Second Chance Toys

Toys Given A Second Chance in Sydney, Australia

 

Maryland Schools Collects Second Chance Toys

 
 
For the first time, Phelps Luck Elementary School teamed up with Second Chance toys to collect approximately 200 gently used toys. Although they were not able to hold the drive during Earth Week, recycling was on the minds of Laura Shucosky and Therese Cooper of Phelps Luck Elementary School, who organized the school-wide event.  Donations of the gently used toys were given to the YMCA in Ellicott City, Maryland (The Dancel Family Center).  Kirsten Eads, the program director of the Dancel Family Center, was grateful to receive such nice toys to help the children at the YMCA. 1-800-Got-Junk? also volunteered its resources to transport the donations on Friday June, 3rd to the YMCA.  Thanks again to Phelps Luck Elementary and 1-800-Got-Junk?.

1-800-GOT-JUNK? and Second Chance Toys Deliver Smiles Through International Expansion

 
Second Chance Toys with the assistance of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? (http://www.1800gotjunk.com), has taken advantage of global partnership opportunities and set up their first outposts outside the northeast United States…in Australia! Sydney and Melbourne, specifically.

Since their inception, Second Chance Toys, in partnership with 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, has rescued over 75,000 used plastic toys from the landfill, delivering them into the hands of deserving children in disadvantaged situations.

“We’ve been fortunate to partner with Second Chance Toys for several years, and have been happy to leverage our presence in cities across the world to help them grow.” states Drew Trautman, a New Jersey-based 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Franchise Partner. “We will continue to work with them on expanding into new areas, and to help them rescue toys for a second life with deserving kids.”

The charity, which started in New Jersey in 2006, has taken the ‘reuse’ principle to heart and partners with various organizations to assist in collecting and donating toys that might otherwise go straight to the landfill. Together, these partners have been brightening the lives of local children with an eye to environmental responsibility.

“With people always making room for new toys, we see lots of perfectly good toys put out on the curb,” stated Bronna Lipton, Director of Second Chance Toys. “We take advantage of this opportunity to keep them out of the landfills and put them into the hands of the children that need them most.”

1-800-GOT-JUNK? has committed to using their international reach to assist Second Chance Toys grow and expand their service areas, delivery joy to children across the world by way of salvaged toys.

After a successful Earth Week drive in April, Second Chance Toys and 1-800-GOT-JUNK? will be gearing up for the 2011 holiday season.

 

Downingtown School District Elementary Schools Pitch in to help Second Chance Toys During Earth Week!

The week prior to Spring Break, students at Beaver Creek, Pickering Valley, Shamona Creek, Springton Manor, Uwchlan Hills and West Bradford Elementary Schools and the Central Office of Downingtown School District teamed up with Second Chance Toys of PA and collected over 1,000 gently used plastic toys. 1-800-Got-Junk? volunteered its resources to transport the District's donations on Thursday April 14^th to three head start programs in Coatesville.  Thanks for the great job, everyone!

First grade Teacher Kaity Barnes and students from Pickering Valley Elementary

MOMs Club of Moorestown helps 20 families!

 
Pictured are Jen Pifani, MVP and Lee Stoner AVP, MOMs Club of Moorestown

 
Collected toys at House of God Church, Delran, NJ

MOMs Club of Moorestown was so happy to take part in the Second Chance Toys Earth Day Collection. We delivered our toys to Gwen Pullen, Outreach Coordinator, House of God Church in Delran, NJ on April 29^th. Gwen planned a Community Day with approximately 20 invited families where the donated toys would find  great homes and help our environment by keeping plastic out of landfills!   

The MOMS Club® of Moorestown is a local chapter of the International MOMS Club®, a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization serving the needs of stay-at-home and part-time working moms. We draw members from a number of towns in the area surrounding Moorestown, including Cinnaminson, Delran, Palmyra, Riverton, and Riverside, NJ. Our Club goals are to provide a support group for mothers who choose to stay home to raise their children, to provide a forum for topics of interest to mothers, to help children in the community, and to perform regular service projects to benefit needy children and families. 

MOMs Club of Moorestown appreciates the efforts of Second Chance Toys !

Over 10,000 Toys Collected and Donated to Children in Need

 
Second Chance Toys continues to reach new milestones and recently exceeded the 75,000 mark in plastic toys donated to children in need. BIG thanks to Kohl's, 1-800-Got-Junk?, New York Kids Club, Campbell's Carpet, and all the families, schools and community groups that held toy drives. Together we are really making a difference in helping kids and our environment.

