Toys

Looking to put the “Ho! Ho! Ho!” in your holidays? If there are children on your list longing for some of the season's hottest toys, you'll want to know what Consumer Reports ShopSmart has to say. It scouted the store shelves, then had its electronics reporter highlight some great choices. Experts looked for toys that would be fun to play with but that would also build skills and that the whole family would want to play together. One hit - the $13 Techno Source 20Q for kids 6 and up. It's an electronic take on the old-fashioned 20 questions game.

Wichita Police plan to meet with organizers of the Wichita Toy Run to discuss future safety changes to the annual event to benefit needy children during the holidays. The announcment comes after police released details of two injury crashes and several reports of motorcycle riders drinking alcohol before Sunday's 32nd annual run. "Unfortunately, we have some irresponsible individuals who made some bad choices during this run that resulted in some collisions and resulted in some injuries," Lt. Joe Schroeder said.

Thousands of motorcycle riders will take to the streets of Wichita today in an effort to give kids a Merry Christmas.  The 32 nd annual toy run starts this afternoon and will cause some street closures. Riders will meet at Lawrence Dumont Stadium at 10:30 and take off for the ride at 1 p.m.   They will ride from there to the Kansas Coliseum.  During that time, every intersection along Broadway will be shut down.  If you're travelling east and west, you're encouraged to use Kellogg or I-235 to avoid waiting on the Toy Run. Wichita police and Sedgwick County Sheriff's deputies will be stationed along the route to ensure things go smoothly.

Alcohol, speeding and inexperience... police say those factors played a role in several incidents involving the Wichita Toy Run last weekend. Police say the first wreck happened as two riders veered to the side of the road to throw candy, they collided as they were going back into the formation.  One of the bikes slid into a car, injuring riders on both of the motorcycles.  No one in the car was hurt. Police say the other crash involved a motorcycle with a sidecar with an American flag attached.  That flag came loose and fell.  The rider pulled over, and the passenger in the sidecar got out to retrieve the flag and was struck by another motorcycle.

Inter-Faith Ministries is searching for a location to hold the annual Operation Holiday program but time is running short. Inter-Faith Ministries needs help from this community. Each year IFM makes holidays are a little brighter for over 12,000 people through Operation Holiday. Those in need, receive non-perishable food items, grocery vouchers for meat, produce and dairy products, gently used coats and toys provided by Toy for Tots. A suitable location is essential to Operation Holiday.

The Kansas Humane Society is asking for peanut butter donations. Officials say they go through several cases of peanut butter each year. Last week they ran out. The peanut butter is used to create enrichment toys for the dogs. They use the peanut butter to stuff the ends of the toys then freeze them creating a solid plug. Officials are looking for creamy peanut butter because the say it freezes the best. To learn more about how you can donate click here.  

When Abbigail Taylor found some cash at a soccer game outside her church, she tried to do the right thing.  The 9-year-old girl turned in, hoping the $68 dollars would find its rightful owner. But no-one came forward to claim the money, so the church gave it back to Abbigail.  It was hers. But Abbigail didn't want to keep it.  Instead, she decided to put the money to good use.  She wanted to buy toys for all the children in the pediatric unit at Wesley Medical Center. Her good deed inspired others who matched her $68 dollars.

Brad Pistotnick's office looks like Santa's workshop, albeit a little smaller. His staff are serving as elves stacking toys taller than some of the kids who will unwrap the presents Christmas day. "It just makes me feel good," says Brad Pistotnick. It's a simple reason why Brad Pistotnick has turned his office into toyland for the last three years and spends nearly fifteen-thousand dollars of his own money to give back to Wichitans in need. "They're just normal people, that are having a hard time," says Pistotnick.

It’s distribution day for the Salvation Army. Over 5,000 families representing well over 20,000 parents and children will pick up Christmas gifts and food vouchers that have been donated by citizens of Wichita and frozen turkeys from Cargill. The distribution is part of the Salvation Army’s “Mission of Hope” Christmas assistance program. Distribution is expected to last all day. "I'm grateful that there are people out there that care enough to help," said Stela Norman.

Hundreds of boys and girls may go without Christmas toys this year, the Salvation Army says it still has around 400 unclaimed angels on its trees. "The need is huge this year," said Craig Plank the Director of Development and Communication for the Wichita Salvation Army. The Salvation Army has seen a 30% increase in the demand for toys this year. They went from helping more than 8,000 kids last year to just more than 11,000 this year, an unexpected increase.