Visit the following sites for additional information on recalled items:
www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/recall.html
www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html
Safe Holiday Shopping at Goodwill
Peoria, IL, November 19, 2007 December is national Safe Toys and Gifts Month, but at Goodwill the expectation for safe merchandise remains year-round. In light of the recent abundance of toy recalls, Goodwill would like to stress the importance of purchasing and donating safe goods.
Our first priority is always the safety of our customers and we do everything we can to make sure dangerous items, including those recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), never make it to our store shelves. CPSC recall notices are sent to our three donation processing centers and our eight retail stores. In addition, there are some items such as child car seats, playpens and cribs that we do not accepted, regardless of their condition.
Goodwill would like to encourage donors to help us keep the public safe by returning recalled items to the manufacturer or throwing them away, instead of donating them to Goodwill. We receive millions of items each year and make every effort to make sure recalled items do not make it to the sales floor. Each day Goodwill employees carefully sort through all the donated items and dispose of products that have been recalled by the CPSC.
Toys are an important part of holiday gift giving and Goodwill would like to make sure children are playing safe year round. The following tips from CPSC will help holiday shoppers make informed decisions when purchasing toys for children:
Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards to younger children.
For infants, toddlers and all children who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small parts which could pose a fatal choking hazard.
Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
For all children under age 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under age 8.
Be a label reader. Look for labels that five age recommendations and use that information as a guide.
Check instructions for clarity. They should be clear to you, and when appropriate, to the child.
Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys, which can cause suffocation, before they become deadly playthings.
Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois, Inc.
2319 East War Memorial Drive • Peoria, Illinois 61614-8014 • (309) 682-1113
URL: http://www.goodwillpeo.org/article_52.shtml
