Second Chance Toys

Help Children + Help the Earth

Don't let this happen!

RESCUE + RECYCLE plastic toys

Second Chance Toys is a community-based initiative which rescues unwanted plastic toys that are gently used and distributes them to children in need through local community organizations, while at the same time, helping the environment.

 

Holiday Toy Drive 2009

Toy rescue and collection efforts will coincide with the year-end Holidays during November and December. Find a program and drop-off location nearest you for recycling your gently used plastic toys (PLEASE NOTE: Only clean plastic toys in good condition are accepted! Any battery powered toys need to be fully operational. Kindly help us by following these requirements).

New Jersey

Investors Savings Bank: 60 branches statewide, (November 28 - December 7, 2009),  For details Click Here

Evergreen School: December 8, 2009 (8:00AM - 9:30AM), In front of school at: Evergreen Avenue, Scotch Plains

Illinois*

Cartridge World: 5250 Grand Ave., Gurnee, (Across from Great America), November 10 - December 9, 2009

Bethel Lutheran Church: 5110 Grand Ave., Gurnee, November 10 - December 9, 2009)

Praire Crossing Charter School: 1531 Jones Point Road, Gurnee, November 10 - December 9, 2009

*Please contact Cheryl at 847-249-0700 with any questions about Second Chance Toys of IL.

More locations to be announced shortly

 

    

Help Us Grow: Get Involved!

DONATE TOYS: Plastic only, must be clean, no small or missing parts and battery powered toys must be fully operational. Check back for our growing list of drop-off locations.

VOLUNTEER: If you know of friends, families, students, businesses, organizations, scouts, or religious groups that are looking for a great team-building community service project, please let us know or click on Second_Chance_Toys_Getting_Started_Kit.pdf. Contact us at slipton@secondchancetoys.org.

CREATE CONNECTIONS: If you know of an organization serving disadvantaged children that can benefit from a donation of Second Chance Toys, please contact us at slipton@secondchancetoys.org. We love to see those smiling faces!!

SPREAD THE WORD: Please let others know about Second Chance Toys by passing on our information to help create a groundswell of interest and support!!

BECOME A SPONSOR: Your company can GET GREEN and garner media exposure by providing support or sponsoring a project on our site or community wide effort. Let's start the conversation soon!!

Together we can really make a difference!!!

Cartridge World and Bethel Lutheran Church in Gurnee, IL Plan Second Annual Toy Drive

After the success of last year’s collection, Cartridge World and Bethel Lutheran Church, both located in Gurnee, IL are collecting again for their second holiday toy drive.  This year’s recipient of the toys is the Head Start program affiliated with Community Action Partnership (CAP) in Waukegan.  Students from the “Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots Club “at Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake are helping us with the collection.  Roots and Shoots is a community service club that helps people, animals and/or the environment.  It was started at the beginning of this school year as an 8th Grade Culminating Project by Hailey and Melissa Richter.

Scotch Plains, New Jersey Elementary School Schedules Holiday Toy Collection with Second Chance Toys

Evergreen Elementary School in Scotch Plains has planned to host the third annual holiday plastic toy collection program on December 8, 2009 in front of the school. Clean plastic toys meeting the Second Chance Toys requirements can be dropped off from 8AM until 9:30AM.

NPR Recognizes the Value of Second Chance Toys

Click below to listen:

NPR Radio Coverage

 

Second Chance Toys Begins to Gear Up for Holiday Drive

Second Chance Toys has begun to announce the partner programs for plastic toy rescue efforts this holiday season. The first program announced in New Jersey will be held in cooperation with Investors Savings Bank and 1-800-Got-Junk? As programs are finalized, they will be added to the list.

Second Chance Toys in the Deep South

Northwest Rankin Elementary school held a toy drive in April. The enthusiastic students collected their gently used toys and brought them to the school during the Earth Week related drive. In total, the school donated 513 toys to Gateway Rescue Mission in Jackson, Mississippi.

 

Second Chance Toys Celebrates Earth Day and Week of the Young Child

Over 300 youngsters received great toys from Second Chance Toys of PA as Head Start celebrated both Earth Day 2009 and "Week of the Young Child" at Head Start headquarters at 440 North Broad Street in Philadelphia on Friday, April 24.  A wonderful time was had by all!

 

First South Jersey Collection a Success!

