It's a mystery - the situation going on in the southwest corner of the south Dan's Supermarket, 835 S. Washington St.

Usually, this time of year, the 12- by 20-foot storage container in that corner gets so many donations of toys that Dave Heidt, a corrections officer at the Missouri River Correctional Center and involved in the Playpen project, has to to go there twice a day to empty it.

And then take the toys, two trips a day, to the program's storage area, where the toys stay until inmates can get to them and make the toys like new so they're available in December at the Salvation Army's Joy Shop for low-income families who need Christmas gifts for their children.

But this year, Heidt barely needs to go once a day.

"I get some stuff on weekends, enough to keep us busy for a couple hours, and then on weekdays I hardly get anything,"he said.

He's not at all sure what's going on.

"Maybe people don't have anything to donate anymore,"Heidt said.

The program, a combined effort of the Salvation Army, Dan's Supermarket, the North Dakota State Penitentiary and the Bismarck Tribune, is in its 20th year. Last year, it benefited 340 low-income families and their children.

This year, it's expected the number of families needing the program will be higher, said Brenda Kriedman, Salvation Army director of social services.

But at the rate donations are going, Heidt doesn't know if families will be able to pick out as many items for their kids as they did last year.

He said the program is particularly short on such things as puzzles and books, VHS tapes with children's movies on them, DVDS, electronics for older kids such as CD players and hand-held games.

He said a bright spot this year is that someone earlier this week left two 1974 three-speed Schwin bikes that appear to be brand new. They still have information booklets attached to them with the price, $95.

Heidt said when he saw them, "You've got to be kidding me."

He said it's possible program organizers might sell the bikes - now probably worth a couple hundred dollars each - to benefit the Playpen program. But for now, Scheel's wants to display the vintage bikes at its Bismarck store.

Inmates at the women's correctional facility in New England get $2.10 a day to work on mainly dolls, while the six inmate volunteers at MRCC are paid to repair bikes, electronic equipment and other toys.

And they need more things to work on.

Toys resembling weapons will not be accepted, nor will stuffed animals, which could be used to bring contraband into the prison. Toys broken beyond repair and toys and games with missing pieces also are not wanted. R-rated movies will not be accepted.

Cash donations also are being accepted and can be dropped off at, or mailed to the Bismarck Tribune at P.O. Box 5516, Bismarck, N.D. 58506, Attn.: Bobette Miller. Make checks out to Christmas Playpen.

The storage container will be on site through Dec. 10 for donations, and is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

For more information, call 667-9486.

(Reach reporter Virginia Grantier at 250-8254 or at virginia.grantier@bismarcktribune.com.)