Neighbor News
Macaroni Kid Act of Kindness to Support The Toy Loan Program
Toy Drive September 29-October 3
I recently walked into my boys' room and was immediately overwhelmed by the amount of stuff. SO many stuffed animals, books and games. Seriously, how many stuffed toys do they have? They can't really need all this!
I have to confess, it's hard for me to let go of their stuff. I hate the clutter. But, when I get "mom, what happened to our hot wheels track?" And I know it's housed down in the good ole landfill (even though they didn't play with it for a year ... and it had three broken ramps, I still feel guilty). There's also the thought that maybe they haven't actually outgrown it (thought, hope?, whatever). It makes it easier for me to purge when stuff is going to a fabulous new home, where more kids will give it some love.
So I started doing some research to find an organization that would be happy to receive some gently used stuffed goodies. That was when I came across the Toy Loan Program.
The Toy Loan Program is a free service which allows children to borrow toys from a Toy Loan Center in the same manner in which they borrow books from the public library. The children borrow toys once a week. It is a voluntary community effort sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Public Social Services. Toy Loan supplies toys to over 55 centers throughout LA County.
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I was so excited - not only would one child benefit from our generosity, thousands would. I called them up and decided it was the perfect organization to benefit from Macaroni Kid Pasadena's Act of Kindness Week. There had to be other moms out there like me who suffered from too-much-stuff-syndrome and needed a good cleansing. So parents, grandparents, kids...here's your chance to give your toys another chance.
From Sunday, September 29, through Thursday, October 3, 2019, you can drop off donations to the Toy Loan Program at the following locations:
The Family Room
2130 Huntington Drive
San Marino, CA 91108
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The Pasadena Museum of History
470 W Walnut St.
Pasadena, CA 91103
Rosebuds & Rosestuds
1012 Mission St
South Pasadena, CA 91030
If you are interested in being a dropoff location email [email protected]
Donate Your Toys!
| Acceptable donated items: | Unacceptable donated items: | |
| New or gently used children’s toys, games and books. New or gently used stuffed animals and dolls. Educational toys and games. Video games and consoles. We are in need of toys for children with special needs and disabilities. | Electronics – home, personal, machinery. Toy guns, whether realistic or fantasy. Any type of “violent” toys or games Broken, damaged or incomplete children’s toys or games Any type of food items, boxed, canned or other. New or used clothing – adults or children |
About Toy Loan
Toy Loan Centers are located in parks, recreation facilities, children’s centers, housing projects and community service buildings. Each center adheres to the basic tenets of theToy Loan Program. Currently, the Toy Loan Program supplies toys to over 55 centers throughout LA County and is a resource for various non-profit agencies. Over 30,000 children are served annually by the various services offered by the program. While the program depends on monetary, toy and book donations from the public and private sectors, the County does provide other key supports such as a headquarters facility and a delivery truck. Toys are sorted and sanitized at the headquarters, then distributed to the various Toy Loan Centers as well as Domestic Violence and Homeless Shelters. At any given time, there are approximately 45,000 toys in circulation and at the headquarters facility.
#MKAOKWeek
To help with the Toy Drive email Faith Mellinger at [email protected].