From April 13^th until April 18^th Matt McLaughlin, 1-800-Got-Junk? franchisee, stationed drop boxes in the Moorestown Mall, Voorhees Town Center, Brandywine Realty Locations, and Kaiserman locations where over 350 toys were collected and donated to local charities in the area.  The Camden Catholic Charities and the Center for Family Services were extremely appreciative of the donations and look forward to working with 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and Second Chance Toys in the future.  This was the first time the gently used plastic toy drive was conducted in southern New Jersey and it was a big success!!!  Matt is looking forward to growing this event and others so that we can help even more families!

 

 

Mt. Horeb School in Warren Collects Over 300 Toys

Helping Honduras received 320 toys from Mt. Horeb School in Warren. Teacher Christine Burkhardt (in black) organized the drive with the students who cleaned the toys and helped load the truck.

Paramus Congregational Church Collect Toys for Helping Honduras

Members of Paramus Congregational Church are pictured with members of Helping Honduras, who have loaded up their truck with 100 toys collected for Earth Week. Janice Hildreth, second from left, helped organize the toy drive with Second Chance Toys. Pastor Duke, second from right, also pitched in. 

 

Logan Head Start Says Thank You to Second Chance Toys!!

 

Helping Honduras Receives 540 Toys Collected from New Jersey Children's Museum

As a result of their month long collection in April in honor of Earth Week, New Jersey Children's Museum collected 540 toys that were clean and as good as new!!! Members of Helping Honduras along with New Jersey Children's Museum’s Josephine Napolitano, who organized the plastic toy drive with Second Chance Toys, loaded up the toys in time for the next shipment to help the many disadvantaged children of Honduras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicago YMCA Receives Donation of Second Chance Toys Collected During Earth Week

As part of Earth Week, the children of Romona School cleaned, donated and delivered 233 toys to Rauner YMCA in Chicago Illinois. 

 

WMBC TV News Covers NJ Statewide Program Supported by Investors Savings Bank and 1-800-Got-Junk!

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Second Chance Toys' Donations Break 20,000 Milestone!!

As the tallies from Earth Week programs begin to trickle in, the number of toys donated to date has exceeded 20,000. Thanks to the efforts of many, we are bringing miles of smiles to kids while helping to save our environment.

Second Chance Toys Celebrates Earth Day and “Week of the Young Child” At Philadelphia Head Start Headquarters

More than 300 children and their families received hundreds of great toys, compliments of Second Chance Toys of PA.  The recycled toys were collected, cleaned and delivered to Philadelphia Head Start’s 440 North Broad Street headquarters on April 23, one day after Earth Day.  Then, the toys were distributed on Friday, April 24 in celebration of “Week of the Young Child”. A great time was had by all!

Second Chance Toys of PA and the Philadelphia Phillies Collect Hundreds of Great Toys for the Kids at the Ballpark

The weather was wet but it did not dampen the spirits of the Second Chance Toys of PA family and partners, the Philadelphia Phillies.  In celebration of Earth Day 2009, the intrepid SCT squad was on hand at the ballpark to collect toys from Phillies fans.  Toy collection boxes were set up at seven entrances to the ballpark and hundreds of toys were collected for local children.  Thanks to the Phillies and their fans for helping the environment and local children in need!

 

 

Second Chance Toys of PA Toy Donations Top 4,000!

For the past two years, teenagers Kyle and Cara Scott and their family have spearheaded the growth of Second Chance Toys of PA.  Their grassroots efforts have paid off.  Teaming with local families, schools, churches, companies and most recently the Philadelphia Phillies, the Scotts have now recycled over 4,000 gently used plastic toys and distributed them to young, deserving children in our community.  It is a win for the environment and for young kids who need and deserve the toys to learn and have fun.  Thank you to all who have lent a hand in this labor of love.  Four thousand toys is a milestone number, but just the beginning!

 

 

 

Logan Head Start Students Receive Great Toys During Earth Week

Second Chance Toys of PA paid a visit to the seventy-two children at Logan Head Start on Thursday, April 23, and the kids were thrilled.  With the transportation help of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, a truckload of great plastic toys were delivered to the children.  It was like Christmas in April!  Lots of happy faces on the day following Earth Day 2009.

 

 

Evergreen School Fourth Graders Help Collect Over 300 Toys.

