Students’ Toy Shoppe class going strong
Nancy Horst, Special to the Gazette
Saturday, September 5, 2009
The Toy Shoppe is ready for another year of collecting and repairing used toys and bicycles at a new location. The Toy Shoppe moved during the summer from the Kansas Avenue School to a downtown storefront at 1117 Commercial St. A sign identifying the building has been ordered and will be installed soon.
The Toy Shoppe is a program of the Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative in which students clean and repair toys and bicycles to redistribute to children in the community. Students also collect new toys which are included in the distribution.
Mike McDougald, program coordinator, said the Toy Shoppe provides students with hands-on opportunity to learn important job skills, such as problem solving, staying on task and completing a work project. Another important component is service learning and “giving back to the community,” he said. This fall, 21 students in grades 5 through 12 are working some at the store.
Donations of all types of toys are needed, and paraeducators Misti Schrock and Stacey LeBlanc said there is a big need for bicycles. The Toy Shoppe does not accept any type of toy weapons.
Collection barrels have been placed at the downtown fire station, Reeble’s South, and Price Chopper. Donations also can be taken directly to the store and large items can be picked up if prior arrangements are made. All types of toys that can be refurbished are needed. This includes dolls, stuffed animals and small children’s bicycles. . It is open from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on days that school is in session.
The Toy Shoppe is especially busy during the holiday season when parents come to select items for gifts. However, toys and games can be picked up throughout the year. The program will provide up to two toys per child per month and one bicycle per family each year.
For more information or to arrange to have donated items picked up, call 341-2332 or 344-2464. The office is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays when school is in session.
dirtydeeds (anonymous) says...
Its great to see that the Toy Shoppe is running strong after all these years. If memory serves me correctly, I believe its been going since late 1996 early 1997. Its a great and humbling service that is provided to by the Special Education Co-op to the community. Keep up the GREAT work!
September 6, 2009 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )