Children in need can feel joy at Christmas with your help

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By Meredith Moss, Staff Writer 11:15 AM Saturday, December 3, 2011

For Love of Children (FLOC) has been helping serve the needs of abused, neglected and foster kids in the Miami Valley since 1980. The group provides toys and gifts to needy children in the Greater Dayton area at holiday time.

“Christmas for Kids is a program created for those children who do not know the joy of a stocking hung by the fire, the thrill of a sparkly tree adorned with pretty presents,” says FLOC’s board president Beth Mann. “There are thousands of children in the greater Dayton area who wake up to a sparse, dull day on Christmas. FLOC is asking our community to put back the color into Christmas for our children in need.”

The organization has no paid staff.

“We’re just a bustling team of volunteers who know how a heart can grow over the holidays,” says Mann.

To help, all you’ll need to do is to place new, unwrapped gifts in one of the 60 barrels located throughout the area before Dec. 7.

After that date, from Dec. 7 to Dec. 12, you can take the gifts directly to the organization’s new headquarters on the first floor of the Talbot Tower, 128 W. First St., in downtown Dayton. You’re asked to call first, to be sure someone will be in the office to receive them; to do that you can contact Mann at (937) 657-9393.)

Gifts are needed for all age groups from infant to age 18. Gifts cards are always welcome and here is a partial wish list that can help you make your selections:

For infants: Stroller/car seats, activity bars, learning toys, baby monitors.

For little girls: Barbies/Bratz, baby dolls, kitchen sets, dress-up items, Polly Pockets, doll houses.

For little boys: remote-controlled vehicles, scooters/skateboards, Star Wars/Batman/Spiderman/Superman, etc., racetracks, electric train sets.

Also: educational toys, talking/singing toys, Legos, Books.

For older children and teens: fragrances, bath/lotion sets, manicure/pedicure sets, blow dryers, flat irons/curling irons, ethnic hair-care products, hip-hop CDs, DVD players, DVDs, MP3 players, boom boxes, handheld games, jewelry, sporting goods, telephones, cameras, crafts, bicycles, board games, purses, wallets.

FLOC barrels are located at all Dyer Garofalo Mann & Schultz locations and Jeff Schmitt car dealerships. You’ll also find them at: Southside Fitness, Wright State University, Beau Townsend Ford, Beau Townsend Nissan, Joli Boutique, Loralei’s Boutique, State Farm, Wayne High School, Innerwest Priority, Wright Memorial Library, US Bank (W.Carrolton), NCR, Walker Toyota,Archers Tavern, Johnson Electric, Miami Valley Dance Academy, Bangs Salon, 5/3rd Englewood, Taffy’s Coffeehouse (Eaton), DP&L and Wolf Creek Rod & Gun.

For more information, call Beth Mann at Love of Children (FLOC) (937) 657-9393.

You can write to the group at FLOC: Box 2646, Dayton, OH 45401-2646.

If your nonprofit would like to have its wish list published, please contact Meredith Moss: MMoss@coxohio.com Be sure and leave a daytime phone number.

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