Play Comforts toy giveaway to provide 2,000 free toys to military children

WHO: The Milam Youth Activity Center on Fort Bliss will host a Play Comforts toy giveaway for military Children from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 17.

WHAT: Play Comforts, an initiative of the Toy Industry Foundation supported by Boys and Girls Clubs of America Military Services, will distribute 2,000 free toys to military children ages 6 weeks-18 years. The event is open to military-connected children, including active-duty, Reserve and Guard families. Toys will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a limit of one toy per child, and children must be present to receive a toy. Entertainment and refreshments will also be available.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 17, from 4-6 p.m.

WHERE: Milam Youth Activity Center, 10960 Haan Road, East Fort Bliss

BACKGROUND: The Play Comforts program took off in 2010, when TIF partnered with Boys and Girls Clubs of America Military Services to give back to the sons and daughters of our nation’s troops.

“Separation from parents, worrying about their safety in combat, leaving friends behind as they move from home to home, and readjusting when parents return from overseas are all difficult and unique circumstances military youth face,” notes the TIF website. “Together with BGCA, the Toy Industry Foundation provides special toy distributions to America’s bravest children.”

Since the Play Comforts partnership launched, TIF’s Toy Bank has provided more than $3 million worth of toys, and TIF granted more than $200,000 in funds to BGCA. The program has reached families on more than 65 military installations, with more to come. Toys are distributed through Boys and Girls Clubs located on the military bases affected by high deployment rates, and Play Comforts has served every branch of the U.S. military, at home and abroad.