Shawnee’s Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is hosting an exhibit reminding artists to be young at heart, to benefit the Hope House Children’s Shelter.

The “Kids at Heart” collection has contributions from artists across the state making references to toys with their creative pieces. The work either references toys or are toys they created.

“What we do is we ask for admission of a toy,” said Tonya Ricks, director of development for the museum. “You get free admission to the museum for bringing a toy, which is then donated to the Hope House.”

The museum asks for unwrapped toys for kids of all ages. Hope House Children’s Shelter is a safe place for children from newborns to age 18 who lack homes or safe places to stay. The shelter houses more than 600 kids each year, and the toys collected will be given away during the holiday season.

The museum has a specialty exhibit like this every year in November to benefit a different charity.

“Last year, people had fun with our theme because we did toilet paper or household products,” Ricks said.

In addition to the “Kids at Heart” collection, visitors to the museum will also be able to traverse the other galleries including contemporary, Egyptian and Baroque art.

The “Kids at Heart” exhibit and toy drive runs through Nov. 20 at the museum, 1900 W. MacArthur in Shawnee. For more information, call 878-5300 or visit mgmoa.org. —Carmen Forman

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