I received an email from a very dedicated volunteer (18yrs!) who wanted me to let everyone know that the FCF no longer gives away used/refurbished bikes.  It seems that they ended up really just being a disposal source for unusable bikes.  Also the location of the North Pole can change on a yearly basis as they are given space that is unrented in November by a caring building owner willing to donate their space for little more then a month.  I will put up another post in November 2008, once all the updated information is provided.  Please consider helping this cause next year, it really is a wonderful experience.  All posted phone numbers and schedules may not be accurate any longer.  Check back later this year for updated information.  This number is available all year if you want to offer donated items or to get answers to other questions 1-800-369-6365.

It all began in 1976 when a wayward letter found it's way into the caring hearts of patrons at a Seattle restaurant. 

That night the Forgotten Children's Fund was established and has been working every year since to make Christmas memorable for those kids who might not otherwise have a Christmas.

Nine years ago my daughter had to perform some sort of community service for school so I took her and her friend to the North Pole to help wrap gifts.  We spent about 5 hours preparing care packages and wrapping gifts.  I then decided I wanted to be part of the delivery process on Christmas Eve so I called the the Head Elf and we were in luck....they were still in need of Elves to help deliver.  Because of the potential danger of going into some unsavory neighborhoods, one must be 16 to be a delivery Elf so my daughter could not go along.  I recruited my husband and a girlfriend, Leslie, and her husband.  Leslie's parents had actually been helping for many years but were unable to help that year.

We arrived at the North Pole at 9am, got our Elf hats and itineraries.  There were 5 Elves, Santa, and a driver in the van followed by a moving truck stocked full of goodies!  We made our way to the first stop and delivered boxes of food for a Christmas Feast and gifts for all the kids.  Only grandma was home and she seemed a bit overwhelmed, it was touching.   On to our next stop!

We knew from the letter written the family was a single mom of three very young kids, (all under 5) and her sons bike had just been stolen.  Because of the neighborhood they lived in all he could do was ride around in the driveway, but now even that was gone.  Her only wish was for him to have a new bike for Christmas.  Well we did better then that!

We pulled up in front of their home.  Santa  stepped out of the van just as the little boy looked out the window.  We could hear him yelling "Mommy, Santa's here!!".  We gathered all the gifts and food and headed to the door.  Santa grabbed one very special gift.  As we got to the door the little boy saw the bike and started jumping up and down saying "a bike, a bike!!".  Santa asked him his name and if he had been a good boy all year to which he replied "yes" and Santa handed him his bike.  He was so happy!  It was probably 35 degrees outside but he didn't care, he took that bike for a spin.

We proceeded to take the rest of the stuff into the house.  We had toys for all the kids.  And toothbrushes, toothpaste, diapers, wipes, winter coats for all the kids and a meal fit for a king.  We delivered ham, potatoes, fruit, veggies, a cake mix, eggs, milk and bread and OJ.  By this time mom was crying and can't begin to express her gratitude.  This was more then she'd ever dreamed of when she wrote her letter.  All she wanted was to make her little boys Christmas a little brighter and now everyone would get a nice meal and have presents to unwrap.  We even slipped a little gift in for mom!

As we all got back into the van there wasn't a dry eye in the bunch!  That was one of the most moving experiences in my life.  To see a little boy so overjoyed at getting his bike from Santa was priceless.  And this wasn't a brand new bike, this was a bike that had been donated and refurbished, but that little boy never knew and wouldn't have cared.  We had a couple more deliveries after that and there were more tears but nothing compared to the little boy and his new bike!

If you would like an opportunity to fill your heart this Christmas season, consider helping at the North Pole.  They still have lots of gifts to wrap and bikes to refurbish.  The delivery teams may be all assembled at this point, but just knowing that the gifts you wrap will bring an unmeasurable amount of joy for a small child, does wonders to the spirit.  Donations may still be needed as well.

Their contact information is FORGOTTEN CHILDRENS FUND21717 30TH DRIVE SE, BOTHELL, WA 98021  425-481-1383.  This number is for information to help only, all requests for assistance must be in writing and mailed to PO BOX 9936 SEATTLE, WA  98109.  If you click on the link above, there is more information on ways to help including the outlying counties that need help. 

In 1976, the Forgotten Children's Fund helped 285 children in 81 families.  Currently they are serving more than 2,500 children in 500 families