Second Chance Toys of NYC Toy Donations Mark Earth Day and National Child Abuse Month

 

Jocelyn Goldberg, a 13-year-old Upper East Side student who founded the NY chapter of Second Chance Toys, has organized a citywide toy collection to mark Earth Week and National Child Abuse Month.  Second Chance Toys is an organization that recycles gently used plastic toys by donating them to children in need.  Schools, religious organizations and businesses throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn have mobilized drives to recycle plastic toys which do not biodegrade and often wind up in city landfills.  Donations go to community based organizations serving families in need.

According to Jocelyn, "this drive gives kids a chance to help other kids through a program that focuses on those less fortunate and the environment.  In a large city like NY, there can be a great disparity between those that have and those that don't. It is a great lesson for students to get involved and give up something of their own to help others." 

Plastic toys are being collected and transported to local charities and community shelters by 1-800-GOT-Junk?, a full service junk removal company which has volunteered its trucks for transport.

Many of the of toys collected this week are being donated to the Prospect Family Support Center, a crisis center for women and children from Abused Families.  According to Dona Anderson, Senior Program Associate & Camp Services Coordinator, "Homes for the Homeless provides early on-site childcare and childhood education to over 100 young homeless children every day.  National Child Abuse Month is a special time of year that acknowledges the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse in all its forms".  For more information on Homes for the Homeless programs and services please go to go to http://www.homesforthehomeless.com/

Liberty Property Trust Joins Second Chance Toys of PA for Earth Day ‘09 Toy Collection

Details here

Drive Will ‘Rob’ Landfills and Give to Needy Children

Madison fourth graders help children, and the environment

Published in Madison Eagle: Apr 17th

MADISON – A group of Madison fourth graders has teamed up with Investors Savings Bank at 16 Waverly Place to help children, and the environment.

Youngsters are being asked to bring gently used plastic toys to the Torey J Sabatini School, 359 Woodland Road, and the Kings Road School, 215 Kings Road, from Monday, April 20, through Thursday, April 24.

The school-based toy drive was the idea of fourth grader Paige Burnet, who was looking for a way to volunteer in a community service project. She found one on the Internet: the New Jersey-based nonprofit “Second Chance Toys,” which collects used plastic toys and distributes them to needy children.

According to the organization’s Web site, “Second Chance Toys is a community-based initiative which rescues unwanted plastic toys that are gently used and distributes them to less fortunate children through local community organizations, while at the same time, helping the environment.”

Explained Paige, “Needy children get toys, and less plastic ends up in the landfill.”

Paige recruited seven of her friends - Lydia Mutone, Jessica Sterkel, Caroline Glynn, Mackenzie Driscoll, Owen Matthews, Beatrice Stadler and Maura Henry – to help promote the project, and transport the toys.

Finding A Partner

As luck would have it, Paige discovered that in celebration of Earth Day, Investors Savings Bank was partnering with “Second Chance Toys” and setting up drop-off locations at all of its New Jersey branches.

Madison Branch Manager Marsha Ann Zimmerman agreed to allow the children to bring toys collected at their schools to the branch at 16 Waverly Place for pickup.

“We have plenty of space, and are happy to do what we can to help,” said Zimmerman. “This is a great program that helps both children and the environment.”

The final piece of the puzzle was setting up drop-off locations at the schools, and Superintendent of Schools Richard Noonan arranged for the Torey J Sabatini School and Kings Road School collection sites.

According to the “Second Chance Toys” Web site, “We focus on plastic toys - which don’t biodegrade in landfills - such as Little Tikes and Fisher Price brands that are clean and in working order.”

A Toy Drive's Dual Lessons

 

Full article: click here

 

Monday, April 13, 2009

BY HARVY LIPMAN

NorthJersey.com

STAFF WRITER

HELP THE NEEDY AND RECYCLE, KIDS LEARN

The New Jersey Children's Museum in Paramus is in the midst of a second drive to collect toys for needy kids while at the same time teaching children the value of recycling.

As of Sunday, the museum had received a couple dozen donations as part of its collaboration with Second Chance Toys, a Mountainside charity that collects used plastic items and redistributes them to families who can't afford to buy toys.

