Special Delivery - Toy maker donates stuffed animals to Bosnian refugee kids.
The Dallas Morning News
September 1, 1993
By Winnie Hu

For children with nothing, a little something can go a long way.

That's why Phebe Phillips-Hargrove, a Dallas toy manufacturer, is donating 120 stuffed animals to Bosnian children in a refugee camp in Jordan. The 10 boxes of toys will be flown to Amman this month and distributed by members of Jordan's royal family.

"These kids have lost their homes, and I want to give something that provides love, joy, happiness and escapism," said Ms. Phillips-Hargrove. "Other groups ship in canned goods and clothes and tend to forget these emotional needs."

Ms. Phillips-Hargrove, 34, learned about the Bosnian children through a CNN report filed in June by bureau chief Stesan Kotsonis from Amman. She said she was particularly touched by the story of a little girl who shared her toys because many of the children didn't have any of their own. The day after the report, Ms. Phillips-Hargrove contacted CNN officials, who put her in touch with Mr. Kotsonis. The news bureau, in turn, called the office of Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan, one of the sponsors of the refugee camp.

The royal family agreed to pay the cost of freight from New York to Amman on Royal Jordanian Airlines and to expedite customs checks, said Serene Halasa, a CNN producer in Amman. The shipping cost for 10 boxes, weighing 25 to 30 pounds each, totals between $800 and $1,000, according to Bill Connors, the airline's marketing manager. Ms. Phillips-Hargrove will pay the $400 bill to send the boxes to New York.

Royal representatives will deliver the stuffed animals to the refugee camp, which is outside the capital. More than 125 Bosnian children, ranging in age from one month to 18 years old, are residing in the camp for one year, Ms. Halasa said.

"We've done stories on other refugee camps before, but we've never gotten a reaction like this in the U.S.," Ms. Halasa said. "I'm glad that people still care."

In Dallas, Ms. Phillips-Hargrove has spent more than 60 hours over the past two months preparing the shipment of stuffed bears, bunnies, dogs and cats. Each has a suede foot pad personally signed by her and marked with "Dallas, Texas, 1993."

"I want them to know these are American, and people out here care about what happens," she said. The 120 stuffed animals are samples that have no monetary value because of slight defects in the coloring, fur and assembly, Ms. Phillips-Hargrove said. The animals normally retail for $60 to $120. She has donated samples and overstock to charities since founding her company in East Dallas in 1983. Other groups have included local immigrant children, Midwestern farm families affected by foreclosures in 1988 and 10 Russian children undergoing craniofacial surgery at Medical City Dallas Hospital in 1989.

"I give only to the most needy---the ones that have no access to toys like this," said Ms. Phillips-Hargrove. "I'm not going to send canned food or clothing because there are other groups that do that." However, David Buss, who has served as a volunteer relief worker with the United Nations in New York, said the necessities provided by major organizations such as the U.N. and Red Cross fall far short of the demand in war areas. He advised concerned individuals to donate cash---lots of it---if they want to help refugees.

"I think giving toys is fine as long as it comes with money that can be used to buy food and maybe some warm coats," Mr. Buss said. "It's a question of priority, and I'm sorry to say that we will never have enough of the basics."

Ann Stingle, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross, praised the contribution of toys to refugee children. She said her organization mainly limits relief aid to food, medicine and clothing because of the high costs of transport and distribution.

"I can't deny that there is an emergency need of food and clothing, but the psychological needs of the children are enormous," said Ms. Stingle. "They have been through unimaginable nightmares, and anything that helps them makes a difference."

Ms. Phillips-Hargrove is hoping that her stuffed animals will make that small difference for one group of Bosnian children. She said her efforts will have been worth-while if the gifts bring even one smile to a child's face.

"There is a personal satisfaction in this," she said of the stuffed animals, "because they came out of my head and heart and are expressions of hope and love.