Second Chance Toys

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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!!!

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.

 

 

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.

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.

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

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

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.

 

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!!

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.

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!

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. 

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.

 

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.

 

 

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!

 

 

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.

Cartridge World Stores in Chicago, Illinois Serve as Toy Drop Off Sites

   

Five Cartridge World Stores will be collecting toys from through December 1 to benefit the Chicago YMCA for distribution to needy families.

Investors Savings Bank To Collect Used Plastic Toys for Holidays at 52 Branches in New Jersey

Grandparents.com Extends Support to Second Chance Toys

 

Grandparents.com, the place for today’s new generation of active, involved grandparents has made a generous donation of creative sevices as well as plastic toys. The premier online destination, Grandparents.com is where grandparents can find thousands of great kid-friendly places and activities, deals and discounts, expert advice on relationships, personal finance, gift buying and more. Free membership, including a weekly newsletter with featured site content is available at www.grandparents.com. Check it out!

New Jersey Children’s Museum Celebrates the Season of Giving!

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season as we prepare to give special gifts for our loved ones. This holiday season will be greatly affected by the uncertainty of our economy and many organizations serving needy children will have fewer toys available for them.

 

The New Jersey Children’s Museum will be hosting another toy collection program with Second Chance Toys whereby families can bring to the museum a gently used, plastic toy in good condition. In return, they will be given a FREE return pass for a future visit!

 

Toys will be collected from November 1 through November 30. Drop off times will be weekdays 1pm-5pm and weekends 11am-5pm. All toys must be plastic, (no stuffed animals or dolls), must be substantial in size, in good working condition, no small or missing pieces and toys with battery and or electronic devices must be with batteries and working. Not all toys accepted. One pass per family.

 

Join the New Jersey Children’s Museum and Second Chance Toys in teaching our children life lesson around giving of themselves to help others and the importance of protecting the environment.

 

As part of the program, 1-800-GOT-JUNK, will generously donate their services in transporting the collected toys to local organizations serving children in need.

 

Thank you in advance for providing a gift of happiness for needy children.

 

New Jersey Children’s Museum

599 Valley Health Plaza

Paramus, NJ 07652

201-262-2638x10 or visit www.njcm.com

1-800-GOT-JUNK? To Deliver Toys to Underserved Children in Chicago

 

1-800-GOT-JUNK? of Chicago (www.1800gotjunk.com/chicago), a full service hauling company, has offered to donate their time and resources to the Second Chance Toys program at the Good and Green Conference (www.goodandgreen.biz/fun_stuff.php) where Second Chance Toys will collect gently used plastic toys from conference attendees. The toys will remain piled in the rotunda of the Chicago Cultural Center for the duration of the conference as a strong visual reminder of what could have ended up in a local landfill.

 

Chris Coleman, general manager of Chicago Downtown for 1-800-GOT-JUNK? states, “Our mission is not only to remove unwanted items but we work to keep as much out of our landfills as possible and recycle to the local community. This is a perfect fit with the goals of Second Chance Toys and the Good and Green Conference and we are happy to help transport the toys to a local organization where they will go to benefit underserved children and their families.”

Brownies of Amsterdam Elementary School Troop 35 Rescue & Donate Second Chance Toys

The Brownies of Amsterdam Elementary School Troop 35 collected approximately 250 toys from many generous people in the community.

Chelsea, Julie, Taylor, Isabella, Ann Marie, Jessica, Jenna, Angela, Christina, Cara, and Riya spent part of a meeting decorating a toy collection box and creating a poster for the Toy Rescue Drive.  For the poster, Co-Op Leader Claudia Ganas helped each girl trace their hand and titled it “The Earth is in Our Hands”.  They placed the flyer to collect clean, gently used toys in the center of their poster.  They also sent a flyer home with all students in their school. For the next two weeks they watched their toy collection box overflow in the entry way of their school.     

The photo with some of the brownies was taken after only the first week of the troops toy rescue efforts. The teachers from the Somerset County Head Start programs at 3 different schools will get first pick of the toys for their classrooms. The remaining toys will go to low income families in the local community. "Great job girls and great program Second Chance Toys" noted the Co-Op Troop Leader, Alisa Ugalde, who organized the program.          

