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: A Huge Success

Thanks to all our friends from the community, we were able to rescue and donate nearly 10,000 toys for children in need this holiday season. We would like to recognize our valued supporters from 1-800-Got-Junk?, who continue to provide much needed transportation to make our rescue and donation efforts possible. We would also like to thank our numerous collection partners including Investors Savings Bank and Cartridge World as well as the many schools, community organizations, and religious groups. Together we are truly helping to make a difference in the lives of others as well as our planet earth.

Earth Week 2010: Our Next Toy Drive

 
Check back in March, 2010 for a list of rescue and collection programs supporting our annual Earth Week plastic toy drive.

    

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 exposure by providing support or sponsoring a project or community wide effort. Let's start the conversation soon!! Please contact us at slipton@secondchancetoys.org

Together we can really make a difference!!!

Second Chance Toys Prepares to Conclude 2009 Holiday Toy Collections Bringing Much Needed Smiles to Over 10,000 Kids

 
With over 100 community-wide plastic toys collections in four states coming to conclusion this week, Second Chance Toys is hitting new records and bringing miles of smiles to needy children for the 2009 holidays.

The goal is to continue building this good & green initiative nation-wide. We are looking for national retail partners to help serve as plastic toy drop-off locations, which in turn become tremendous traffic drivers. Let's talk about how you can help us leverage this much needed community service and and we can help drive your business goals in the process. Please email: slipton@secondchancetoys.org to get the discussion started.

Logan Annex Head Start Celebrates Toy Give-away with Second Chance Toys of PA

 

 
All the great kids at Logan Annex Head Start went home with “just like new” toys on December 22, compliments of Second Chance Toys of PA.  Santa Claus personally visited with each and every child and there were plenty of smiles all around.  Second Chance Toys of PA was also able to provide Logan Annex Head Start with four, much needed, new computer systems (one for each classroom), kindly donated by TargetRx, Inc.  Logan lost all their computer equipment when their original location burnt to the ground earlier this year.  It is tremendous to help such a great group of teachers, children and families get back on their feet!  Happy holidays!

Second Chance Toys of PA Helps Trinidad Head Start Kick Off the Holiday Season

The staff and children of Trinidad Head Start on West Sedgeley Ave. in North Philadelphia put on a great holiday songfest on Tuesday, December 22.  Second Chance Toys of PA staff were on hand for the festivities and helped out by making sure that each and every child went home with a great holiday toy!  Santa made an appearance and a GREAT time was had by all!  Ho!  Ho!  Ho!

Second Chance Toys of PA Reaches New Milestone: Surpasses 7,000 Plastic Toys Recycled!

Cara (age 16) and Kyle Scott (age 18), co-founders of Second Chance Toys of PA, wish to thank all who have contributed to the spectacular growth of our grass roots organization.  We rely on the kindness of friends, strangers and anyone who is willing to just help.  The result?  In 2 and ¼ years, we have been able to keep out of the landfill over 7,000 great, gently used plastic toys.  Better yet, we have delivered these “just like new” toys to deserving kids throughout our community.  What could be better?  A Win for the Environment. A Win for the Kids.  A Win for Meeting Great People like YOU who have been willing to pitch in and help!  Thank you so much!

Mill Creek Elementary School Toy Drive Fills The Truck!

 
 

The holiday toy drive conducted by students, teachers, staff and parents of Mill Creek Elementary School in Warrington, PA literally filled the Second Chance Toys truck (lent by our partners at 1-800-Got-Junk?) on Friday December 11.  What an amazing haul by this spirited community.  Toys collected were distributed to Bucks County Head Start in Morrisville, PA, the Samuel Everitt and Walter Miller Elementary Schools, in Levittown, PA, and Little Kids College and the Howley School in Trenton, NJ.  Hey Mill Creek -- Thanks for doing so much to help so many kids and protect our environment!

With 1-800-Got-Junk? On Hand, Who Needs Reindeers!

