynnwood and Everett; Barbara’s Floral in Lynnwood; and J. Matheson Gifts, Kitchen and Gourmet in Everett.
On the day of the tour, tickets can be purchased at the display homes. Addresses are: 328 Alverson Blvd., 720 Grand Ave., 820 Grand Ave., 1102 Grand Ave., 1725 Grand Ave., 2320 Rucker Ave. You can start anywhere.
Assistance League
The Assistance League of Everett operates a thrift shop at 5107 Evergreen Way. The store has clothes, toys, linens, books and household decor at bargain prices. The store is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The league has an estate sales team of volunteers to manage the estate sale for a share in the proceeds. The service includes cleaning, set up, advertising and conducting the sale.
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