Operation Wishlist: Barnett Distributes $25,000 in Toys
(Pierre) Attorney General Mark Barnett today announced the recipients of $25,000 worth of toys from this years "Operation Wishlist." Barnett began the program last year when his office joined other states in a lawsuit settlement with Toys ‘R’ Us and several other toy manufacturers.
"As Attorney General, I often have to deal with some of the more negative issues facing South Dakota, but this is one time during the year that I get to help bring smiles to the faces of thousands of children," Barnett said. "I only wish we had more toys to give."
Organizations receiving toys from this years distribution include:
- Children’s Care Hospital
- Children’s Home (Sioux Falls)
- Black Hills Children’s Home
- Pierre Indian Learning Center
- Sioux Falls Junior Chamber of Commerce
- Mitchell Toys for Tots
- CASA of Aberdeen
- Sioux Falls Indian Education Program
- United Sioux Tribes
This is the third year Barnett has given toys to South Dakota children. Last year, he distributed $40,000 in toys. Next year will be the final year of the settlement, when Barnett plans to again distribute about $25,000 in toys. The toys are being distributed this week with the help of Parker Transfer and Storage of Sioux Falls, who donated storage space and delivery services for the project.
The toys were a result of a legal settlement between 44 states and Toys ‘R’ Us. The lawsuit charged that Toys "R" Us orchestrated illegal agreements among toy manufacturers to restrict or limit the supply of certain popular toys to warehouse clubs. As part of the settlement, South Dakota received approximately $135,000 in toys and cash over four years. A cash award was distributed earlier this year to SD Public Broadcasting’s Ready to Learn program, a reading program for South Dakota’s 4,200 Head Start children.
"Operation Wishlist has truly been a great program for South Dakota kids," Barnett said.
