Nonprofit PHX Doll House refurbishes old toys and delivers them to kids

PHOENIX—Avalleycouplehasmadeittheirmissiontobringjoytokidsacrossthevalleyonetoyatatime. JennaHubaishyandherfiancéBenMertensoftenspendmanyhoursintheirgaragerefurbishingdollsandtoys.It’saskilltheypickedupafterHubaishywasscrollingFacebookmarketplaceandcameacrossahighlysought-after,oftenvaluabletoy.AnAmericanGirldoll. “Ihadareallygoodchildhood.IhadtwoAmericangirldollsandIlovedthem,”Hubaishysaid.“IwastellingBen,Iwaslike,thisladyissellingthemforlike$10.Thesedollarsareusuallylike$200.It’dbeniceifthesegotoagirlwhowouldn’tbeabletoaffordit.” Hubaishysaysshewantedtofindawaytomakethedolllooklikenew,becausemuchoftheappealisoftengettingtoopenitoutofthebox.Sotheyfreshenedthedollupandre-packagedher,findingafamilytoloveandcherishhernext.Sincethatday,they’vecreatedanonprofitcalledPHXDollHouse,andit’smorethanjustdolls. “SinceMarch,wehavegiventoysto552kids,”shesaid. Theirentiregarageisnowfilledwithdonatedtoys.T