Shop Local For a Good Cause Nov. 12 In Doylestown

Doylestown's Busy Bee Toys toy store will join countless other locally owned stores to encourage the public to shop local on Nov. 12 with the 7th Annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day. But The Doylestown store is taking their celebration a bit further by helping a public servant in his time of need.

The store will donate a portion of its sales on Nov. 12 to Central Bucks Regional Police Officer Dave Carlen who is battling two forms of cancer.

Shoppers can help a local business and a local police officer between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday Nov. 12 at the store, located at 58 E. State St., Doylestown.

Busy Bee Toys will have child-friendly activities including games and activities plus lots of prizes from some of the staff’s favorite toy companies to make Neighborhood Toy Store Day – which is an annual celebration in which independent toy shops kick off the holiday season with special events to introduce consumers to the benefits of shopping local – an event to remember.

"Local stores also make holiday toy shopping easier, by offering a personalized approach and customer service that contrasts with the experience of shopping large retailers," Busy Bee Toys owner Nerice Kendter said in a press release. "Big box shops don’t offer individualized service or free gift wrap, but we do!"

"Specialty toy store owners are the real experts when it comes to choosing toys for kids," Kimberly Mosley, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) said in a press release. "These store owners spend time with kids day in and day out. They understand the value of play, and what types of toys will truly engage children."

ASTRA is an international not-for-profit trade organization that serves more than 1,800 independent retailers, manufacturers and sales representatives in the specialty toy industry.

Visit ASTRA's website for more information on Neighborhood Toy Store Day.

Image via Busy Bee Toys