This morning, state employees stared in wonder at piles upon piles of stuffed animals and toys.
“Behind me today are 749 toys that have been deemed safe by our Bureau of Occupational & Industrial Safety,” Nancy Walker said, secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry.
The Commonwealth is one of just a few states in the U.S. that require stuffed toys to go through a safety inspection (which in turn sets an unofficial standard for what is sold in the rest of the nation). Manufacturers send a sample stuffie to the Bureau of Occupational & Industrial Safety. Trained workers then test the product to make sure it is safe for even the youngest Pennsylvanians.
“Everyone knows about stuffed teddy bears,” Matthew Kegg said, director of the Bureau of Occupational & Industrial Safety. He picked up a small brown bear with a red heart sewn into its hands, and began pulling on the heart.
“This little heart that's attached, will it be taken off by a child? Or… looking at like the eyes. Will they be pulled off by an infant, by a child? What about the ears?” Kegg said. "You know, is there anything in here that could you know, open up and be a choking hazard— like little electrostatic beads or something along those lines?”
Toys are also tested for size and how flammable their material is. Once the toys pass inspection, they can be sold en masse.
But the bureau keeps the product, which remains intact and undamaged from testing. Which means the state of Pennsylvania just, owns, hundreds of stuffed toys.
That’s where the Department of Human Service’s Holiday Wish Drive comes into play.
“These toys will all become part of what gets distributed out to families over the holiday period,” Val Arkoosh said, secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services. She gestured to the tables stuffed to the max with cute and creative plushies.
Since 1989, Human Services employees have organized the annual Holiday Wish Drive. Those working at county assistance offices identify families in need of some extra help during the Christmas season. The families submit wish lists, then Commonwealth employees donate gifts to match their needs.
“It's just a huge help for people, and it just takes a little bit of that burden off that family,” Arkoosh said. "And maybe it'll just allow them to make that holiday a little bit more special. Maybe it'll just leave them with a couple extra dollars that they can do something fun with their children for the holidays.”
While there are plenty of specific requests state workers get to shop for, there is already an abundance of soft plushies ready to be gifted.
All of the stuffed toys tested during the year are donated to the families and seniors that are part of the drive.
Last year, the holiday wish drive gave to over 150 families and 60 senior citizens.