Five community groups and businesses are again teaming with the public's help to ensure the magic of Christmas does not escape children in financially-strapped homes in Bismarck-Mandan.

The Christmas Playpen runs from Monday to Dec. 8 to help young people in need.

This is the 20th year for the program.

Items geared for infants through age 18 can be dropped off at the south Dan's Supermarket on Washington Street. A storage unit will again be set up to receive the items.

Participating are the Salvation Army, Dan's Supermarket (for providing lot space), Garbage Plus (to collect materials not acceptable), Go Mini (donating the storage unit space) and the Bismarck Tribune (collecting cash donations for the project).

Repairs of slightly used items like the bikes are made by inmates of the Missouri River Correctional Center. Keith Grabowski, director of the MRCC, said between six and eight prisoners will assist this year.

"It's a program they really seem to enjoy. They want to do something for the kids," Grabowski said.

"We get a lot of bikes and about anything you can call a toy," he said.

Inmates at the New England women's prison mend and prepare dolls for gifts.

Helen Winstryg, case manager for the Bismarck Salvation Army, said volunteers are needed to make the project succeed.

"We will need people the week before Christmas to set up and sort gifts for the Joy Store and do delivery to the Salvation Army. We need volunteers the week of the Joy Store to help the families pick out the gifts," Winstryg said.

Volunteers may inquire at 223-1889.

"The program is accepting all toys, games anything that's gently used new or that can be made good again," said co-organizer Bobette Miller of the Tribune.

The drop-off point will receive items such as slightly used toys, bicycles, tricycles, games, puzzles, footballs, basketballs and dolls. Games and puzzles must have full pieces.

Organizers said donations typically run low for teen and pre-teen type gifts.

Winstryg said to help obtain more teen and preteen gifts, she is inquiring about setting up a giving tree for them at a larger chain store. "We'd like anything of sports - basketballs, footballs, volleyball, MP3 players and makeup for girls, and movies good for teens." She said clothing sizes can be detailed on the teen angel tree tabs.

Cash donations received are used for materials to purchase materials to make repairs and buy new items for what is lacking with the remaining money.

Items in need of light repairs or used items will be accepted at Dan's between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. throughout the entire week until Dec. 8. The storage bin will be clearly marked the Christmas Playpen.

Donated new items and working electronic items should be taken to the Salvation Army office at 601 S. Washington St. between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

Cash donations to supplement the repair and purchase of items can be sent to the Christmas Playpen, care of Bobette Miller, Bismarck Tribune, P.O. 5516, Bismarck, N.D. 58504.

"The Christmas Playpen is accepting anything that is fixable, games, toys and clothes," Miller said of the collection site.

Organizers are not receiving stuffed animals, used clothing or computers for the project.

"The Salvation Army has a list of the needy people in our area. They send out a letter. These people have to respond back to the letter and set up their time and do their shopping at the Joy Store for free," Miller explained.

"Organizers of the Christmas Playpen collect the toys, the inmates at the Missouri Valley Correctional Facility fix them up, and when they are all fixed up, they're delivered to the Salvation Army," said Miller.

"Then, the Salvation Army sets up their whole gym like the people are going through a store. That's the Joy Store," she continued.

How long they "shop" and collect the items depends upon the number of children in the family.

"If they have three kids, they have so many games, so many bikes, so many socks and tops."

She said the donations are carefully used to buy supplies for the repairs and new items with the rest.

"It's a huge success. By starting this program 20 years ago, we definitely were able to give Christmas to children who wouldn't have Christmas," Miller said. "There would be no gifts for them if we didn't have this program."

She said over 900 children were helped with the program in 2007. "With the economy the way it is now, we know we are going to exceed 1,000," Miller said. She said the money collected for this goes just for the Christmas Playpen locally.

"The toys and clothing for the Joy Store are sorted by size and age," said Winstryg.

Grabowski said he believes the program is a success. "Look at its longevity. … It includes different community organizations. It really is appreciated by the people able to use it," he said.

(Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 250-8264 or leann.eckroth@bismarcktribune.com.)