Community
29 November, 2024
Toy Library invites new families to sign up
THE Camperdown Toy Library is calling out for new members to sign up and swap toys in a cost-effective alternative to shopping for new toys.
The toy library offers families the ability to borrow up to three toys for children aged six months to mid-primary school age, with the library open on the first and third Saturday of each month between 10am and 12noon.
Toy library president Kirsty Sinnott said the not-for-profit library is run by a volunteer group of parents but is looking to expand on membership.
“We have currently 14 members - three of us are currently working on building that because we cover Camperdown, Terang, Cobden and everywhere in between,” she said.
“We know there’s definitely more families that could make use of it. I think building awareness in important – people might not know about it and the benefits they could get from it.
“Toys are a lot of money, and kids grow so fast it’s hard to keep up. It’s only $40 for a whole year – imagine all the toys you could get at the shop for $40 that your kids could get bored of after two weeks.
“It brings together parents and kids that are probably going to spend the next 12 years together going through kindergarten, primary school and then secondary school, if they’re going to stay in the area.
“It brings us together as well – I’ve definitely made some friends with other mums and other twin mums as well.”
The Camperdown Toy Library is run out of the gymnasium at the back of the Camperdown Theatre Royal complex, located at 216 Manifold Street.
The library offers flexibility to parents for returning borrowed toys, with access to a key available for exchanges outside of opening hours and the ability for parents to hold borrowed toys until they can get in.
“There’s so much going on as parents – sports, children getting sick, parents working – trying to get in for that tiny two-hour period twice a month can be difficult,” Mrs Sinnott said.
“At the moment, because we’ve only got 14 volunteers, it doesn’t cover opening up the library often.
“The toy library was a lot busier prior to COVID-19.
“It hasn’t really rebuilt despite our best efforts.
“Members of the committee have been putting in a lot of effort to raise awareness and build it back, but we’re not really seeing the responses.”
No training is needed to sign up and become a member, and there are a number of ways interested families can get involved.
“They can either come in to one of our open sessions, and I’ve got it printed out and stuck on the door,” Mrs Sinnott said,
“Otherwise they can contact via Facebook, email or contacting me personally.
“All you have to do is a bank transfer and sign some forms about who your kid is and some liability forms.”
To register your interest, contact the toy library at toylibrarycamperdown3260@gmail.com, on Facebook at Camperdown Toy Library Inc, or by contacting Kirsty Sinnott directly on 0414 152 675.
Read More: Camperdown, local