Our mission at ALG Fine Art is to facilitate community connections. Connect artists with collectors, art lovers with immersive art experiences, and charitable organizations with the resources they need to provide services and support. So we are proud to announce this year’s ALG holiday campaign. We are participating in Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center’s Holiday of Hope initiative by running a Toy Drive. Let’s come together during this special time of year to spread joy across the community.
What is the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center and Holiday of Hope?
Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) is an organization ALG Fine Art and our Gallery Director Anna Curnes have supported for years. They are at the forefront of investigating, prosecuting, and providing healing services for child abuse cases in Dallas County. They do critical work to protect children and support families, demonstrating cutting-edge leadership in this important area.
As the holidays are a difficult time for these children and their families, DCAC runs a special initiative to put a smile on their faces called Holiday of Hope. They ensure each child receives a reading book, a fuzzy blanket, and 3-4 age-appropriate gifts and all families receive 1-2 board games to play together. This is such a meaningful and magical contribution to these families and is only possible through the Dallas community coming together to give what they can.
You can support DCAC’s Holiday of Hope by shopping a wishlist, making a monetary contribution, or donating to a local Toy Drive like ours.
Online Wishlists:
How can I contribute to the ALG Toy Drive?
We will be kicking off the ALG Toy Drive on Saturday November 16 and it will run until Friday December 6. So you have 3 weeks to donate holiday gifts. When making a shopping list for your contribution, please choose from the following donation guidelines.
Gifts for Infants/Toddlers: Wooden puzzles, board books, building blocks, stuffed animals, blankets, trucks, musical instruments for toddlers, VTech learning toys, riding toys, push toys, Disney toys, baby dolls (all ethnicities), baby strollers.
Gifts for Children (Ages 3 – 8): Barbies (all ethnicities), Barbie cars/houses/clothes, story books, developmental board games (counting games), arts and crafts sets, action figures, dress-up costumes, make-believe sets (kitchen, grocery store, tea sets, etc.), race tracks, cars/trucks, Legos, riding toys with helmets.
Gifts for Pre-Teens (Ages 9 – 12): Early chapter books, NERF products, Ripstik/scooters with helmets, sports equipment, remote control cars, model car kits, drone toys, Barbie Dolls (all ethnicities), Barbie accessories, arts and crafts sets, journals, fine point markers/gel pens, purses and wallets, makeup kits, makeup bags, nail polish kits, hair accessories, jewelry, wallets.
Gifts for Teens: Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth headphones, fuzzy blankets, board games, chapter books, skateboards/scooters with helmets, journals/art sketch pads, adult coloring books, fine point markers/art pencils/gel pens, hair straighteners, makeup sets, nail polish kits, fashion and hair accessories.
Additional Gift Ideas:
- Board Games: Hungry Hungry Hippos, Guess Who?, CONNECT 4, Pie Face, Hedbanz Game, Battleship, Jenga, Chutes and Ladders, Classic Memory Game, Monopoly, Apples to Apples, Scrabble, Sorry, Trouble, Candy Land, Life, Puzzles.
- Gift Cards: Amazon, Starbucks, Movie Theater, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, McDonald’s, Whataburger, American Eagle, Game Stop, Claire’s, Forever 21, Academy, Walmart, Target, Old Navy, Chili’s, Olive Garden, IHOP, Torchy’s Taco, On the Border, WingStop, Buffalo Wild Wings, Denny’s, Wendy’s, Panda Express, Main Event, SpeedZone.
Whatever you are able to donate will bring joy to children and families facing difficulties this time of year. You can drop off toys during ALG Fine Art opening hours or by coming along to one of our special events.
Fall Open House
On Saturday November 16, we’re marking the first day of the Toy Drive with a Fall Open House at ALG Fine Art. This is an art showcase for the whole family where you can acquire Fine Art and watch it being made. There are live art demos scheduled for 1pm and 3pm and hot glass demos at 2pm and 4pm by our very own Anna Curnes. So bring the whole family, immerse yourself in art, and drop off gifts for the Toy Drive. Come along between 12pm and 6pm.
Merriment Market
On Friday December 6, we’re hosting a day of festive fun and putting out a final call to add to the Toy Drive. The Merriment Market is the perfect place for festive shopping and enjoying holiday cheer as you browse stalls for Fine Art, artsy gifts, and delicious artisanal creations from a curation of local vendors. There will be a $5 entrance fee that will be waived for a donation to the Toy Drive or DCAC directly. (Children under 10 can enter for free.) Come along between 12pm and 8pm.
There is no more poignant time of year to rally around as a community and spread joy, happiness and hope to those in difficult circumstances. Join us in providing the resources to give every DCAC child and family a special holiday gift bundle. Drop your donation at ALG Fine Art between November 16 and December 8 during our usual opening hours or while enjoying the festive events we have planned to spread even more holiday magic.
