At Venezuela's Hospital for Soft Toys, Old Toys Find New Life
2024-12-23
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1One by one, volunteers rescue and repair toys that show the marks of use.
2They sew clothing and brush fur and hair, add filling and dress the toys.
3The workers are fixing them to again be given to children.
4This is the work of the Hospital for Soft Toys, a project in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.
5The effort began with a mother's question: What do you do with all the toys once children outgrow them?
6About 60 volunteers now meet at least twice a week.
7They work on Barbie dolls, toy bears and baby dolls that children have left behind.
8The group estimates it has recycled about 70,000 toys in the past seven years.
9Its volunteers work faster around the Christmas holiday.
10Mirady Acosta is a 63-year-old architect who represents the Hospital for Soft Toys.
11She said the idea came from a teacher named Lilian Gluck.
12In 2017, Gluck was looking for something to do with her children's toys as they grew older.
13She did not want to throw them out or let them fall apart.
14She decided to wash them, fix them up and donate them to children staying in the University Hospital of Caracas.
15The effort was popular. So, a few months later, she opened the Hospital for Soft Toys at her home.
16It is a nonprofit foundation that also collects and repairs other toys and educational games.
17The foundation receives donations from other countries that can include school supplies, diapers, shoes, food and candy.
18All have been welcomed in a country that has seen years of economic crisis and renewed political unrest after July's election.
19Silvia Heiber has volunteered for almost three years.
20She is 72 years old. She said that smoothing a soft toy's fur or fixing a doll's hair for another child to care for is also helpful for the volunteers.
21"By doing this, all of us who come here are in therapy, a therapy of support for one another," Heiber said.
22Mirna Morales is a 76-year-old teacher and volunteer.
23She called it "one of the best experiences I've ever had."
24María Poleo, who is 84 years old, said the work is not difficult because all the volunteers know how to make or repair clothing.
25On some days, it seems there are not enough toys to repair.
26But then someone arrives at the door with more boxes and bags full of toys.
27The toys are delivered to hospitals and schools in poor areas, but also to homes for older people - anyone "who needs a little bit of affection," Heiber said.
28Each restored doll comes with a message advising its new owner to recycle it when they no longer want it.
29"Hello, I am your new friend," it says.
30"I am a doll with experience because I played with another girl. Love me and take care of me and I will do the same with you. When you grow up, give me to another girl who will love me and play with me like you."
31I'm Jill Robbins.
1One by one, volunteers rescue and repair toys that show the marks of use. They sew clothing and brush fur and hair, add filling and dress the toys. The workers are fixing them to again be given to children. 2This is the work of the Hospital for Soft Toys, a project in Venezuela's capital, Caracas. The effort began with a mother's question: What do you do with all the toys once children outgrow them? 3About 60 volunteers now meet at least twice a week. They work on Barbie dolls, toy bears and baby dolls that children have left behind. The group estimates it has recycled about 70,000 toys in the past seven years. 4Its volunteers work faster around the Christmas holiday. Mirady Acosta is a 63-year-old architect who represents the Hospital for Soft Toys. She said the idea came from a teacher named Lilian Gluck. In 2017, Gluck was looking for something to do with her children's toys as they grew older. 5She did not want to throw them out or let them fall apart. She decided to wash them, fix them up and donate them to children staying in the University Hospital of Caracas. 6The effort was popular. So, a few months later, she opened the Hospital for Soft Toys at her home. It is a nonprofit foundation that also collects and repairs other toys and educational games. The foundation receives donations from other countries that can include school supplies, diapers, shoes, food and candy. 7All have been welcomed in a country that has seen years of economic crisis and renewed political unrest after July's election. 8Silvia Heiber has volunteered for almost three years. She is 72 years old. She said that smoothing a soft toy's fur or fixing a doll's hair for another child to care for is also helpful for the volunteers. 9"By doing this, all of us who come here are in therapy, a therapy of support for one another," Heiber said. 10Mirna Morales is a 76-year-old teacher and volunteer. She called it "one of the best experiences I've ever had." 11María Poleo, who is 84 years old, said the work is not difficult because all the volunteers know how to make or repair clothing. 12On some days, it seems there are not enough toys to repair. But then someone arrives at the door with more boxes and bags full of toys. 13The toys are delivered to hospitals and schools in poor areas, but also to homes for older people - anyone "who needs a little bit of affection," Heiber said. 14Each restored doll comes with a message advising its new owner to recycle it when they no longer want it. 15"Hello, I am your new friend," it says. "I am a doll with experience because I played with another girl. Love me and take care of me and I will do the same with you. When you grow up, give me to another girl who will love me and play with me like you." 16I'm Jill Robbins. 17Jorge Rueda and Juan Pablo Arráez reported this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. 18______________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20toy -n. an object for children to play with 21brush - v. to clean or smooth (something) with a brush 22fur - n. the hairy coat of an animal especially when it is soft and thick 23outgrow - v. to grow too large for (someone or something) 24recycle - v. to make something new from (something that has been used before) 25architect -n. a person whose job it is to design buildings 26foundation -n. an organization usually that administers money and support for a cause like health care or education 27diaper - n. a piece of cloth or other material that is placed between a baby's legs and fastened around the waist to hold body waste 28therapy - n. the treatment of physical or mental illnesses that does not use drugs 29affection - n. a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something 30What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.