By Carolyn White
Christmas comes but once a year – Santa’s Elves work all year long to make it so.
During the spring, as many in Thurston County are planting seeds for their garden, several local ladies are currently working on a project for Christmas delivery. Their year–round dedication to the spirit of giving is an inspiration for the community.
Since 1999, the Washington Unit of the Wally Byam Caravan Club (WBCCI) – the Airstream Club – has made Christmas a special time for fifty children. The Fifty Dolls Project, led by Maureen Isaman and her volunteer elves, Jan, Patty, Lori and Muriel, create joy and happiness for the underprivileged in our Thurston County community.
Residents of Thurston County’s Washington Land Yacht Harbor (WLYH), these ladies from the WBCCI unit volunteer their time and talents to provide fifty new dolls, complete with a wardrobe, to several community organizations. Over the years, the Salvation Army, City Gates Ministries, and Mt. Rainier Doll Club participate in distributing these dolls to young girls, ages 7-14, facing challenges in their lives.
What makes these dolls special? According to Maureen, who has led this project since 2008, 99% of the clothes are hand-crafted by a core group of five ladies, including Maureen. From skirts, party dresses, pajamas, stockings and flip-flop shoes, each 18” Springfield doll receives five to six outfits plus a doll quilt. During the year, Maureen and her “elves” sew, knit and crochet over 300 different items of doll clothing to create fifty complete ensembles. They rely on donations of fabric and yarn from community members and welcome contributions of sewing notions —thread, Velcro and decorative trims—to complete each item.
Donations often arrive from unexpected sources. When one member of the group searched Pinterest for new 18” doll clothing patterns, she found some really cute outfits. She contacted the designer, explaining that she was part of a volunteer project and would like the patterns for the clothing she viewed. Not only did she receive the patterns, the designer gifted the 50 Doll Project with a box of 18” doll clothes. It turns out that this designer sold her outfits on Etsy and had some unsold items to donate to the project.
Maureen likes the quality of the Springfield dolls, as well as the diversity of the Springfield girls—Maria, Oliva, Madison, Abby, Naya and Emma. The WBCCI Washington Unit and interested parties raise the funds to purchase thirty dolls through donations and raffles. The local Salvation Army provides the remaining twenty dolls.
Each doll retails for about $22.00. The group keeps an eye open for sales, where they can usually purchase the thirty dolls for around $15.00 each, a total of $500.00 including sales tax. To raise funds for purchasing thirty dolls, the group sells raffles tickets for a Springfield doll and her wardrobe at the WBCCI home rallies.
Towards the end of November, the group gathers the outfits created during the year and the dolls. Since the Salvation Army provides twenty of the dolls, twenty groups of six outfits each are coordinated by color. Each ensemble is wrapped in cellophane, along with a doll quilt, for presentation with a doll.
A similar process happens for the remaining 30 dolls purchased by the group. Each doll is removed from all the tie-downs inside the box and returned to the box. This little detail means fast access to the present without the frustration of liberating the new doll. Each doll receives her own wardrobe and accessories. The volunteers wrap the boxed doll and ensemble together, making this present ready for giving.
At the beginning of December, the Fifty Doll Project displays the wrapped dolls and their accessories at the WBCCI Christmas rally, held at the WLYH. After the rally, Maureen and her “elves” deliver the dolls to the distributing agencies. Last year, the Mt. Rainier Doll Club, which receives ten dolls annually, donated their allotment to the Catholic Welfare Domestic Violence charity. City Gates’ Safe Place in Olympia receives the remaining twenty dolls. These agencies find new homes for the dolls, matching each with the perfect playmate.
According to Maureen, some of the little girls don’t want dolls. Some of the girls who would love to have a new doll come from customs that don’t celebrate Christmas. The various agencies are sensitive to these needs and honor these traditions. Bottom line—it’s all about bringing joy and happiness into a little girl’s life.
Between making clothes, raising funds, buying the dolls and preparing them for distribution, Maureen estimates that she and the four other ladies invest about 15,000 hours during the year on the Fifty Doll Project. For the group, it’s a pure labor of love and giving. Once the dolls leave the WLYH, Maureen says her group does not participate in the one-on-one presentation. They only hear glowing reports about that moment of joy, the wide-eyed wonderment experienced by a little girl when she meets her new playmate.
When I asked Maureen about the name Fifty Doll Project, she related that the group, at the current level of participation and financial support, could only handle fifty dolls. To increase the number of dolls distributed, this endeavor would need additional funding and dedicated volunteers.
Participation in the Fifty Doll Project is not limited to WBCCI members. Anyone who is interested in contributing time, materials or money can contact Maureen at 360-455-4057. All doll clothes need to be new. Fabric remnants, such as cotton or cotton-polyester, are appreciated.
Cash donations are tax deductible. A self-addressed stamped envelope would be helpful to return the receipt. Please make your check payable to WA Unit WBCCI, write Doll Project on the memo line and mail to:
Washington Unit WBCCI Office
9101 Steilacoom Rd SE
Olympia, WA 98513