"It teaches children to understand what recycling is, how they can help the environment while helping other children," said Josephine DaCosta, the museum's assistant manager. She added that the museum put on its first Second Chance Toys drive last April, when the staff decided they needed an environmental project to coincide with Earth Day.

"We collected about 250 toys last April," DaCosta said. That effort was so successful, she added, that the museum put on another drive around Thanksgiving – taking in 350 more.

The current collection campaign runs through this month but will be a major focus this weekend, which is just before Earth Day on April 22.

"We're having a recycling weekend next weekend, where we'll be teaching children how to take part in recycling," DaCosta said. "We're also going to be doing crafts using recycled materials and we'll have special music programs."

The museum is accepting plastic toys suitable for children up to age 6. "They must be of substantial size — no small pieces — and they have to be working. If they need batteries, they have to have batteries," DaCosta said. "We clean them up and disinfect them."

Anyone who brings a suitable toy to the museum receives a coupon for a free return visit.

Second Chance Toys, which was created three years ago by Sasha Lipton, then a Mountainside high school student who now attends Northwestern University, distributes the toys to local non-profits. DaCosta said this year's recipient organizations haven't been selected yet. Last year, she said, the toys were sent to Concerned Parents for Head Start in Paterson and the Bergenfield Head Start program.

CHRIS PEDOTA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Josephine DaCosta of the New Jersey Children's Museum in Paramus with donated toys. The museum's collection drive corresponds with Earth Day, which falls on April 22.

 

 

Second Chance Toys and the Philadelphia Phillies Team Up to help Kids AND Celebrate Earth Day

(Philadelphia, PA) To mark Earth Day, The Phillies have found a unique way to help the environment and help disadvantaged children at the same time. The team approached the non-profit group Second Chance Toys of PA to jointly collect gently-used plastic toys during The Phillies home game against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 22, 2009 (Earth Day).

Fans attending that game are encouraged to bring ‘gently used’ plastic toys in good working condition and drop them off in specially marked bins at seven entrances into the Citizens Bank Park. The toys will be donated to charities and centers for children throughout the community.

The high-profile collection is expected to net hundreds of toys that would have likely otherwise ended up in the landfill. It’s a win for less fortunate children and it’s a win for the environment.

 

“We are overjoyed that The Phillies share our commitment to helping the environment and kids,” says Kyle Scott, 17, who started up the Pennsylvania chapter of Second Chance Toys with his sister Cara, 16, who adds, “the kids will be thrilled to get toys from Phillies fans.”

Cara and Kyle have donated nearly 3,000 toys to charities since starting the local chapter two years ago. Second Chance Toys frequently enlists the help of local junk removal company 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to transport the toys to children’s organizations throughout the area.

 

Some of the toys collected will be donated on Thursday, April 23 at 10am at Logan Head Start (1700 Lindley Ave.Philadelphia, PA 19141).  Media wanting to attend the event are asked to contact Craig Scott (details below).

For more information about The Phillies Earth Day toy collection and its organizers, please contact:

Second Chance Toys: Craig Scott (father) 215-990-8615 or email craigoscott@aol.com. 

Phillies Contact: Mary Ann Gettis 215-218-5365 or email mgettis@phillies.com

1-800-GOT-JUNK?: Eric Blum: 215 962-5087 or email eric.blum@1800gotjunk.com

www.phillies.mlb.com

www.1800gotjunk.com/philadelphia

Brownstein Group Provides the Perfect Creative Touch for Second Chance Toys of PA!!

Thanks to Marc Brownstein and the fabulous creative team at Brownstein Group Brand Communications of Philadelphia for lending their services to Second Chance Toys of PA in support of upcoming Earth Day toy collections and donations.  Have a look at their fabulous designs for signage to promote our organization's efforts to keep gently used plastic toys out of the landfills and get them into the appreciative hands of deserving children throughout our community.  THANK YOU!!!

 

 

New York Kids Clubs Join Earth Week Toys Collection Efforts

 

For dates and locations click here

The Alternative Press: Second Annual Earth Week Plastic Toy Collection Benefits Children and the Environment

For Article Click Here

Earth Week Toy Drives Announced in NJ, NY, PA and IL

Find a location near you and help do good and green. Our planet and many disadvantaged children will thank you dearly!

Go ahead........lend a hand!