Our goal it to reach the 100,000 toy donation milestone later this year. And with your help we know we can do it.

Second Chance Toys of Sydney, Australia Connects with Parents of Children in Need

 
 
Second Chance Toys of Sydney recently donated toys to this MyTime parent support group that meet at Canley Vale Leisure Centre in Sydney's West each week. MyTime groups provide local support for parents and anyone caring for a young child with a disability or chronic medical condition. Parents can socialise and share ideas and the children have fun with some wonderful toys.

Sayville Middle School Student's Work Helps Both Coming and Going

 
 
Sayville.com 4/27/11 - Last January, when 6th Grader Luke Kleppan’s mother, Rosann, told him about a Newsday article she’d read entitled “Toys Get Another Turn to Thrill Kids”, Luke’s reaction was, “I want to do that!”

The January 18th article by Jennifer Barrios talked about “Second Chance Toys”, a New Jersey-based nonprofit organization that keeps plastic toys out of landfills and distributes them to needy children. “I think this is really good because it’s a win-win situation. It takes toys out of landfills and puts them into children’s hands,” Luke said.

Luke’s parish, The Church of the Good Shepherd in Holbrook, generously allowed him to hold the toy drive there. He created a flyer to pass among the church members asking for clean plastic toys with no missing parts, new batteries sizes AA to D and disinfecting wipes. The congregation responded with over two hundred toys, packages of batteries and cartons of wipes which were stored in the church basement. That’s where I met the crew consisting of family and friends. “We’re cleaning, assorting and making sure they all work. We’re putting fresh batteries in (the toys) to make sure they’re ready to go when the child gets them. We also check the consumer protection recall list to be sure they are safe,” Rosann told me.

“We called organizations to find who needed the toys. Matthew, the recreation and education director of The HELP Suffolk in Bellport – a homeless shelter, was happy to get the toys. He said there were about 175 kids there,” Rosann explained.

“We spent about 50 hours planning, collecting, cleaning and organizing,” Luke said.

The Kleppan’s Auntie Ann was there to help. “I’m very proud of Luke for doing this and I’m happy to lend a helping hand.”

Friend and fellow church-goer, Maria Pavek, was “glad to be of help (and to give many toys!) I believe this inspires others and my son, Cortland, to do similar things.”

Rosann told me that “right now we have about 250 toys. Some of them are brand new, still in the original wrapping.”

According to the Sayville Middle School, students are encouraged to do a minimum of seven hours community service a year. Those who surpass 50 hours are presented with a presidential recognition certificate of community service. I think Luke Kleppan, with the help of his crew, has reached that lofty goal and has made us all proud!

Second Chance Toys in Sydney, Australia Brings Joy to Children in Need

 

 
 
 

Second Chance Toys Earth Week Donation on WMBC

Kohl’s Quakertown Is Proud to be Green

 
 
 

Tom Roselli accepts a Certificate of Appreciation from Craig Scott, Second Chance Toys, after hundreds of gently used plastic toys are readied for their journey to their new homes. These toys were saved from being thrown away in our landfills. Now they will have a second chance to be played with and loved again!

Kohl's is a family-focused, value-oriented, specialty department store offering quality exclusive and national brand merchandise to the customer in an environment that is convenient, friendly and exciting. Kohl's has over 1,000 stores in 49 states! To learn more http://www.kohls.com/

Kohl’s Center Square Sends a Treasure Trove of Toys to Kids in Philly

 
 
 
Associates of the Center Square Kohl’s store work together to fill the 1-800-Got-Junk? truck with the colorful toys they collected and cleaned. The toys are headed for the School District of Philadelphia Head Start.

Students from Scotch Plains and Westfield Learn Firsthand to Do Good and Green

 
 
 
 
Nearly one thousand toys were delivered to New Community Corp. programs throughout Newark including New Community Harmony House, family housing units, Youth Department, Community Hills Early Learning Center, and the Hispanic Development Corp. In just one hour, students from Evergreen and Brunner Schools in Scotch Plains, as well as Tamaques School in Westfield, collected hundreds of their “gently loved” toys. Toys were delivered to New Community Corp by 1-800-Got-Junk? franchisee owner, Drew Trautman, who volunteered his truck and manpower to make this delivery, of so many toys, a possibility. Hours later, these toys that could have been headed for the landfill, were enjoyed by children at New Community Harmony House.

