Toys express

Published 2:40 pm Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Normally a stage for hockey or hoops, the accesso ShoWare Center served as a distribution hub, a toy factory on Tuesday with 70 Les Schwab Tire Center employees working as busy elves beating the Christmas rush.

In partnership with the Seattle Thunderbirds, 84 area Les Schwab Tire Centers collected 40,000 new, unwrapped toys for children in need during its month-long drive. The T-Birds helped, too, asking fans to donate toys at home games this month.

Les Schwab employees volunteered their time Tuesday, collecting and sorting toys at the ShoWare Center before shipping them off by truck to a dozen charity destinations, including The Forgotten Children’s Fund, Toys for Tots, and Christmas House in King Pierce and Snohomish counties.

“It’s a great time. We look forward to this,” said David McAllister, a Les Schwab store manager. “Our slogan, ‘Doing the Right Thing,’ is more than just a slogan … it’s the foundation of who we area. This is about giving back to the community.”