Author: Edmonds Woodway High School Parent Staff Organization

Join us in making the holidays brighter for students facing housing and food insecurity.

The holidays should be a time of warmth and joy — but for many Edmonds-Woodway families, this season brings extra challenges.

This year, the need is greater than ever. With the federal government shutdown, interruptions in SNAP benefits, and economic uncertainty affecting many local families, our Joy of Giving Campaign is more vital than ever.

At EWHS, we see the impact firsthand:

• 1 in 40 students are actively experiencing housing insecurity
  
• 33% of our students come from low-income households
  
• Many more quietly face housing or food insecurity

Through Joy of Giving, the EWHS PSO partners with Family Resource Advocate Esther Eligio to ensure every dollar goes directly toward meeting urgent student needs — from holiday meal kits and grocery packs to gas and gift cards for clothing and essentials.

Your support helps fill the gap when other programs can’t.

How to Help

💜 Donate

Make a tax-deductible contribution to help us reach our $6,000 goal by December 17… ideally before Thanksgiving so we can help early in the season. Every dollar goes toward food, gas, and essentials for EWHS families in need.

👉 Donate to Joy of Giving 2025

🎁 Shop the Amazon Wish List

Purchase directly from our Amazon Wish List to provide specific gifts and essentials selected by Esther. It’s an easy, tangible way to make a difference.
👉 View the Wish List

🙌 Volunteer

Join us in wrapping, packing, and distributing food and gifts in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Winter Break.
👉 Sign Up to Volunteer in November: Thanksgiving Food Bag Distribution
Dates: November 21st & 24th
Time: 9:00 AM – 11am/ 12pm-2:30 PM
Location: Career center
Volunteers Needed: 3–4

Details:
Volunteers will help run gift bags up to the main office for parents.
Shifts can be split — volunteers may help all day or part of the day.

👉 Sign Up to Volunteer in December: December Food Bag Distribution

Dates: December 15th & 16th
Time: 9:00 AM – 11am/ 12pm-2:30 PM
Location: Career center 
Volunteers Needed: 3–4

Details:
Volunteers will help run gift bags up to the main office for parents.
Shifts can be split — volunteers may help all day or part of the day.

Join the Kickoff!

📅 Wednesday, November 12 at 7p.m.
📍 Brigid’s Bottleshop

Come learn how this campaign changes lives from the EWHS Family Resource Advocate, Esther Eligio and our Principal Allison Larsen, and see how you can help us reach more students this year.

Together, we can make sure every Warrior family feels cared for this season.

#JoyOfGiving #EWHSPSO #WarriorPride

Save the Date! 

Edmonds Comedy Night returns February 20 and 21, 2026. 

Tickets are available now.  Purchase Tickets Here 

Purchase your tickets before December 1 and get $10 back per ticket! 

This annual comedy show brings in four nationally recognized comedians for two nights of laughs.  Coordinated by the Parent Leaders of the Edmonds School District, the event gives community members a chance to support the school of their choice with each ticket purchased.  

What if you could get your tickets for FREE??
Volunteer some time to help support this event and you’ll get two free tickets for your preferred date AND the school of your choice (go EW!) will get a $50 bonus donation. 

But sign up quick; only 4 people from each school can sign up!  Volunteer HERE

We hope to see you there!

As the holiday season approaches, the Edmonds Woodway Parent Student Organization (PSO) is thrilled to embark on our annual Joy of Giving campaign! Building on the overwhelming success of last year’s event, we are ready to bring even more cheer, support, and community spirit to those in need. This is a chance for us to come together once again to make a meaningful difference—and we need your help to make it happen!

We are looking for 2-3 volunteers to work with our Event Coordinator make this year’s campaign the best in can be…

Here’s a bit more about our draft vision & plan which needs to be reviewed, improved & implemented:

(The Blue Text below is a DRAFT…
all details are still to be determined by the Joy of Giving Campaign Team.)

Last Year’s Success

Last year, our community demonstrated incredible generosity. Together, we provided holiday meals, gift cards, and essential items to dozens of local families. Volunteers came together to collect donations, organize gift drives, and distribute everything just in time for the holidays. The joy on the faces of families receiving these thoughtful gifts was priceless, and it’s this feeling that inspires us to do even more this year.

2025: Let’s Make It Bigger and Better!

This year, we aim to reach even more families. We’ve expanded our goals to include:

• Holiday Gift Drive: Collecting gifts and donations based on the wish lists of the families in need at Edmonds Woodway.
  
