Pennsylvania Departments Launch Annual Toy Donation for ‘Holiday Wish’ Program

Holiday WishCredit: Commonwealth Media Services

PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania Departments of Labor & Industry (L&I) and Human Services (DHS) began the 2023 holiday season on Wednesday with their annual donation of inspected stuffed toys to the DHS’s Holiday Wish program. The toys, collected by L&I throughout the year during routine safety inspections, will be distributed to families across Pennsylvania.

L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker said, “We inspect these stuffed toys throughout the year to ensure their safety for all children in Pennsylvania. It’s become a tradition at L&I to donate the inspected toys to the Holiday Wish program because we get to brighten the holidays for a few children while reminding parents and retailers of the importance of toy safety.”

Under state law, L&I’s Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety must inspect all new stuffed toy samples for contents, choking hazards, and general safety. Toys that pass inspection receive a registration number, which is found on every stuffed toy sold in the Commonwealth. Through this process, L&I accumulates hundreds of toy samples each year.

On Wednesday, L&I delivered over 650 stuffed toys to DHS for its Holiday Wish program. Started in 1989 by a small group of DHS employees, Holiday Wish has grown to include numerous state agencies, reaching thousands of individuals in need around Pennsylvania during the holiday season. Over the past seven years, the L&I and DHS stuffed toy tradition has helped nearly 4,200 inspected toys find new homes.

DHS Executive Deputy Secretary Andrew Barnes stated, “During this season of giving, we are proud to partner across state government to help make the holidays better and brighter for the families we serve. Our mission at DHS is to help Pennsylvanians access our most essential basic needs and achieve a better life with the dignity we all deserve.”

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The DHS County Assistance Office (CAO) identifies families and older adults in need to participate in the Holiday Wish program when they apply for benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medical Assistance (Medicaid). State employees sponsor a family or individual to ensure they receive special gifts during the holiday season. These gifts are distributed to hundreds of families across Pennsylvania by Commonwealth agencies and the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Applications for public assistance programs can be submitted online through the COMPASS website or via on-site CAO services. Assistance is available for those unable to access online services by calling the Customer Service Centers at 215-560-7226 for Philadelphia clients or 1-877-395-8930 in other counties.

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