Kohl’s York West Efforts about Children and the Environment

  
 
 
 
Carl Bour, district manager, and Dawn Shope, team captain proudly display a Certificate of Appreciation before loading up the gently used plastic toys. Soon after, members of  Dauphin County Social Services help unload over 1,000 Second Chance Toys in bucket brigade fashion! Dauphin County director, Sue Coehick (middle) and Marjorie Ebersole, along with 1-800-Got-Junk? franchisee David Wise were sure to test out the toys before distributing to deserving children!

Kohl’s Collection in Newark, DE Benefits Children at Ten Head Start Centers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Kohl’s associates helped load up all the good-as-new plastic toys they worked so hard to collect, clean and tag. No sooner was the 1-800-Got-Junk? truck brimming with toys than they it was on its way to deliver the bounty to New Castle County Head Starts.

Associates from Kohl’s Mantua Proudly Volunteer

  
 
Toys are being loaded up at the Kohl’s Mantua store to begin their journey to Tri County Head Starts in the area. On hand were the Mayor, (center) and Vincent Fabrizio, district manager, with Bronna Lipton, Second Chance Toys, to enjoy the Kohl’s National Go Green Event celebration. Children at Paulsboro Head Start can’t wait to dig in and play with the colorful plastic toys delivered that same day!

 

Kohl’s Cherry Hill Celebrates Doing Good and Green

 
 
 
 
 
Kohl’s Cares Associates in Action show off some of the toys they collected before loading up the 1-800-Got-Junk? truck for delivery to Burlington County Head Starts. Kohl’s team members receive a Certificate of Appreciation from Second Chance Toys for their dedication to helping children and the environment. Shortly after, one of 6 truckloads of toys donated by Kohl’s associates were delivered to 9 organizations in NJ, PA and DE. Matt McGlaughlin, 1-800-Got-Junk? franchisee, shows off some of the good-as-new toys being delivered to Burlington County Head Start and its 5 other centers.

Second Chance Toys Teams with Kohl’s National Go Green Event

 
Second Chance Toys was honored this year to partner with Kohl’s on their National Go Green Event. Through the Kohl’s Cares Associates in Action program, volunteers collect gently used plastic toys, cleaned them, and tagged them with messages. A total of 57 Kohl’s stores participated and over 6,000 toys were donated. Our partners at 1-800-Got-Junk? volunteered their resources to deliver toys to organizations in NJ, PA and DE.

Kohl's Cares Associates in Action Donate Over 6,000 Toys to Children in Need for #EarthWeek

 
Fifty seven Kohl's stores in NJ, PA and DE participated in a unified collection of gently used plastic toys to benefit children in the nearby communities. What an amazing day.....we'll tell you more about it shortly.

Second Chance Toys of Sydney Australia off to a Great Start

 
The founder from Second Chance Toys of Sydney has gotton her two sons involved, both of whom are pictured with some fantastic plastic toys donated by individuals for distribution to organizations needing toys for children. The toys have since been delivered to a new playgroup started by the South-East Area Health Service for Aboriginal children in Southern Sydney.

Rebekah Sills Lamm Joins Second Chance Toys as Development Director (@secondchancetoy)

 
We are absolutely trilled to have Rebekah Sills Lamm join the Second Chance Toys team to help us focus on areas of growth and development. Rebekah has worked in the non-profit world since completing graduate school in 2007, specifically in education. She has served as a community trainer, youth advocate, and community liaison, which makes Second Chance Toy (SCT) a perfect fit for her passions and her background. Rebekah loves the dual giving aspect of SCT allowing people to help the environment and children simultaneously. She looks forward to helping SCT grow into a national organization and reach its amazing potential.

We're really excited to have you as part of our SCT team Rebekah!!

750 Toys Donated to New Community Corp. and St Rose of Lima in Newark

 
Christ Church Nursery School (CCNS) in Short Hills and the Parents Association of CCNS (PACCNS) worked diligently, despite a couple of snow storms, to collect hundreds of gently used plastic toys for those in need. Everything from ride-ons to educational toys were gathered, sorted and checked for working batteries. About 750 toys were donated to New Community Corp. and St Rose of Lima in Newark, NJ. It took a large truck to haul it all to the over 1300 families they serve! Thank you to all who participated. Pictured with the some of the many toys collected are PACCNS co-chairs Ali Seeger (left) and Kim Sleeman (right) and in the center, Madge Wilson, Management Administrator for New Community Corp.

