Second Chance Toys

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!

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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.

 

 

     

Little School, Big Heart

The Mendham Cooperative Nursery School conducted a Second Chance Toy drive during the first week of December.  The small preschool in Mendham, New Jersey has a big heart and a history of giving back to the community.  It collected over 100 gently used toys and donated them to the Morristown Neighborhood House (MNH).  The preschool and its families hope that it helps make the holidays a little brighter for MNH and the 1500 children it serves in the Morris County area. What a great way, especially during the holidays, for the school’s little ones to learn about recycling and giving to others.

 

 

Second Chance Toys Distributed to the Bellmead Housing Site

 

To make the holidays bright, close to 150 toys were distributed to the Bellmead Housing Site in Newark to many smiling children and parents!! Katrice, pictured above, contacted Second Chance Toys to provide the gently used plastic toys for a second year in a row!! 

 

Ridge Ranch School Makes Holiday Donation

In the spirit of the holidays, Ridge Ranch Elementary School in Paramus, NJ collected and donated Second Chance Toys to help benefit the children of Bergenfield Child Development Center. Ms. Costello, led the toy drive along with the Student Council. They hope to have another collection for Earth Week in April 2009.

Second Chance Toys of PA Receives Accolades!!

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Johnsville Head Start Receives Holiday Toy Donation from Second Chance Toys of PA

 

Representatives from Johnsville Head Start in Warminster, PA loaded up a bus load of toys for the 90+ boys and girls in their center.  The toys are like brand new and are going to make this holiday season a little more jolly for lots of local families who appreciate the helping hand!

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Nets 637 Toys For Second Chance Toys of PA

 

The 5th - 8th graders who comprise the Youth Ministry at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Doylestown, PA decided they wanted to help Second Chance Toys with a toy drive of their own this holiday season. The results were astounding!  The kids collected and cleaned 637 toys which Second Chance Toys will donate before Christmas to deserving kids throughout Bucks County and Philadelphia, PA.  Kyle and Cara Scott who founded Second Chance Toys of PA, met with the kids at Mount Carmel to discuss how their charitable efforts will pay off to help both the environment and so many children who are in need this holiday season. What a blessing!

Local Kids Give Their Toys to Second Chance Toys of PA

 

Thanks to Marisol, Veronica and Daniel Cuellar who gave up their toys to help other kids this holiday season! Every little bit helps and makes a big difference to children in our back yard!

 

 

Deepening Economic Woes Don’t Dampen New York City’s Gift Giving Spirits. Business and Residents Step Up.

 

Despite a continuing drone of bad economic news and job losses, New Yorkers on the Upper East Side turned out in droves to support Second Chance Toys’ holiday toy drive. 

 

With the help of Glenwood Management, builder, owner and operator of more than 20 luxury apartment buildings, and Agata & Valentina, purveyor of gourmet & specialty foods, the UES neighborhood came to life this week.  

 

Second Chance Toys rescued nearly 150 gently used plastic toys that most certainly would otherwise have been destined for a local landfill.  Instead, these toys are being recycled through donations to disadvantaged families.  Organizations like Homes for the Homeless, which provides shelter for needy families at 5 NYC locations, is finding a second chance for these non-biodegradable plastics and bringing joy & happiness to needy families at the holidays. 

 

According to Jocelyn Goldberg, founder of the Second Chance Toys’ NYC chapter, "It's touching to see young kids offering up their favorite toys to children they know need them more." 

 

Later this month, big business steps up too with toy drives at Intercontinental Hotels Barclay NY location and Marks Paneth & Shron LLP -- a 500 person regional Accounting & Professional Services firm.  These drives are being integrated into this year’s holiday celebrations in an effort to give back to the community.  1-800-Got-Junk? will provide transportation for donations and deliver toys to their new homes in the NY City area.

A Truck Load of Second Chance Toys Reaches the Boll Family Center at the Detroit YMCA

A truck load of Second Chance Toys was donated to the Boll Family Center at the Detroit YMCA where Lori Bright, Child Development Center Director at the Boll Family YMCA and Lori Z. Bahnmueller, Senior Vice President, Marketing were on hand to accept the toys.

"The team at YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit were fabulous to work with and the event was a great success. The children were on hand to accept the toys with smiles a mile long" notes Deb Jones of 1-800-Got-Junk? who was responsible for collecting and donating the toys to the center.

NJ Star Ledger Recognizes Second Chance Toys with Cover Story

NJ Star Ledger Cover Story 

NBC TV News Features Second Chance Toys

ABC TV News Loves Second Chance Toys!

Second Chance Toys Debuts in Chicago at Good And Green Conference

For our first Chicago effort, 450 gently used plastic toys were collected by Cartridge World Stores in Illinois and were transported by 1-800-Got-Junk? to the Good And Green Conference where they were on display to demonstrate what could have ended up in the landfills.  The toys were then transported to the South Side YMCA in time for the holidays.

 

Standing in front of the display at the Chicago Cultural Center are Cheryl Furstoss and Barbar Esterquest of Cartridge World, Linda Dean of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, Chris Coleman of 1-800-Got-Junk? and Sasha Lipton, founder of Second Chance Toys.

   

Sasha Lipton presents a certificate of appreciation to Nan McCann, president PME Enterprises, producers of the Good And Green Conference held at the Chicago Cultural Center where Sasha Lipton presented the accomplishments and future goals of Second Chance Toys.

New Jersey Children's Museum Collects over 240 Toys for Local Head Start Program

 

Members of the New Jersey Children's Museum (above) collected over 240 toys as part of their Holiday Toy Drive to benefit Head Start in Bergenfield, NJ. The museum received tremendous feedback from customers who were all thrilled that they were collecting "used" toys since most toy drives this time of year expect a new toy. Customers were equally pleased to hear that the toys were going to local area children in need. The donated toys we're transported by the local 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Franchise Partner of New Jersey Northeast to the Headstart Center (below). 

 

 

Milestone: Over 10,000 Toys Donated to Date!!

Second Chance Toys reached a milestone today with the donation of their 10,000^th toy. Founder, Sasha Lipton, decided to go back to the very first organization that accepted her toys over two years ago.

Noted Sasha, “I am so proud that Second Chance Toys has blossomed into an organization that is making a real difference throughout the United States and abroad. Babyland/Family Violence Center in Newark, NJ welcomed our gently used toys with open arms over two years ago, and I wanted to return on this milestone occasion to show my appreciation.”

 

Pictured with some of the 70 toys donated to the Family Violence Center are (left to right) Jamie Speight, Aminah Adib-Muhammad, Michelle McAllister, Ebony Macken and Sasha Lipton.

Good And Green Marketing Conference to Be the Stage for Second Chance Toys Chicago Initiative

 

Sasha Lipton, founder of Second Chance Toys, will present a donation of toys to the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago on Wednesday, December 3rd . The donation will take place at the Chicago Cultural Center as part of the Good And Green Marketing Conference.

Five branches of Cartridge World have served as drop-off locations for plastic toy donations around Chicago and its suburbs and area businesses have also participated in toy rescue refforts. 

The toys will be piled in a huge mound in the rotunda of the Chicago Cultural Center to demonstate how many toys are thrown needlessly into the landfills.

 

Second Chance Toys, founded in 2006, has donated over 10,000 toys which has helped minimize plastic going into landfills while at the same helping children. This award-winning organization has been recognized for the waste-need solution it provides to communities.