Photos: All courtesy Marion Brunken
By Marion Brunken
Alexandria, VA – It’s getting cold and the holidays are just around the corner. For most families, this is a time of cheer and festivity, games, toys, and teddy bears; but for some this is a season of worry and sadness when finances are tight and a family’s basic needs are often not met. Gifts and toys are far down the list of priorities.
Volunteer Alexandria believes that each child in our city should experience the delight of receiving and opening their very own holiday gifts.
Alexandria’s Department of Community and Human Services, the Domestic Violence Program, and the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority help hundreds of women and families a year meet their basic needs. Volunteer Alexandria thinks those children also deserve toys for the holidays.
This year, Volunteer Alexandria aims to collect over 1,600 toys and book so that 400 children, ages 0-4, each receives four toys – big and small – to make their holidays as cheerful as possible.
How you can help:
- Be a collection site. Collect new toys, games, and sport items from friends, colleagues, churches, clubs, or schools, through December 15th. Please visit www.volunteeralexandria.org/toydrive for further information.
- Donate a toy. Purchase a new toy or order onlinehttps://bit.ly/toys4Alex, and visit www.volunteeralexandria.org/toydrive to find a drop-off location near you.
Gift ideas – for more ideas visit www.volunteeralexandria.org/toydrive.
Infants: Educational toys, musical crib mobiles, interactive crib toys, rattles, stack towers, ALASOU Baby Truck Car Toy and Playmat, Baby Tummy Time Pillow, specified baby-friendly stuffed animals.
Toddlers: Educational toys, Duplo®/Mega blocks, train sets, Playmobile®, musical toys, dolls of all colors (no Barbies), anything Disney, Crayola Paw Patrol Coloring Book with Stickers
Kids: sports balls, Tonka trucks, 80 Words Self-Correcting Spelling Puzzles, 2-in-1 Educational Toys Alphabet Spelling & Reading, Number & Color Recognition
BOOKS for all children 0-4 years old in English and Spanish:
– Bilingual in Spanish and English: David el Dinosaurio Hace Nuevos Amigos: Libro en Español e Inglés para Niños de 2 a 7 Años | Cuentos Infantiles … Story for Kids Ages 2-7 (Spanish Edition)
– The Feelings Book / El libro de los sentimientos (Spanish and English Edition)
– I Need a Hug / Necesito un abrazo (Bilingual) (Bilingual edition) (Spanish Edition)
Please note, Volunteer Alexandria is unable to accept any used gifts, guns (nerf guns, dart blasters,) any clothing for children 2 years old and up, food, and bikes.
- Make a financial donation to help make this happen. A six-week event takes time, resources, and money. Donate online at www.volunteeralexandria.org/toydrive or write a check payable to Volunteer Alexandria.
- Volunteer. Details can be viewed at www.volunteeralexandria.org/holiday-activities.
Please help Volunteer Alexandria make these holidays brighter for all in our community. Thank you and Happy Holidays.
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