World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies Set to Hold Drive for Second Chance Toys

Philadelphia Phillies to hold toy drive at Citizens Bank Park, April 22 pre-game collection (game begins at 7:00P). For details click here

Barbara Martins-Archiello Joins Second Chance Toys as a Volunteer

 

Barbara Martins-Achiello is providing much needed support, enabling Second Chance Toys to rescue a growing number of plastic toys to help reach more disadvantaged children. Here is her story which we hope will inspire others to offer much needed volunteer support. 

My name is Barbara Martins-Archiello. I am a married mother of 2 girls from Toms River, NJ.  Last holiday season I was looking to make room for new toys, and realized that I had a lot of toys that were practically new but my girls just weren't interested in them anymore.  And since most of my friends have boys, I really could not give them all of my pink stuff. So I started to look for women's shelters or children's organizations in my area to donate them to, but I quickly found out that they would only accept new toys in the original packaging. I was going to store them in my garage for the spring and arrange for a yard sale but then I came across the Second Chance Toys website. After reading about the organization and how it started and looking at all of the pictures of less fortunate kids holding their "new" toys, it really inspired me not only to donate my toys to them but also to get involved in helping this great organization.  I really believe in recycling to help the environment and I also really believe in helping others less fortunate. Therefore this was the perfect organization for me to get involved in.

Thanks to Barbara for helping us make a difference!!

St Elizabeth’s Church in Wyckoff, NJ Collects Second Chance Toys for Children of Honduras

St Elizabeth’s Church in Wyckoff, NJ recently held a Second Chance Toys collection and was able to donate 200 toys to the children of Honduras. Pictured here are some of the toys that were loaded up to be shipped to Central America.

 

Earth Week Drives - 2009 

Toy rescue and collection efforts will coincide with Earth Week during April. Find a program and drop-off location nearest you for your gently used plastic toys (please note: only clean plastic toys!).

New Jersey

Investors Savings Bank: 53 branches statewide, (April 18 - Apil 25), For details click here   

NJ Children's Museum: Paramus, (April 1 - April 30), For details click here

Paramus Congregational Church: Paramus, (April 20 - April 23, 9:00A - 11:00A; April 25, 9:00A - 12:00P)

Evergreen School: Scotch Plains, (April 21, 8:30A - 9:30A), Front of school 

Knights of Columbus: Union, (April 24 - April 25, 9:00A - 3:00P; April 26, 12:00P - 3:00P) For details click here

Moorestown Mall, Voorhees Town Center, Brandywine Realty Trust, Kaiserman Company: For details click here

New York

New York Kids Clubs: (April 13 - April 17 & April 20 - 24), For details click here

Student Collections: Hewitt School, French Lycee, Temple Shaaray Tefila

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Phillies: Citizens Bank Park, April 22 pre-game collection (game begins at 7:00P). For details click here

Liberty Property Trust: (April 24), For details click here 

Illinois

(Donations will go to the YWCA of Lake County to benefit low income families)

Cartridge World: (March 16- April 22)

        Gurnee: 5250 Grand Ave, (Across Great America)
        Crystal Lake: 17 Crystal Lake, Suite E
        Algonquin: 432 South Randal

Norstates Bank: (March 16- April 22)

Round Lake Beach: 1777 Cedar Lake Rd.

 

        

Help Us Grow: Get Involved!

DONATE TOYS: Plastic only, must be clean, no small or missing parts and battery powered toys must be fully operational. Check back for our growing list of drop-off locations.

VOLUNTEER: If you know of friends, families, students, businesses, organizations, scouts, or religious groups that are looking for a great team-building community service project, please let us know or click on Second_Chance_Toys_Getting_Started_Kit.pdf. Contact us at slipton@secondchancetoys.org.

CREATE CONNECTIONS: If you know of an organization serving disadvantaged children that can benefit from a donation of Second Chance Toys, please contact us at slipton@secondchancetoys.org. We love to see those smiling faces!!

SPREAD THE WORD: Please let others know about Second Chance Toys by passing on our information to help create a groundswell of interest and support!!

BECOME A SPONSOR: Your company can GET GREEN and garner media exposure by providing support or sponsoring a project on our site or community wide effort. Let's start the conversation soon!!

Together we can really make a difference!!!

Investors Savings Bank Branches to Serve as Drop-off Locations for Earth Week

 

Once again, Investors Savings Bank branches throughout New Jersey will participate in a statewide toy collection program with Second Chance Toys. 