                            

Second Chance Toys Forms Distinguished Board of Advisors

As a means to cultivate insights and guide our ideas to achieve our vision, Second Chance Toys has formed an Advisory Board of distinguished professionals. Members include:

• Dale Bornstein, Partner/Director, Global Practices, Ketchum
• Leslie Leventman, Executive Vice President, MTV Networks
• Craig Scott, President & CEO, TargetRx
• Jerry Shereshewsky, CEO, Grandparents.com
• Bronna Lipton, Spanish Teacher, Scotch Plains– Fanwood Public Schools
• Shelly Lipton, Chief Marketing Officer, Grandparents.com

1-800-GOT-JUNK? Provides Pick-up and Delivery of Toys Collected at Investors Savings Bank Branches

To us, your gently used toys are certainly not junk!!Demonstrating dedication to community service and the Second Chance Toys mission of rescuing and recycling plastic toys, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, jumped in to help transport toys collected from several branches of Investors Savings Bank. By bringing together the community and local businesses, the vision of Second Chance Toys becoming a national organization is getting closer to reality. To learn more about 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, go to www.1800gotjunk.com. To find an Investors Savings Bank branch near you, go to www.isbnj.com. And to learn more about how you, your community or business can get involved in supporting us in our efforts to rescue and recycle a greater number of plastic toys for needy children, please contact us at slipton@secondchancetoys.org.

1-800-GOT-JUNK? Helps Second Chance Toys Rescue Plastic Toys That Are NOT Junk

1-800-GOT-JUNK? will be assisting Second Chance Toys in rescuing plastic toys by not only donating those they collect but also in providing pick-up and transportation services from the growing number of plastic toy drop-off locations being established.

1-800-GOT-JUNK? is pioneering an industry that is helping people de-clutter and live cleaner, better lives. Whether it’s an old sofa or old lawn furniture in the garage, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? removes it for you. Founded in 1989, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has more than 300 franchise locations in North America, Australia and the United Kingdom. For more information on their services, call 1-800-468-5865 or go to www.1800gotjunk.com

ATTENTION SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS: Help Make Second Chance Toys Part of Earth Week 2008 Activities

In order to help build a groundswell of support and involvement around the Second Chance Toys mission of rescuing and refurbishing plastic toys for needy children, we're looking for schools, community and religious groups around the country to incorporate this plastic toy recycling initiative into their activities to commemorate Earth Week 2008 observances (April 18 - April 27). PLEASE help us bring Second Chance Toys to more communities throughout the state and the U.S. There are a ton of plastic toys to be saved from the landfills and an equal number of children in need of toys. The life lessons kids can learn from their participation are numerous and include a better understanding of the importance in protecting our environment and giving of themselves to help children in need. If you are interested in creating a program similar to the model programs already created (Click Here) please contact us at slipton@secondchancetoys.org so we can help in any way possible.

Batteries Needed for Rescued Toys

As Second Chance Toys continues rescuing hundreds of toys for needy children, the need for batteries is growing. Many of the battery operated plastic toys we receive are inoperable for children to enjoy. Please help and let us know of a source for all kinds of batteries to fuel these toys for kids. We are in need of AAA, AA, C and D batteries whether Duracell, Energizer, Eveready or generic. Please contact us at slipton@secondchancetoys.org with donations of any kind. Help us bring these toys back to life!!

Your Help is Needed!!!

Please help Second Chance Toys identify families, schools, students, Girl Scouts, kid's clubs, environmental groups, community organizations or religious groups that are looking to do something good through a great community service project.

There are plenty of toys to be rescued and loads of organizations with children in need of our toys. What we really need is your help in creating the much needed bridge between the toys and the kids. Email everyone you know and let them know about Second Chance Toys!!

Our goal is to encourage others to adopt this wonderful community service program whether it's on a once a year basis or an ongoing program. Please help us spread the word and let us know if you know of others interested in helping save our environment and contribute to needy children.

Thanks in advance for your help in spreading the word with everyone you know!!!!

Together we can really make a difference!

Investors Savings Bank Adds Five Toy Drop-off Locations

Investors Savings Bank (https://www.isbnj.com), an independent community bank in New Jersey has opened more of it's doors to help facilitate the collection of Second Chance Toys in the Morris and Essex County areas. The six branches which are accepting toys include Madison, Livingston Plaza, Livingston SBA, Chatham, Denville Commons and Denville Station. For a complete list of location addresses and hours, please go to http://www.isbnj.com/home/loc.