Kimberly Moch reaches into the bottom of a cardboard box of donated toys Thursday as she and others sort through what will be gifts for 5,600 area children.
Volunteers carefully checked the product number against the list of recalled toys and discovered their dolls were fine. But the experience illustrates the concern of parents and organizations such as Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army, which give toys to children in need.
Volunteers who sort toys according to the child’s sex and age are also paying close attention to product recalls. Millions of toys made in China have been recalled this year for lead-based paint and other potential dangers, including parts that can cause choking or sharp edges that can cause cuts.
More than $22 billion worth of toys are sold in the United States each year, with toys made in China making up 70 percent to 80 percent, according to the Toy Industry Association.
It appears vendors and donors are paying attention to recalls because the local Salvation Army and Toys for Tots have not had to pull a large number of suspect toys.
“We haven’t removed any toys yet and hopefully it remains that way,” said 2007 Toys for Tots coordinator Gunnery Sgt. Michael Kirby.