FELLSMERE — Operation Hope is gearing up for its annual Christmas giveaway and is in need of toys for boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 10, according to what Mrs. Claus, who is busy wrapping gifts at the Fellsmere center, told Jesse Zermeno.
Zermeno, president of the organization’s board, said they are well-stocked with toys for infants through 5 years, but need help filling the needs of the older children.
“We are very low in that department,” he said, adding that children that age would like sports balls, such as those for soccer or football.
Watches and electronics, too, would make great gifts, he said.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, appropriate toys for children in the 6-10 year range include books, jump ropes, drawing or paint supplies, science kits, and puzzles to name a few.
Along with handing out toys for children to unwrap at Christmas, Operation Hope is also giving out boxes of food. About 400 families are expected to receive the boxes on Dec. 18.
“A lot of beautiful things are going on this week,” said Zermeno.
Feed the Children, an international organization that helps provide food to children in need, is sending a semi-truck packed with about $40,000 worth of food and toiletries to Operation Hope, Zermeno said.
Those boxes will then be handed out to needed families beginning at 2 p.m. that Sunday, Dec. 18.
Leading up to the annual giveaway, the United Way Indian River County is providing vouchers to select families to receive their boxes a few days sooner.
Aside from handing out toys and food to the county’s needy families, Operation Hope will have churches on hand giving out hot cocoa, cookies, candy and water. There will be live entertainment, face painting and other activities, turning Sunday into a family fun day.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has compiled a list of tips for selecting safe toys for children this holiday season:
- Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards to younger children.
- For infants, toddlers, and all children who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small parts which could pose a fatal choking hazard.
- Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly secured eyes, noses, and other potential small parts.
- For all children under age 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
- Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under age 8.
- Be a label reader. Look for labels that give age recommendations and use that information as a guide.
- Check instructions for clarity. They should be clear to you, and when appropriate, to the child.
- Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys, which can cause suffocation, before they become deadly playthings.