PLEASE HELP Children and the Environment. (@secondchancetoy)

 
Do you KNOW ANYONE that would like to put their smarts to use by getting involved with us as a volunteer. Second Chance Toys is a 501c3 charitable organization that recycles gently used plastic toys by donating them to children in need. We are looking for volunteers who could help out with any of the following areas of need:

• Identify companies that could serve as national drop off locations
• Research foundations that have grant money we could apply for
• Organize SCT information on Excel spreadsheets
• Make calls to organizations during toy drives
• Research Mommy Bloggers and Moms’ Clubs
• Help us connect with Girl or Boy Scouts of America regional or national headquarters.

Thanks in advance for passing this along to anyone who might be interested in getting involved and working with an organization that has children and the environment as their mission. They should please get in touch with Bronna at blipton@secondchancetoys.org to set up a time to discuss.

How To Make A Lot Of Children Very Happy (@secondchancetoy)

 

Martina Nuñez, program coordinator for New Community Corporation’s Hispanic Development Corp. in Newark, displays some of the toys that were picked up from the JCC in Scotch Plains, New Jersey during the toy drive sponsored on Jan 17th by Second Chance Toys. A representative of the corporation was able to pick up approximately 200 toys that will be distributed to local families. “We are so grateful to Second Chance Toys for reaching out to us about the available toys,” Nuñez said. “They are going to make a lot of children very happy!”

New Community’s Hispanic Development Corp in Newark Receives 200 Second Chance Toys

 
New Community’s Hispanic Development Corp. in Newark, NJ received over 200 gently used plastic toys from a collection conducted at the JCC in Scotch Plains to commemorate a day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The organization is thrilled about the donation and the wide variety. Not only did they have enough for Hispanic Development, but they plan to share some with New Community’s two early learning centers.

Plastic Toy Drive to Mark Martin Luther King Day of Service (@secondchancetoy)

Please drop off your gently used plastic toys. They must be clean, no small or missing parts and battery operated toys must be fully operational.

Monday, January 17th, 10AM - 5PM (One day only)

 
JCC of Central NJ

1391 Martine Avenue

Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

This is What It Is All About....Bringing Joy to Families and Kids (@secondchancetoy)

Some of the accolades from toy donation recipients.

(Click Here) Second Chance Toys - Cover Note

(Click Here) Second Chance Toys - Family Letters

 

Investors Savings Bank Branches Make Second Chance Toys Collections Possible

 
Thanks for all you do to help make a difference!!

Thanks to 1-800-Got-Junk?, Over 10,000 Kids Received Second Chance Toys In Time for the Holidays

 
Thanks for all you do. You guys Rock!!

Still Time to Make a 2010 Tax-Deductible Contribution to Second Chance Toys!!

Thanks to committed partners like you, Second Chance Toys makes a real difference in the lives of disadvantaged children and our environment. But there's still so much work to be done.

 

Now, before 2010 ends, won't you please make a special year-end gift to Second Chance Toys?

 

Your gift supports all the work we do which leads to days of happiness among deserving children and great benefits to our environment – and you will also receive a valuable tax-deduction for 2010.

 

So please, make your gift to Second Chance Toys now. And if your year-end donation is already on its way... you have our deepest thanks!

Second Chance Toy of New York City Helps Make the Holiday a Happy One for Over 2,400 Kids

 
 
Each year, thousands of needy children depend on the love and generosity of their neighbors to help make the holiday a happy one. Many larger, well funded organizations reach out to the community, ask for donations and are able to offer food, clothing, gifts and toys to needy families.  Pleas of many smaller organizations are never heard.  This year, according to Jocelyn Goldberg, founder of the New York City Chapter of Second Chance Toys, "Many smaller charities that don’t have the resources or manpower to ask for help were able to come to our website and connect with toy drives going on throughout New York City.  Drives held at organizations like Rapid Park Garages -- located throughout Manhattan –were able to collect and donate over 2,400 toys to organizations that otherwise would never have been able to connect with them. 

This year toys were donated to groups that include:

• Association to Benefit Children
• East Harlem Community Center
• New Creation Christian Church
• Mother-Child Crisis Center (Covenant House)
• Dads United for Parenting (Midtown Community Court)
• Brooklyn Family Defense Project
• St John’s Place Family Shelter
• Toys of Hope
• Save the Children of NY
• NY Kids Foundation
• Bethel Gospel Assembly

1-800-GotJunk? donated time and services to transport the toys to each of these organizations.

