NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Squishmallows, Legos, Barbie dolls and more brought Christmas magic to an Orefield-based nonprofit this week.
KidsPeace, which provides behavioral and mental health services to children in four states, collected about 1,400 toys for its 12th annual Angel Tree holiday gift drive, the nonprofit’s Director of Development Missy Hartney said Monday.
That’s about the same as last year’s gift drive and about four times as many gifts as in 2021.
“We haven't seen a response like this in years," Hartney said. "It's really, really phenomenal. It's so heartwarming.”
The gifts will go to the more than 200 children in the agency’s 14 residential treatment facilities and its psychiatric hospital. Any extra gifts will go to children in foster care programs.
Hartney said facilitators may tell younger children the toys are from Santa, but for older kids, knowing the presents come from community members is a gift in itself.
"For them to know that a stranger out there is rooting for them, hundreds of strangers are rooting for them — I think that means a lot more than the guy in the big red hat."KidsPeace Director of Development Missy Hartney
“Our teens, they know what's going on out there," Hartney said. "They know that they have a lot of healing to do and a road ahead that might be bumpy.
“So for them to know that a stranger out there is rooting for them — hundreds of strangers are rooting for them — I think that means a lot more than the guy in the big red hat.”
KidsPeace Director of Communications Bob Martin said, “That's what really is the lasting thing.
“Once all the presents are open… you're going to have that feeling, ‘Somebody thought enough about me that I can have a good Christmas.’ That's what this is all about.”
Most popular toys
Hartney said because she sees so many requests, she has a good idea of which toys are the most popular each year.
“The number one toy is definitely the Squishmallow,” Hartney said. “Preferably, a Squishmallow that is a food item. So we've been getting lots of Squishmallows that are ice cream and guacamole.”
Another popular toy this year was Barbie. Hartney said she thinks “the movie brought her back,” referring to the wildly popular 2023 comedy film starring Margot Robbie.
Art supplies in general have been highly requested, but gel pens and coloring books in particular have topped many lists.
“It's really fun exercise; it really helps kids destress,” Hartney said.
Hartney said Legos are another popular request.
Children and youth mental health
Martin said KidsPeace's primary challenge right now is one many human services agencies are facing: workforce shortages.
“We are always hiring,” Martin said, “and we're trying to find the people who are right for our field. But it's hard right now. And what's hard about it is we have a lot more kids that are in need right now.”
“The stigma that normally had been associated with mental health care is basically going away."KidsPeace Director of Communications Bob Martin
Martin said the coronavirus pandemic not only exacerbated mental health problems for some kids; it also caused some parents to recognize mental health challenges that they had not seen previously and realize they are important to treat.
“The stigma that normally had been associated with mental health care is basically going away,” Martin said. “People are saying, ‘This is important and this is health care and I need it for my child.’
“So that's a great thing. But now we need to make sure that we have enough services, enough capacity to meet that increased demand.”
KidsPeace has started providing some new programs, such as one to find supportive foster parents for autistic children.
Martin said KidsPeace recently opened a behavioral health urgent care center in North Carolina called Hope Center for Youth and Family Crisis.
He said the nonprofit is looking into opening more of those centers across the country, and possibly in the Lehigh Valley.
