The doll’s golden curls are intact and shortly her head is, too. One after the other, the toys that present the wear and tear and tear of affection are restored for the vacations: sewed and combed, stuffed and dressed.

From Barbie dolls to a Kung Fu Panda with a paw raised in triumph, the toys which have been left behind by kids are made able to be gifted as soon as extra.

That is the work of the Hospital for Smooth Toys, a challenge in Venezuela’s capital.

Its volunteers choose up the tempo this time of 12 months. It started with a mom’s query: What to do with all of the toys as soon as kids outgrow them?

Mirady Acosta, a 63-year-old architect who represents the Hospital for Smooth Toys, mentioned the concept got here from Lilian Gluck, a trainer who in 2017 thought-about what to do as a few of her kids left the nation.

Throw toys out? Allow them to crumble? Neither had been good choices. She determined to scrub them, repair them up and donate them to pediatric sufferers of the College Hospital of Caracas.

Months later, inspired by the response, she opened the Hospital for Smooth Toys at her dwelling as a nonprofit basis that additionally collects and restores different toys and academic video games.

About 60 volunteers now meet at the least twice every week. The challenge estimates it has recycled about 70,000 toys previously seven years.

The inspiration additionally receives donations from overseas that may embrace college provides, diapers, sneakers, meals and sweet.

All have been welcome in a rustic that has seen years of financial disaster and renewed political nervousness after July’s election.

Restoring a mushy toy’s nubby fur or untangling a doll’s hair for one more spherical of affection can be useful for the volunteers.

“By doing this, all of us who come listed here are in remedy, a remedy of assist for each other,” mentioned Silvia Heiber, 72, who has volunteered for nearly three years.

Mirna Morales, a 76-year-old trainer and one other volunteer, referred to as it “the most effective experiences I’ve ever had.”

María Poleo, 84, was mending a large stuffed animal. The work just isn’t difficult, she mentioned, as all of them have been “seamstresses and menders at one time or one other.”

On some days it appears the variety of toys to restore runs low, however then the doorbell rings. And extra packing containers and luggage have arrived.

The toys are delivered to hospitals and faculties in poor neighborhoods, but in addition to houses for older folks — anybody “who wants somewhat little bit of affection,” Heiber mentioned.

Every restored toy comes with a message encouraging its new proprietor to embrace the worth of recycling.

“Good day, I’m your new good friend,” it says. “I’m a doll with expertise as a result of I performed with one other lady. Love me and deal with me and I’ll do the identical with you. Whenever you develop up give me to a different lady who will love me and play with me such as you.”

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Andry Rincón contributed to this report in Caracas.

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Comply with AP’s protection of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america