• Meal Assistance: Offering groceries and prepared meals to ensure every family can enjoy a festive meal.
  
• Community Support: Providing essential items like blankets, toiletries, and school supplies to families who need extra support.

But to make this vision a reality, we need your help.

How You Can Get Involved

There are so many ways to participate in the 2024 Joy of Giving campaign:

1. Donate: We’re accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys, non-perishable food items, gift cards, and winter clothing. Every item counts and will make a huge difference to a local family.
   
2. Volunteer: Help us collect, organize, and distribute donations. Whether you have an hour or a day to spare, your time is invaluable. There are roles for everyone—organizing donations, wrapping gifts, and delivering them to families in need.
   
3. Spread the Word: Help us promote the campaign by sharing on social media, with neighbors, and at local businesses. The more people who know about the Joy of Giving, the more we can achieve together!

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering is one of the most impactful ways you can give back to our community. We are looking for:

• Gift Wrappers: Bring your creative flair and help wrap the many wonderful gifts we’ll be distributing.
• Drivers: Help deliver gifts and food packages to families in the area.
• Organizers: Assist in sorting and organizing donations as they come in.
• Event Assistants: Be on-hand during our distribution day to make sure everything runs smoothly.

We welcome individuals, families, and even local businesses who are eager to give back and be a part of this wonderful initiative.

Together, We Can Make a Difference

The Joy of Giving campaign isn’t just about gifts—it’s about community. It’s about coming together during the holiday season to spread kindness and hope to those who need it most. Your involvement, whether as a donor, volunteer, or advocate, will help ensure that every family in our community can experience the warmth and joy of the season.

Join us in making this year’s Joy of Giving campaign the biggest and best yet. Together, we can create a brighter, more joyful holiday season for everyone.

Interested in volunteering to help coordinate this event?

Send me an email: EWHSPSOPresident@gmail.com

Thank you to everyone who joined our October PSO meeting — both in person and online! We had a great turnout and covered important updates about upcoming events, volunteer needs, and the exciting ways our PSO continues to support EWHS students and staff.

✅ Grants Approved

We’re thrilled to announce three new PSO grants supporting our Warrior community:

• 📚 Library Grant – $1,500
  Funds will help refresh and replace books through Edmonds Bookshop, supporting student learning and literacy.
• 🌊 Field Trip Grant – $300
  The Eco-Warriors Club will head to the Seattle Aquarium for an enriching hands-on learning experience.
• 🍎 Snack Grant – $500
  Supports the ML Tutoring Program, providing nutritious snacks to help students stay energized during after-school study sessions.

These grants are made possible by your donations and participation — thank you for making this support possible!

🚨 We Need Your Help!

Your involvement keeps our programs running strong. Here are a few ways to jump in:

• 🥣 Staff Appreciation Lunch – Oct 30
  We’re hosting a Soup & Salad Lunch for our amazing teachers and staff, and we still need volunteers and food contributions.
  👉 Sign up or learn more here.
  
• ✏️ PSAT Testing Volunteers – Oct 30
  Help monitor students during PSAT testing (two shifts available: 7–10 a.m. & 10–1 p.m.).
  👉 Learn more and sign up here.
  
• 🎁 Joy of Giving 2025 – Coordinator & Volunteers Needed!
  Help us continue this cherished EWHS tradition of supporting local families during the holidays.
  👉 See last year’s program for inspiration.
  
  Email us if you’d like to be involved in making this year’s Joy of Giving happen.
  

🌟 Looking Ahead

• Comedy Night Fundraiser – February 20 & 21
• Bingo Kickoff for Joy of Giving – TBD (possibly November)
• Next PSO Meeting – Stay tuned for November details!

Complete notes/minutes of the meeting are available here.

Together, we’re building a stronger EWHS community. Thank you for your time, generosity, and support!

💚 Edmonds-Woodway HS PSO
📍 ewhspso.org | Facebook | Instagram

Join us tonight—Thursday, October 23 at 6:30pm —our EWHS Parent Staff Organization is meeting in person at the EWHS Library and online via Google Meet.

Join online

Location: Edmonds-Woodway High School Library

What’s on the agenda (here’s a link to the agenda):

• 2025–26 budget overview & discussion
  
• Priorities for the year (programs, grants, and volunteer needs)
  
• Joy of Giving: timeline, roles, and kickoff plan

Why your voice matters
Your input helps us direct funds and volunteers where they’ll have the biggest impact on our students and staff.

How to participate

• Come in person at the EWHS Library
  
• Or click to join online:

See you there—together we make a difference!