Children from 320 families received used toys from the 19th annual Christmas Playpen, up more than 50 from last Christmas.

Brenda Kriedman, Salvation Army director of social services, said 1,121 children received toys. Each child received 17 used gifts, Kriedman said.

The Bismarck Tribune, Salvation Army, Dan's Supermarket and the North Dakota State Penitentiary put on Christmas Playpen for the 19th year in 2006. Community members donated used toys and bicycles, and inmates at the Missouri River Correctional Center cleaned and fixed them.

Low-income families are chosen by the Salvation Army to go through its Joy Shop, filled with donated items, to pick out Christmas presents for children.

Christmas Playpen organizers said many toys were left over after the Joy Shop closed. So, toys were donated to other organizations with Christmas present programs.

Dave Heidt, a correctional officer at MRCC, supervises the inmates who work on toys for Christmas Playpen. He said many toys remained even after donations were given to other agencies, so he took a truckload of toys to Seeds of Hope thrift store.

"The quality of toys was a lot better than last year," Heidt said.

Bobette Miller, a Christmas Playpen organizer, said the Bismarck Tribune received $4,580 in donations for Christmas Playpen. Donations are used to purchase toys to fill needs not met by donations and to pay inmates their $2.10 a day to repair toys.

Heidt said many inmates vie annually for a chance to be part of Christmas Playpen. This year's inmates did a good job, he said.

"I had some good workers,"he said. "When you have good workers, it's fun."

Kriedman said 160 volunteers worked in the Joy Shop, 110 volunteers helped set up the Joy Shop and 110 volunteers helped put together food baskets for families this year.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)