 

1-800-GOT-JUNK? will be providing transportation of the toys from the bank branches to organizations serving disadvantaged children.  

A list of drop-off locations will be posted shortly.

Second Chance Toys to Partner With Go Green Expo for Earth Week

 

Second Chance Toys with be conducting a city-wide plastic toys drive fo Earth Week to culminate at the Go Green Expo in New York City. For more information on the Expo go to www.gogreenexpo.com

 

High Ridge YMCA of the Chicago Metropolitan Receives Toys

When Second Chance Toys got an email from concerned citizens, Pam and Isabel Reyna, who wanted to prevent their toys and their friends’ toys from ending up in the landfills, Second Chance Toys found them an organization that would gladly accept their collection of plastic toys in good condition. The High Ridge YMCA of the Chicago Metropolitan area was the recipient of 50 beautiful toys!!

Second Chance Toys Makes a Difference on New York’s Lower East Side

Here are some happy faces from kids in the Educational Alliance’s early childhood program along with toys provided by Second Chance Toys’ holiday toy drive.

 

 

University Academy Charter High School in Jersey City Supports Second Chance Toys

 

University Academy Charter High School in Jersey City worked with Second Chance Toys to conduct a month long plastic toy drive at their school. The drive was spearheaded by teacher, Mr. Angel Cora along with the associate member students of the Psi Sigma Phi Multicultural Fraternity. The students worked hard to collect, clean and sort the toys. The Jubilee Center in Hoboken, NJ was thrilled to receive the 200 toys donated.

Brownie Troop Completes Collection and Donation of Second Chance Toys

Brownie Troop 193, under the leadership of Cyndie Decowski, collected 150 toys and donated them to the NORWESCAP Head Start program in Washington, NJ. Pictured here are the girls who cleaned, sorted and counted all the toys and presented a meaningful donation this past December.

Holiday Collection 2008 = BIG Success!

Our holiday collections throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan resulted in over 7,000 toys donated to children in need.

 

Thanks to everyone who made this all possible!

Second Chance Toys Extends the Holiday Gift Giving Spirit into the New Year

 

This week, Second Chance Toys came to New York's Lower East Side with a bounty of toys for The Educational Alliance and its Head Start Program. These gently used plastic toys, most certainly destined for a land fill, have now found a new home. The Educational Alliance is one of the first settlement houses on the Lower East Side. It is a community-based organization offering a wide range of programs that integrate education, social services, arts and recreation throughout Downtown Manhattan. Originally founded to help Eastern European Jews assimilate into American society, it has proven to be an important stepping stone for all that have begun their American journey in Downtown Manhattan. The Educational Alliance now has 80 programs at 32 sites.To help make this all possible, 1-800-GOT-Junk? provides pick-up and transportation from drop-off locations to organizations like The Educational Alliance.

Bergen County, NJ Head Start Program Thanks Second Chance Toys

  

 

I am writing from the Bergen County Head Start Program in New Jersey. We were the recipients of your donations at our Bergenfield NJ location. We just wanted to thank you for your generous donation to our program. The toys were in excellent condition and as we service 3, 4, and 5 year olds and their families, the fact that everything was sorted by age was a life saver for us!

Thanks so much for your generosity to our program

Sincerely,

Arlene M.Tighe
Social Service Specialist
Bergen County Head Start Program

Chicago Kindergarteners from Walt Disney Magnet School Learn True Meaning of The Holidays

 

This December, Kindergarten students from Disney Magnet School in Chicago got to experience what giving is all about.  With the help of Second Chance Toys, the students donated over 100 gently used toys to the Humboldt Park YMCA as part of their Citizenship unit in social studies.  Students were encouraged to go home and look for plastic toys that were still in good shape and had all their parts.  This was a very daunting task for the five year olds, most of whom had never considered the idea that other children in their own city would not be receiving toys and other gifts this holiday season.  The seven Kindergarten teachers organized the drive, and all were quite pleased with the outcome -- seven garbage bags full of toys that would be put to good use at the west side YMCA.  "The children really got caught up in the spirit of giving,"  commented one teacher.  "Many students really seemed to step outside of themselves and see things from a new perspective -- which is very challenging for young children and quite rare."  The Kindergarten team expects to hold another drive this spring for Earth Week. 

