Ask Zack Prager what he wants for Christmas, and he'll give you answers pretty typical of a 6-year-old boy.

A Nintendo DS. Maybe a PSP.

Prod a little bit more, though, and the first-grader will tell you what he'd really like is an Easy-Bake Oven.

His mother, Dawna Prager, 26, said that her son has taken an interest in baking and loves the TLC show "Cake Boss."

"It's fun to bake," Zack said, nodding when asked if he wants to be a chef when he grows up.

Even though he wants video game systems this year, too, Ms. Prager says he's "not frozen to the TV like some kids."

"He wants to make a gingerbread house," she said. "He loves asking 'why' and 'how.' "

Ms. Prager, a single mom, receives help from the Highlands Family Center of Tarentum, which assists with early-childhood development and education for children from birth through age 5 and parenting help for prenatal moms.

"Our big belief is that parents are the first teacher," said the center's site director, Medina Goudelock.

She said the center has monthly family fun nights, where families enrolled at the center get together to watch a movie, play bingo or make crafts and have dinner.

Evidence of the family nights was all over the Pragers' home: Popsicle-stick ornaments adorned the tree in the living room, and paper turkeys with her sons' names hung on the wall amid other pictures and art projects.

The center offers rides to court, doctor's and WIC appointments, but Ms. Prager said she and her family rely on buses most of the time. A grocery store is within walking distance of their Natrona Heights apartment, but Ms. Prager said if she needs to go elsewhere, she takes a bus before she calls for a ride.

"I'll do for myself before I ask for help," she said.

Ms. Goudelock said Ms. Prager first enrolled at the center when Zack was 2, and has since "become a much stronger parent."

"She knows how to use her resources," Ms. Goudelock said, noting that Ms. Prager helps with the center's parent committee and bake sales. "She's really good with the other children, too. ... A lot of times, she's the one who will help when a parent is having a problem with their child."

The baby of Ms. Prager's family, Jamarkus, who will turn 2 on Valentine's Day, is "active," Ms. Prager said.

Jamarkus was asleep on Monday afternoon when Zack got home from school, and "active" proved to be an accurate description.

He immediately woke up when greeted by his brother, and began hunting for toys as Ms. Prager congratulated Zack on good schoolwork.

Jamarkus sought out a remote-control truck and a "Handy Manny" doll, one of his favorites. Ms. Prager said he wants Handy Manny, Elmo and Dora the Explorer toys for Christmas.

The brothers get along well, Ms. Prager said as the boys played with the trucks. Zack shared willingly with Jamarkus, passing off the controller as soon as Jamarkus reached for it.

"Sometimes Zack seems to play the big brother part, but he's also very caring if something happens to Jamarkus," Ms. Prager said. "We do brotherly love."

The Highlands Family Center participates in the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, which is supported in part by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Goodfellows Fund. Toys for Tots and Goodfellows work every year to make sure no children wake up on Christmas morning without a gift.

We hope you will join this effort by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Goodfellows Fund by using the coupon on this page or online at www.post-gazette.com/goodfellows.

Every donation is acknowledged in the newspaper.

How to get toys

The Toys for Tots program will hold open houses this weekend to distribute toys to those caring for needy children.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, toys will be distributed at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh building at 420 Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown. Those wishing to obtain toys should bring photo ID and be accompanied by their children or bring documentation of the children's ages (for example, birth certificates or insurance cards) and proof of government assistance.

