Preparing for the Christmas rush

Barry Kinyon spent a day of his vacation from his job at AT&T volunteering at Christmas House at 2200 Hewitt Ave. in Everett. He swept the floor Thursday between the morning and evening rush when low-income families come in to get free toys and clothing for their children. "If you could just see their faces," Kinyon said. "If you don’t know the meaning of Christmas when you come in here, you know it when you leave." Christmas House can handle about 100 families each day from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. It also accommodates about 100 families each Wednesday and Thursday evening, when families begin lining up at 5 p.m.

For each child in a family, a parent can receive one item of clothing, one item of warm clothing such as a coat or sweater, one large gift and one small gift, plus a stuffed animal. Also, the families can receive one household item — the blankets are so popular they’re nearly out. Families at Christmas House are certified as low income. The entire staff of Christmas staff is volunteer.