The Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop to Donate 10 Percent of Sales Saturday to Charity Giving Toys to Cancer Patients

A news release:

As a child, nothing compared to the enchanted feeling of shopping for toys at your local toy store, whether gazing with wonder at the aisles of exciting choices or holding a new toy for the very first tim. Anticipation builds inside children everywhere before they finally took their new gifts home.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, The Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop will join more than 600 stores across the country to celebrate the third annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day.

"When you shop at an independent toy store, you are entering a universe of play possibilities," explains Kathleen McHugh, President of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). "Neighborhood Toy Store Day is about celebrating the role the local store plays in the community.  We are highlighting the expertise your local store has in selecting just the right toy to help your child grow and learn through play."

As part of the festivities, from 10 a.m, until 3 p.m., The Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop will offer fun games to play, crafts to make and take, plus toy demonstrations. Free goody bags for each family while supplies last.

“It’s very important for consumers to understand the uniqueness and outstanding quality of toys found at their local toy store versus a national chain,” McHugh stated. “Many of the toys you see at independently owned toy stores are not advertised on television and are mostly made by small manufacturers.”

Independent toy stores can even help you find top toys for the children on your list this holiday season with help from The 2013 Best Toys for Kids Award list.

Jack Zagrodzki, VP of Marketing of The Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop explained, “With our expert understanding of how kids play, ASTRA members have created a list of toys that deliver the highest value, inviting imaginative discovery and encouraging creative thinking.”

And consumers can be confident that more of the dollars spent in local, independently-owned stores, stay in the community - 25 percent percent more in contrast with national chains, according to the 3/50 Project.  Resident business owners pour more money and energy back into the community in the form of everything from tax dollars to charity donations to participating in local initiatives through civic associations and area chambers of commerce.

As a thirdgeneration family business, the Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop and loyal staff take great pride in being different than the big chains stores. Stacey Zagrodzki, granddaughter of The Doll Hospital’s founder, believes that a basic toy that requires a child to use their imagination is likely to offer more learning than one loaded with electronic gizmos. ASTRAs Best Toys for Kids winners this year represent "a balanced diet of play, all with high play value and staying power.We feel kids need a variety of play experiences and at the Doll Hospital, we are proud to be experts on toys, play and ideas for family fun.” 

The Doll Hospital offers convenient parking and free gift wrapping, combine that with an unsurpassed selection of quality toys that last and The Doll Hospital offers consumers the best play value for their dollar!”.

This year, The Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop has chosen to donate 10 percent of their days sales from the event to The Bottomless Toy Chest, a local nonprofit organization devoted to delivering art projects, crafts and interactive toys to hospitalized pediatric cancer patients. According to Jack Zagrodzki, “choosing The Bottomless Toy Chest was easy, they’re a local charity supporting a great cause, and our goal is the same, putting smiles on little faces”.

McHugh urged shoppers to take this opportunity to be part of a celebration of community and to get to know their neighborhood toy store on Neighborhood Toy Store Day.

“By shopping locally, consumers will find great toys while supporting vibrant communities and sustainable economic development. Visit your neighborhood toy store and you may bring home more than just the perfect gift, you'll share the spirit of the season.”