 

For several years now, 1-800-Got-Junk? franchisees have been volunteering their manpower, time and trucks to pick up and deliver toys collected all over New Jersey. Many thanks go to New Jersey franchisees, Drew Trautman, Doug Martin and Jim Barnett for all their help and hard work. They picked up, carried, loaded, hauled, unloaded toys from locations in ten counties, and delivered 5,564 toys to 20 organizations that care for children in need. As a result of their volunteered time and energy, many children received toys for the holidays! We are sincerely grateful for their support and commitment to helping children and the environment. Pictured is Drew Trautman, picking up toys collected by students of Evergreen School.

Investors Savings Bank Branches Overflow with Toys

 

Once again, Investors Savings Bank branches served as drop off locations for Second Chance Toys’ New Jersey collection. A total of 5,564 toys were collected from the 65 participating branches and their headquarters! Pictured are employees at Investors Savings Bank Headquarters with some of the gently used plastic toys donated.

Nearly 10,000 Plastic Toys Rescued and Donated to Organizations Serving Children in Need

Thanks to all our friends and partners from the community, Second Chance Toys rescued and donated nearly 10,000 toys for children in need this holiday season. Together we are truly helping to make a difference in the lives of others as well as our planet earth. Visit us again in March 2010 for more information about our Earth Week toy drive.

Students Learn About Giving At a Young Age

The Mendham Cooperative Nursery School conducted its second annual Second Chance Toy drive in December 2009.  The small preschool in Mendham, New Jersey has a big heart and a history of giving back to the community.  It collected over 70 gently used plastic toys, which will be sent to children in Honduras.  What a great way, especially during the holidays, for the school’s little ones to learn about recycling and giving to other children.

Fox TV News Preparing Holiday Segment on Second Chance Toys

 
  
Fox TV News team recently completed an interview with Sasha Lipton, founder of Second Chance Toys. The segment includes coverage of a plastic toy donation for the holidays to Harmony House, an organization serving children from the community in Newark, NJ. Stay tuned for details on the expected air date.

Press Keeps Rolling In Supporting Plastic Toy Rescue Efforts for the Holidays

Click Here for Second Chance Toys on Alternative Press

Click Here for Second Chance Toys on Baristanet

Video: Second Chance Toys Holiday Drive Gets TV Coverage on News 12 New Jersey

Scotch Plains School Rejoices this Holiday Season by Recycling!!

 

Evergreen Elementary School held their annual holiday collection with Second Chance Toys and collected a whopping 550 toys this year! Some of the fourth graders helped out by tagging the toys with holiday messages. Drew Trautman, 1-800-Got-Junk? franchisee was on hand to load up the goods and bring them to Union County Social Services, which will distribute the toys to needy families for the holidays.

Newcomers-Encore Club of Millburn-Short Hills Hits the Jackpot with Their Community Outreach Initiative

 

Members of the Newcomers-Encore Club of Millburn-Short Hills collected toys as part of their December Community Outreach initiative. Six carloads were dropped off at the Millburn branch of Investors Savings Bank for distribution this week to disadvantaged children in nearby communities.

 

Second Chance Toys Hits Major Milestone Rescuing Over 30,000 Plastic Toys

 
Following the start of the 2009 annual holiday toy drive throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New York City, Second Chance Toys has exceeded the 30,000 mark in the number of plastic toys rescued and donated to deserving children. Collections are still underway (through December 9, 2009), so help make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children while working to keep these toys out of our landfills. See home page for a list of drop-off locations. 

NPR Recognizes the Value of Second Chance Toys

Click below to listen:

TOY24

 

 

 

 

 

Trinidad Head Start Readies for December 21st Toy Distribution

Parents and staff of Trinidad Head Start joined Second Chance Toys and 1-800-GOT-JUNK? personnel in unloading hundreds of toys for the youngsters in the center.  This will be the third year of collaboration between the great folks at Trinidad and Second Chance Toys of PA.  We love you.  Happy holidays!