Second Chance Toys Hits National Public Radio Airwaves on Christmas Morning!

The growing, positive story of Second Chance Toys was broadcast on National Public Radio's Philadelphia radio affiliate WHYY on Christmas morning (listen to enclosed mp3 audio file).  The story, by Eugene Sonn, covered the origins of the grassroots initiative and the contributions the effort is making via Second Chance Toys of PA to help so many disadvantaged children and families throughout the greater Philadelphia area and elsewhere!

TOY24

 

Holiday Donations Boost Second Chance Toys of PA Above 2,700!

The grassroots Second Chance Toys of PA initiative is taking off.  This holiday season, Kyle and Cara Scott's young organization (barely 2 years in operation) is donating another 1,200 recycled plastic toys to children throughout Bucks County, PA, North Philadelphia and Mercer County, NJ.  Donations are being made to 20 Head Start Centers and inner city after school programs in the area. The timing could not be better given the tough economic climate and the growing number of disadvantaged children in the region.  Pictured below are just a few of the happy kids and teachers who appreciated the great holiday gifts which would not have been possible without the generosity of so many in our community.

 

 

 

Second Chance Toys & InterContinental’s Barclay New York Hotel Help Energize Drive for City’s Homeless Family Shelters

It’s a blessing that in this economy many are still remembering the less fortunate and are giving generously to make certain Christmas is a wonderful holiday for needy children. 

Thanks to staffers at InterContinental/The Barclay New York Hotel, this year’s Second Chance Toys’ New York City toy drive was a major success.  According to Jocelyn Goldberg, founder of the Second Chance Toys of NYC chapter, “Without their help, this could have been a bleak holiday season for youngsters living in many of the city’s homeless family shelters."

Proceeds from the drive went to Metro Hotel family homeless shelter in Elmhurst, NY. Although, toys were not scheduled to be given out until Christmas, some youngsters got a sneak preview of the bounty of gifts last Monday. 

1-800-GOT-JUNK? generously supplied transportation to make sure no toys were left behind and that each made it to the Metro Hotel family shelter in time for Christmas.  

     

Trinidad Head Start Gives New Toys a Second Chance!

For the 114 kids at Trinidad Head Start, Second Chance Toys of PA has become a good friend.  All the children at this North Philly facility received toy donations from Second Chance Toys just in time for the holidays.  At a rollicking party on Tuesday, December 23, the kids and their teachers gathered to thank Second Chance Toys of PA co-founders, Kyle and Cara Scott (holding the "Thank You" sign in the rear of the photo) and enjoy their "new" toys which are actually refurbished and recycled plastic toys that look and work "good as new".

 

Children of Morrisville Head Start Receive Second Chance Toys

Second Chance Toys of PA delivered toys to children at Morrisville Head Start in Morrisville, PA just in time for the holidays! At a special party on Tuesday, December 23, the kids and their teachers enjoyed their new toys and some great holiday snacks too. There were more than enough smiles to go around!

 

 

Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill Pitches in for Second Chance Toys of PA!

Parents and children from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill participated in a toy drive to support Second Chance Toys of PA toy donations during this holiday season.  The effort was part of UUCCH's Religious Education program and was a tremendous success that will benefit lots of local children in need!

 

JCC of Central NJ in Scotch Plains Donates Second Chance Toys

On December 21^st, the JCC of Central New Jersey conducted a Second Chance Toys drive as part of their Mitzvah Day activities. Pictured are two employees of the Plainfield Teen Parenting Center picking up the 40 toys that were donated in time for the holidays.

 

Marks Paneth & Shron LLP Brightens The Holidays For The Needy

Marks Paneth & Shron LLP rallied to bring much needed toys to less fortunate New Yorkers this holiday season.  MP&S partnered with Second Chance Toys to run their 2008 toy drive.  HR Staffers Anne Marshall and Jessica Helf rallied the troops by setting aggressive goals, reminder emails and creating a strong commitment to keeping the giving spirit alive.  The result?  MP&S employees collected a total of 134 used and new toys! 

MP&S, whose origins date back to 1907, is the 28th largest accounting firm in the U.S., and the 15th largest in the New York area.  The company, headquarters in Manhattan, has over 500 employees with additional offices in Westchester, Long Island and the Cayman Islands.