Brunswick Rotary adapts toys for kids with disabilities

BRUNSWICK — Members of the Brunswick Rotary Club and their guests adapted plush toys to make them easier for kids with disabilities to play with during a workshop put on by nonprofit RePlay for Kids on Thursday. RePlay for Kids is an organization that teaches volunteers how to adapt battery-powered toys by adding buttons or switches to make the toy light up, move, make music and more, so children with disabilities can more easily play with them. "We give away the toys for free, and to buy an adapted toy that's from a manufacturer would cost $50 to $100 at least," Amy Davarpanah from RePlay for Kids said. "These are affordable toys for anybody that needs them." About 35 people participated in the event, which included many city officials. Davarpanah said to adapt a plush toy, a wire is placed in parallel to the original switch on the toy. A jack is then attached on the end which is later connected to the switch the child will use. Club President Carl DeForest said it was a fun experience being able to adapt a toy. "We're helping kids that otherwise might not have a toy that's adapted for them to make them laugh, giggle, carry on and interact with others," he said. The event was brought to the Brunswick Rotary because the organization's goal is to help others and give kids an opportunity to enjoy themselves, DeForest said. "Normally families with disabled children oftentimes are in situations where they don't have a lot of money to spend on fun stuff," he said. "We're going to be able to give these toys to families that could use them that otherwise would not have an adapted toy for their disabled child." Around 2,000 toys are adapted every year, Davarpanah said. The toys will be donated to local organizations such as children's hospitals, school districts and developmental boards as well as individual families. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.