Friday, September 07, 2007

Toys for Tots

Recently Caleb reached the milestone age of 18 months. In addition to requiring another round of shots and doctor's visits this also meant that Caleb was now ready to attend Nursery on Sundays at church. Hallelujah! Caleb loves Nursery. He loves playing with the other children and the toys and snack time and singing time and going for walks and all of the other fun things that are encompassed in going to Nursery. However, after the first couple of visits to Nursery it became increasingly clear that the Nursery in our small and very poor church congregation is suffering from a deplorable lack of resources. Frankly, they need toys - age appropriate, non-choking hazard, colorful, educational, fun to play with toys. So, we dutifully set out to remedy this situation. Unfortunately, we discovered that the reason the current Nursery toys are so inappropriate (not to mention limited) is that appropriate toys really don't exist. We found all sorts of toys with tiny pieces perfect for lodging in windpipes and noses. We found all sorts of toys that looked like they were on the verge of dismantling even in their packages. We found some really fantastic fisher price and playschool toys that cost 5 times what they should have cost because they are all imported. So, we thought, we are just talking about a few toys (games, puzzles, books) this can't be that hard, their must be a solution. And then we thought, maybe we know some people who could and would be willing to help? And, so, this blog is a plea for that help. Maybe you have a toy box full of well-loved but forgotten toys destined for Salvation Army or the trash, maybe you sometimes have a sudden urge to purchase something for children between the ages of 18 months and 3 years while perusing the shelves of your local drugstore, maybe you have an Amazon.com habit and are looking for a productive way to satiate your obsession, whatever it is we would welcome your willingness to do so on behalf of these tiny tots. If you or someone you know can help us pull together some better toys for these kids, they and we would be beyond grateful (what I wouldn't give for a good old American strip mall right about now). As an added incentive, in that we are American diplomats, you can send these generous donations to a US address so domestic postage rates will apply. I prefer not to post our address on the blog, so if you can and want to help, leave a comment and I'll get back to you with the details. Not only will you be preventing highly unnecessary trips to the emergency room, you will be making some pretty underprivileged kids and their parents very happy.

Though not relevant I have included some pictures of Caleb because I know blogs with pictures are always more fun to read than blogs without.

8 comments:

Kristy said...

What a great idea! I am sure between my mom, sisters and I we can help this situation. I have a trip to visit them planned the end of this month and will see what I can come up with!

Cute pictures, too. Caleb looks like a mini Kenny in that bottom picture! :)

robin marie said...

hey let's talk... i was trying to find a good service project for the ward (i'm activities co-chair) and this would be perfect and fun and fulfilling... especially since our ward is full of 30something parents with 3 kids each. they are bound to have some almost new and gently used toys, right?? does that work if they are used?

Paige said...

Seriously a good idea. And the US address is an even better idea! I wish Adr had that rather than just the complaining (but kind) pack horse. email me the address and I'll start amazon shopping! The minute my toys get old they get trashed, unless you want a whole bunch of old Barbie shoes and polly pockets-

katri said...

Hi-
I love your post on Paige's blog.

Emy Lesofski said...

Lins! hi! I have emailed you a couple of times back from my blog and it wasn't until today that I realized that all of the reply emails I have sent you and Adr haven't worked. Grr. Congrats on the baking baby. That is super fun. Holly and I have been goofing around with a website called shelfari.com. It is basically an online booksharing thing. I immediately thought of you when I started messing with it, primarily because I always got good book recommendations from you. Check it out, and we are always hoping to make it off of US soil and go on an adventure. So far, we have been met with limited success...but we're saving miles! Love,
Em.

Nate and Sina said...

Sounds like you already have high feedback on this one. If you need more, our nursery is looking to downsize its toy load. We have an over abundance. Let me know.

Arianne said...

Loving the ruminations. Cracking me up as always. Congrats on #2. Send me your info and I'll be happy to send some toys your way.

Adrianne said...

My plan exactly!!! Only I'm waiting until my kid is old enough to enjoy the toys. The nursery situation is seriously depressing here for all the same reasons. I'm jealous of your shipping option! If two forks gets a ward project going let me know and we'd love to be her phase 2!

 

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