Today's total: $12,894

Grand total: $44,427.33

In honor of Mr. Eugene and Diane Natali $2,000

John F. Owens $500

Steve and Janet Kouroubacalis $300

Melissa Stevick Reichbach $300

Drs. Ray and Carol Seifert $250

Jonathan Manns, Brandon, Jess, Nikki, Terry, Allison, Mark, Adam $250

In memory of Joseph G. Schonbeck $250

Jon and Melissa Piersol $200

Anonymous $200

Pamela Weiss and family $200

Dr. Harry B. Burke and Associates $150

David and Molly Miller $150

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Cameron $150

Anonymous $125

Liz and Randy Kosky $100

Anonymous $100

Jim and Jan Howell $100

Dr. R.A. Labriola $100

Jeffrey and Lee Ann Steimer $100

Bob and Ellen Fredrickson $100

The Socash Family $100

Mary and Harry McCollum $100

In memory of Wesley J. Burnworth $100

Frank and Pam LaMantia $100

The Feduska Family $100

Raymond Schutzman $100

In memory of Rachel Saylor $100

Carl and Linda Reisacher $100

In memory of Fast Eddie $100

Packer, DeFerrari, Hicks $100

Jacquelyn A. Ridley $100

Elinor McLennan $100

Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Romig $100

Nick Tesla $100

Emerson and Lou Ann White $100

Anonymous $100

Anonymous $100

T. Schott $100

In memory of my beloved Duffie $100

Anonymous $100

David and Michelle Friedland $100

Joseph P. Cain $100

Karen C. Sheppard $75

John V. Pessamato $75

Margaret M. Yori $75

William Diskin $75

Dennis and Susan Friday $75

In honor of Alex and Maddie Lemoncelli $60

Anonymous $60

Richard Merrill $60

Tom and Donna $59

Jay and Susan Sedmak $55

Anonymous $50

Stacey and Stephanie Jackson $50

Anonymous $50

Daniel G. Kamin $50

Anonymous $50

Anonymous $50

Hal Grimm $50

In memory of Walter P. Kavalo $50

Nancy Huggins $50

In honor of Janey $50

Edward W. Jew Jr., M.D. $50

The Hatfield Family $50

John and Isabelle Holzapfel $50

Anonymous $50

Ed and Donna Barr $50

Louis B. Wehar, Jr. $50

Dave Lebec $50

Paul and Kathie Scopel $50

Robert H. Dripps $50

Bill and Jennifer Presutti $50

Beatrice L. Zacur in honor of Donna Davis $50

Betty Sue Carretta $50

In memory of John Dailey $50

Anonymous $50

In memory of William A. Flannery $50

Don and Bonnie Mazzotta $50

Jean and Laura Sommer $50

Norm and Maze Riffner $50

Betty Rowland $50

Sam and Barbara Costanzo $50

John and Christine Dyba $50

Carol Robinson $50

Lawrence and Pamela Brown $50

In memory of Ann and Dush Zarnic $50

Jama, Tim and J.J. McCabe $50

Jim and Rhonda Snyder $50

John Shepard $50

Peggy Vanatta $50

The Shannon Family $50

The Andersons $49

Bob and Bea Jones $40

In memory of Joe Crawshaw $40

Mr. and Mrs. D. Filip $40

Ken Venmar $40

Julia and Natalie Skinnell $40

In memory of George L. Smoulder $40

Zarley and Tut Snyder $36

Raymond Bowland $35

Anita Smolenski $35

Leona Scrivo $35

Ken Kennard $30

In memory of Elkin Cannoy $30

Anonymous $30

Anonymous $30

Bill and Charlotte Carson $30

In memory of Clara Marie Petrauskas $30

Robert Barker $30

Ron and Denise Lazzini $30

Anonymous $30

Bll and Deb McMurray $30

D. Kovacs Family $30

Vicki and Dana Erhard $30

Donna Fisher $30

Pearl G. Ehrenberger $25

Sylvia McClory $25

In memory of Ned Cole and Jason Johnson $25

In memory of Felice Paxinos Stephenson and Tracey Lee Maker $25

In memory of Virginia McNeil Weber $25

Tony M. Costanzo $25

Nellie Ambrose $25

Dolores Harding $25

Nellie Campbell $25

Ann M. Ditoro $25

In memory of Ches Cigola $25

John and Andrea Abbatico $25

In memory of Linda Therese Steiner $25

Rhonda Joslin $25

In memory of grandaughter Mary Grace Blacka $25

Ross Jennings $25

Ventura Family (Salvatore and Mary) $25

In memory of Vallie Lee Krute $25

Barbara J. Cuff $25

Norman and Eileen Kanel $25

Coles Family $25

In memory of Judy Muha $25

John E. Burke $25

Mary and Harry Martig $25

In memory of my mother, Kay Cauley $25

Patricia Glosser $25

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Reed $25

Evangelista Family $25

Anonymous $25

Anonymous $25

Ann Ridge $25

Leslie L. O'Connor $25

Anonymous $25

Mrs. Esther Glickman $25

Bill and Connie Jacobs $25

In memory of Carol Fehl and Charles Conley $25

Roy and Anna Betti $25

Eddie and Ginger Barrett $25

Anonymous $20

The Rowleys $20

John and Bea Leindecker $20

Elinore S. Thomas $20

Toni and Greg Martincevic $20

In honor of God Bless the Children Always $20

Mr. Howard Kissel $20

Claudine Sanders $20

Edward Baugher $20

Mary K. Lyons $20

Frank and Jean Fereday $20

W. and P. Driscoll $20

J. A. Fialon $20

Rich Youngerman $20

Raymond E. Farnen $20

Richard Goodman $20

Charlotte and Jim Episcopo $20

Jim and Maurine Greenen $20

Robert Miller $20

Emily, Allie, Maddie, Taylor - Veze Grandchildren $20

Andy Galioto $20

James A. Daube $20

Patty Scrima $20

Celia G. Overholt $20

George Balker $20

Nick Maslaney $15

Danica and Zachary Natale $15

Rose Turack $15

Joan A. Mayhue $15

Anonymous $15

Don Marchione $15

Dorothy D. Coulter $15

Mr. Wayne Thiel $15

Anonymous $10

Mr. Martin J. McSweeny $10

Mrs. Pauline Balchus $10

Charles and Vera Percy $10

Pat Flanigan $10

Carolyn Martin $10

Anonymous $10

Mrs. Yvonne Penkrot $10

Helen Hunter $10

Victoria and Adam Martrano $10

Ray and Maureen Contestabile $10

Marion Haffely $10

Demetri Tank Mounir-Roberts $10

Ms. Edith G. Ergen $10

Tyler Magee $10

David E. Stirk $10

Fran Corsello $10

Ingeborg Hamovitz $10

John C. Nestor $10

Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Patricia Benna $10

Anonymous $10

In memory of Thomas H. Nichols, Thomas J. (T.J.) Nichols, Janet Nichols Chowan $10

Anonymous $10

Gail Gringel $5

Vivian Hinkle $5

Anonymous $5

Melissa Finella $5

Frank Martorana $5

Jenna Finella $5