Toy drive to support Boys & Girls Club

From Dec. 11-18, Gypsy Rose Studio will host a toy drive to benefit the Hill City Boys & Girls Club (BGC). During store hours participants can drop off a new, unwrapped gift or a $10 donation. Everyone who does so will be entered into a drawing for a holiday gift basket bursting with prizes from Gypsy Rose Studio and other local businesses. 

James Ann Barlean said she and her mom, Vicki Barlean, decided to do a toy drive because they feel super blessed. 

“We try to do stuff all year long, like the school lunch fund. Everybody’s thinking about charitable stuff this time of year, which is super cool, and we want every kid to have a toy to open up on Christmas. But we also like to let people know that sometimes people need help throughout the year. We figured a toy drive was a good place to start this time of year and make sure everybody gets cool toys,” said James Ann. 

Originally, James Ann told Vicki that they should do something that would benefit the local community. Vicki talked to someone at the BGC and asked if there was anything they could do to help. 

“We know that the BGC does stuff all year long, and we really want to support them. And I have to say that since moving my business up here, every May Day kids from the BGC bring me a little May basket thing with pipe cleaners and cups and stuff like that, and I think it’s adorable. So the kids are out in the community all year long doing fun stuff, and we just want to make sure that the BGC has everything they need to keep going for all the kids in the area,” said James Ann. 

That is when they heard about the BGC’s Christmas party. 

On Thursday, Dec. 19, at 3:15 p.m., there will be a Christmas party at the Hill City BGC. Santa will attend and will give each of the children Santa Bucks to purchase Christmas presents for themselves or loved ones.

Tables will be set up with toys sorted by price ranges for the children to “shop.” 

“We do a Christmas party every year just because some kids don’t get a lot for Christmas. It makes everyone have something to talk about that they received, and everybody gets the same amount. They all see Santa, and Santa gives them the same amount. It just makes it a fun holiday thing that we can do for the kids and the community to make everybody feel special,” said Roni Prautzsch, director of programs and impact for the Lead, Hot Springs and Hill City BGCs. 

The same event is happening at the Lead and Hot Springs BGCs. The Dollar Trees in Rapid City and Spearfish both did a toy drive to support it as well. 

To Gypsy Rose Studio, Prautzsch said, “We’re really thankful, and we appreciate it.” 

So far in Hill City, donations for the toy drive include things like a chemistry set, paper airplane kit, art supplies, break open a geode set and grow your own crystal set. The toys collected cost anywhere from $4 to $15, but any donation is welcome. 

All financial donations will be used to purchase more toys as well as things like scarves and gloves. 

“So if the kids are using their Santa Bucks to shop, and they want to get something for an older sibling or their parents, there will be some stuff in there too that isn’t just toys,” said James Ann. “We want them to have lots of cool options.”

When asked what type of gifts they are looking for, James Ann said, “I don’t know what all kinds of stuff kids like, but I like to give them stuff to do like art stuff, projects or games.” 

This gives children something fun to do again and again. 

James Ann said they decided to have the toy drive Dec. 11-18 because they are having an open house at Gypsy Rose Studio Dec. 14. Store hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“If people are out and coming in for the open house, they can bring some stuff too,” said James Ann.

Every donation gets the participant entered in a drawing for a holiday gift basket. Tucked inside are some coffee things, sweet things, scarves, games, gift cards and more. The drawing will take place Wednesday, Dec. 18, around 5:30 p.m. Participants do not need to be present to win. 

Then James Ann and Vicki will take everything to the BGC. 

When asked why she would encourage others to participate, James Ann said, “I think that we have a really unique vibe here. Hill City is a really groovy little community, and I think it’s important, especially for people who own businesses and stuff here, to keep the kids invested in how great this town is, that small towns are super great and super cool.

“Not only do we have lots of different businesses and different kinds of people that live here, but I think it’s important to encourage the kids that live here to remember that one of the great things about being in a small community like this is that we take care of each other and that your neighbors really are your neighbors.” 

That is why James Ann thinks it is important to support organizations like the BGC. She does not want children to become bored in Hill City and feel like there are not enough opportunities here such that they grow up and leave. Instead, she wants them to become invested in the community. 

James Ann said, “I think as grownups, especially running businesses and stuff, we tend to forget that the things we love about small towns sometimes might get lost on kids so it’s important for them to see us being invested. Not just in the community and the neighborhood, but in them and wanting them to thrive here and stay here.”