Here's How You And Your Kids Can Donate Gifts to Brooklyn Children in Need

CROWN HEIGHTS and LEFFERTS GARDENS, BROOKLYN — A new community organization aiming to help parents teach their children the value of community service is hosting its first event this Sunday: a toy drive and wrapping party benefiting young children staying at CHiPS soup kitchen and shelter in Gowanus.

The Open Heart Community Project is the work of Lefferts Gardens mother Raina Blyer, who has three young kids of her own.

She told Patch that she started the group "to encourage children to get involved in their community, to give back, to do charity work and to connect with different communities."

Blyer said she wants to grow her group of moms and kids, currently involving about 20 families, and to focus its efforts on a different community organization each month.

To kick things off, Open Heart will lead a gift donation and wrapping party on Dec. 4 at Tot Town, the children's play space that mom and entrepreneur Nobella Parham opened in Crown Heights this past October.

To participate, parents are encouraged to go shopping with their kids for toys appropriate for children under the age of one. They can then bring the gifts (and their kids) to Tot Town at 11 a.m. on Dec. 4, where there will be singing and gift wrapping.

Blyer said she plans on delivering the gifts to CHiPS next week. Tot Town is located at 636 Classon Ave.

If you'd like to participate in Sunday's event, Blyer asks that you RSVP by emailing her at rainabaina@gmail.com.

You can also email Blyer if you'd like to join Open Heart, or if you know an organization you think it should work with.

Top image courtesy of Aine on Flickr