Toni Nielson recalls the helpless feeling like it was yesterday.
Recovering from her second layoff in five years, the single mother of three boys was faced with the reality of no holiday surprises for her children, then aged 11, 9 and 7.
“There flat out wasn’t going to be Christmas,” said Nielson, who turned to delivering pizzas after being laid off from full-time positions at a moving business and investment company. “I didn’t even have enough money for stocking stuffers.”
Admittedly depressed, Nielson was rejuvenated by a huge surprise — one that saved her from having to to tell her boys Santa couldn’t make it that year.
After a receiving a recommendation, Nielson got word that she and her family were adopted by Happy Valley Grange in Redmond. The organization donated toys for the children, clothes, food and feed for the animals on Nielson’s rural farm south of Tiger Mountain.
“It was huge, these people went all out, they were awesome,” Nielson said.
Now, with her life in a much better position, the owner of Issaquah’s Extreme Pizza is ready to give back in a similar fashion.
This holiday season, Extreme Pizza will donate 20 percent of its net sales on two dates — Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 — giving that money to Eastside Fire & Rescue for its annual Adopt A Family for the Holidays program. There will also be a donation box in the store the next two months.
“This year, because I have this, it’s a means and a tool to be able to give back,” said Nielson, who is now in her 18th month of owning the business.
Firefighters and staff of EF&R annually donate to local service clubs who assist about 20 families in the area with Thanksgiving dinner and adopt five families for Christmas.
“I know suicide rates are a lot higher, money’s tight, the economy sucks, so if I can help in any way, I will,” Nielson said. “And, partnering with the fire department, what’s better?”
Nielson admits there can still be financial challenges at times, but after receiving a great deal on purchase of the the restaurant and seeing success since opening, she owes something back.
“With this gift comes a lot of responsibility,” she said.
Nielson said her three boys, now 21, 19 and 17, have also learned a lot from the tough times and value giving back to the community.
One thing they will all never forget is the one year, they almost didn’t have a Christmas.
“It kind of restored my faith,” Nielson said. “Some people say there’s no Santa Claus — well yeah, there is.”
