The season of giving
By Shaelyn Hood; photos courtesy of Dominic Flores
For the past few years, Dominic Flores, Vivi Do, and a handful of their fellow Tulalip Resort Casino workers have joined together to raise funds and collect new clothing and essential item donations for people in need. Each year, they choose a different non-profit organization to work with and contribute to.
Last year’s event was organized for a women’s homeless shelter in Everett. It was a success and they put together over 300 bags worth of clothing and essential items. This year, the group decided on Hand in Hand.
Hand in Hand is a non-profit located in Everett, Washington. They provide hope and opportunity for children and families in need by providing services focused on protection, provision, and permanence. They offer foster support services, a resource closet with clothing and essential items for children, rental/utilities assistance, emergency food boxes, child academics mentoring, and work with the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to provide visitation to youth and families that are going through the Child Welfare system.
Dominic’s passion for helping others stems from his early life. Through most of Dominic’s childhood, his family utilized programs and non-profits like Hand in Hand. Now that he is in a more financially stable point in his life, he knew it was time for him to start giving back. Dominic also works alongside his son, “I want to inspire him. We’re blessed to have our jobs, and we’re in a position to give back.”
Currently, Dominic and Vivi have a Facebook page with a list of items that are needed, including but not limited to: New or very gently used clothes for all sizes from toddler to adult, hairbrushes/combs, hoodies, sweats, leggings, t-shirts, shorts, new shoes, new socks, new underwear/boxer-briefs preferred for boys, diapers, wipes, new pajamas, etc. Their Facebook page also includes a direct link to an Amazon wish list of items that specific children with Hand in Hand are wanting.
Dominic and Vivi will be doing their first drop off at the Hand in Hand office on December 12th, but they will continue taking donations up until Christmas.
If finances are tight for you this season, Hand in Hand is also looking for volunteers to sort through donations, organize them, and help with their day-to-day ventures.
You can find the Amazon wish list at: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3N4HUL19X79T2/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2?_encoding=UTF8&type=wishlist&fbclid=IwAR07YlrImoHJK2AhUzwVZg9VAUNi87G0HiSTaCLzLQgatTou86a6WY5NyNc
So far, they have been able to fulfill 20 children’s wish lists and are looking to continue to help more. Without a specific goal in mind, Dominic, Vivi and friends are hoping to help as many children as possible.
Flores said, “I just want people to give. Whether it’s through Hand in Hand, or other organizations like Salvation Army, churches, homeless shelters, etc. I just want people that are struggling out there to know that there are people who want to help, that will go out of their way to donate something and make them happy. Everyone deserves something for Christmas.”
Flores went on to talk about possibly extending to other non-profits in the future, running food drives, toy drives, etc., investing in a storage pod to hold all the items, and overall growing and reaching more people.
The donations are currently being taken and stored with Dominic Flores. For more information, please refer to their Facebook page “Christmasgiving” or contact Dominic Flores directly at: dominicflores1992@icloud.com or (360) 228 – 8063.