Toys

Independence Blue Cross is giving 1,000 toys to the struggling Philadelphia Toys for Tots campaign, and in addition will match each new donation up to a total of 2,500. That could quickly bring 6,000 toys to the annual program, where donations are down almost 80 percent this year. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is joining the effort, too - appearing at 3 p.m. Friday at Engine Company 16, at 1517 Belmont Ave., to encourage people to donate. "I talked to Mike about it, and he's like, 'Santa has to come to Philly this year,' " said Vick spokesman Chris Shigas.

Donations to the city Toys for Tots campaign are down nearly 80 percent, and organizers say they fear thousands of needy children will go without presents on Christmas. Last year, the operation delivered 113,000 toys. This year it has collected 25,000. Organizers appealed Tuesday for people to donate a new, unwrapped toy. Toys can be dropped off at any Philadelphia fire station or at one of four Toys R Us stores. "The toys are not coming in," said Marine Staff Sgt. Marc Palos, in charge of the effort and part of the Third Battalion, 14th Regiment.

The Big Roar, the debut full-length CD from The Joy Formidable, lives up to its title (and the band's name) with a loud, cathartic mix of shoe-gazing anthems, grungy guitar squalls, and passionate vocals. Even before their full-length debut arrived in January, the Welsh trio were getting buzz on the strength of several singles, a mini-album and, especially, live performances. They have toured relentlessly this year, playing opening gigs in arenas (they were at the Wells Fargo Center with the Foo Fighters a few weeks ago; they opened for Sir Paul McCartney in London a year ago)

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program in Philadelphia has been flooded with requests for toys this year, far outstripping supply, say organizers. And local marines are asking for help. "We are way under supplied," said Staff Sgt. Marc Palos, the Toys for Tots coordinator for Philadelphia and Bristol. "We are running out of toys and people keep requesting them," he added. "We just don't have enough to give them. " Palos cited continuing economic troubles as the culprit, but says he is unsure why this year would be worst than last.

At a time when gaming for teens is synonymous with the whiz-bang of video, the students in Nicholas Pompei's manufacturing and engineering technology class are making it old-school. They are using wood slats, golf balls, string, and vinyl to build games for youngsters whose holiday season might not be as bright if Pompei's classroom hadn't been turned into a Santa's workshop. The 36 students at Hatboro-Horsham High School have spent six weeks building 36 small shuffleboard and ladder-golf games to donate to Toys for Tots, the Marines charity that collects new and unused toys for needy children and youths.

THE BRANDYWINE RIVER Museum is known for artwork made in the region's celebrated style of still life and landscapes. Its Christmas exhibit paints a holiday picture with antique dolls, train sets and folksy crafts made of natural materials. Keeping with the museum's connection to the Wyeth family, the large display of porcelain dolls belonged to the painter Ann Wyeth McCoy, sister of famed artist Andrew. This is the first time the rare dolls and their handmade outfits and accessories have been displayed at the museum: The collection was recently donated by McCoy's daughters.

By Jennifer Coburn This holiday season, let's not overstuff ourselves with toys, trinkets, and gifts. The gluttony of consumerism adversely affects our health and our children's health. The average American spends more than $1,000 during the holiday season, according to Buy Nothing Christmas, an organization that advocates simplifying the holiday. Although the United States represents only 4.5 percent of the world's population, we consume 40 percent of its toys. The typical first grader is able to recognize 200 brands and acquires 70 new toys a year.

The more than 500 toy-train enthusiasts who gathered Sunday in Northeast Philadelphia may be a little longer in the tooth these days, but for a while anyway, they were youngsters again, lost in the romance of the rails. But the real youngsters, who lamented as they caught up with old friends and new finds on display, were few and far between, numbering no more than a dozen at a time. "I don't think they see the trains like we did. We used to, sometimes stupidly, run over the train tracks.

Thousands of needy children in Lower Bucks County will get toys for Christmas this year, even though the elves will be rushed to do Santa's work. The annual Toys for Tots campaign is pushing to set up collection boxes next week, about three weeks late, now that volunteers have stepped up to lead the drive. "I just got warehouse space and a back room to store the toys," Mara Irizary, director of Teen Connect Center, said Tuesday. "We have been working with Toys for Tots for four years.