Feltonville Head Start Stocks Up on Second Chance Toys

The teachers and staff at Feltonville Head Start on Rising Sun Boulevard in Philadelphia helped Second Chance Toys and 1-800-GOT-JUNK? personnel unload hundreds of great toys for the kids.  The toys will be distributed during the week before Christmas.  Ho! Ho! Ho!

Logan Head Start Receives a Timely Gift from Second Chance Toys of PA

 
For those who may not know, the wonderful Logan Head Start location on Lindley Ave. burnt to the ground earlier this year. Now temporarily relocated in Our Lady of Hope Church in North Philadelphia, the wonderful teachers, kids and families have stayed together but need our help. Second Chance Toys delivered loads and loads of great toys to the more than 80 children at the center, which will help make the holiday season a little brighter.

Bucks County Head Start Receives More Toys for Kids at Nine Centers

Second Chance Toys of PA delivered hundreds of toys to the headquarters of Bucks County Head Start in Morrisville, PA.  This center is the hub of the 9 Head Start locations in the county.  Toys will now be distributed to the other Bucks County locations, so the kids can receive holiday gifts just in time!

Little Kids College in Trenton, NJ Receives an Early Holiday Present from Second Chance Toys of PA

 

 

Toys galore were delivered to the 3 and 4 year old children at Little Kids College on Monday, November 30.  Great kids and great teachers and all are happy!

Second Chance Toys of PA Surpasses 6,000 Toys Recycled

With continued community support and unbelievable support from the great people of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Second Chance Toys of PA continues to grow at a grass roots level. Local churches, synagogues, families and friends have helped Cara (age 16) and Kyle Scott (age 18) continue to collect more gently used plastic toys, and recycle them, by delivering the toys “good as new” to deserving kids in our community.  The generosity of so many is spreading joy to lots of young faces and that is important in these trying times.  Thanks to YOU, Second Chance Toys of PA has now surpassed 6,000 toys collected with many donations planned in the weeks ahead in North Philadelphia, Bucks County, Trenton, and beyond to coincide with the holiday season!

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Toy Drive A Great Success

The hard working kids of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Doylestown, PA made it all happen on Saturday, November 28th, hosting a toy drive that helped us literally fill a truck!  That is a lot of toys for a lot of kids. Thank you!!!

In the News: North Jersey students organizing major holiday collections with Second Chance Toys

 
Click Here for Full Article

 

Newcomers Come to the Rescue Just in Time For the Holidays

Mountainside Newcomers Club, headed up by president, Maritza Armstrong (second from right), held a week long collection of gently used plastic toys this month. Their efforts yielded 330 toys in next to perfect condition!!  Our friends at Helping Honduras loaded up these plastic treasures and will ship the toys to Honduras next week, just in time to arrive for the holidays and make some very needy children happy.

 

 

Second Chance Toys of PA Gears Up for Holiday Drive

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.

For the 2009 holiday season they are working with a number of local groups to collect gently used plastic toys. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Doylestown, PA is doing a toy drive on November 28.  This is the second time they have supported Second Chance Toys of PA with a holiday drive.  Mill Creek Elementary School and Har Zion Temple will also be hosting toy drives in December.

Haledon Public School in NJ Holds Second Chance Toy Drive

The 6th and 8th grade students of the Bergen County Special Services School District Nova- Haledon program decided to have a used toy drive at the Haledon Public School in Haledon, N.J.  The students of the Nova-Haledon program wanted to help children, who were less fortunate during the christmas season. The toy drive will run from November 16th - December 4th.

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.

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.

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 York

PS 158 –The Bayard Taylor School: 1458 York Ave (November 30 - December 4) 

Temple Shaaray Tefila: 250 East 79th Street (November 29 - December 5)

Rapid Park: 575 First Ave (November 15 - December 9)    

Rapid Park: 165 East 77 Street (November 15 - December 9)  

Rapid Park: 204 West 101 Street (November 15 - December 9) 

Woodside Preschool: 140 Riverside Blvd (December 8 - December 10) 

New Jersey

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

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

Haledon Public School: (November 6 - December 4)

Illinois*

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

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

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

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

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.