Temple Shaaray Tefila & Second Chance Toys brighten up the holidays at Homes for the Homeless in NYC

 
This year, toys collected by Temple Shaaray Tefila’s Hebrew School program in New York City were donated to the Prospect Family Inn and the Williamsbridge Family Inn – two local centers operated by Homes for the Homeless. More than 200 children will receive a toy as a result of the drive, helping make this December’s holidays extra special.  Children enrolled in the daycare programs were given the opportunity to select their toy from under the tree, which was a special event for the centers last Monday afternoon. These centers serve 512 families and more than 600 children every day. According to Margaret Menghini, Program Associate at Homes for the Homeless, toys and play time are extremely important to the positive development of young children. This type of contribution, plus others from community organizations, help us provide our residents with the various items they need to get by on a day-to-day basis.    We are truly grateful for our partnership with Second Chance Toys and for the creative way they are recycling plastic toys and help less privileged children in the community”.

 

Harmony House Early Learning Center in Newark Loves Their Second Chance Toys!

 
Children from the Harmony House Early Learning Center in Newark are seen here with Drew Trautman, franchise partner  with 1-1800-Got-Junk?, who made the Dec. 15^th toy delivery to the pre-school on behalf of Second Chance Toys. The center is owned and operated by the non-profit New Community Corporation.

 

Who Needs Flying Reindeer? We’ve Got 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

 

 
Second Chance Toys of PA salutes the team at 1-800-GOT-JUNK? for their great help in moving toys from where we collect them to where they need to go to get them to the kids.  We could not make so many children happy without your desire and effort to help whenever, however and no matter what!  THANK YOU!  You epitomize what community service and the holiday service are really all about!

Second Chance Toys Holiday Spirit Strikes at Logan Annex Head Start

 
 
There was lots of holiday cheer in the air at Our Lady of Hope Church on December 23.  The kids of Logan Annex Head Start received lots of shiny gifts compliments of Second Chance Toys of PA, and had personal “sit-downs” with Santa Claus too!!!  That is what we call a very special day indeed!

Thanks to All -- Second Chance Toys of PA Donations Top 12,500!

Thanks to the generosity and support of so many individuals, families, schools, churches, synagogues and companies this holiday season, Second Chance Toys of PA toy donations now exceed 12, 500.  That is a lot of toys recycled away from the landfill to into the appreciative hands of literally thousands of youngsters in our community.  Thanks to the following organizations who lent a helping hand or otherwise participated this holiday season:

-Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

-Springfield Elementary School

-Springfield Literacy Center

-Walter Miller Elementary School

-Samuel Everitt Elementary School

-Kohls

-Bucks County Head Start

-Mill Creek Elementary School

-Pediatric Day Health Center

-Feltonville Head Start

-Trinidad Head Start

-Logan Annex Head Start (Our Lady of Hope Church)

-Downingtown Area School District (Admin Team)

-Tiferit Bet Israel Synagogue

-Warwick Elementary School

-State Farm

-Children’s Village of Doylestown, PA

If you are interested in participating during Earth Week 2011, please let us know at secondchancetoys.pa@gmail.com

Second Chance Toys of PA Volunteers at “Work”!

 
Hey, it’s not really “work” when you are having fun!  Here is the Second Chance Toys of PA core team and some volunteers helping Santa make it happen for the kids during the holiday season of 2010!    

"Merry Christmas" to Feltonville Head Start!

 
Second Chance Toys of PA donated hundreds of great toys to the children of Feltonville Head Start this holiday season.  The toys were distributed to the kids on December 21.  Smiling faces all around.  Happy holidays!  Ho Ho Ho!

Holiday Festivities at Trinidad Head Start

 
What a great time on December 22.  The kids dressed up and performed in true holiday style for friends and family.  Second Chance Toys provided wonderful toys for every single child just in time for the holidays.  And -- Santa even made a surprise appearance too!   A tremendous time was had by all!

Nearly 6,000 gently used plastic toys collected and donated in NJ. (via @secondchancetoy)

The numbers from NY, PA, and IL are still coming in. Looks like a new milestone in the making.

Helping the needy with another successful holiday drive at Second Chance Toys

 

Choka Lyme for Hope Brings Second Chance Toys to Families in Newark.

  

 

Choka Lyme For Hope conducted a toy drive with Second Chance Toys which was a great success. The abundance of collected toys were delivered to Babyland In Newark, New Jersey. Bobby Roghubir spoke on behalf of Choca Lyme "It was our pleasure to be apart of this program and the recipients are a great organization who were very welcoming and appreciative of our efforts. We look forward to working with Second Chance Toys on future toy drives." 

Evergreen School and 1-800-Got-Junk! Collect Toys for Disadvantaged Kids.

 
 

Mill Creek Elementary School Students Conduct Amazing Toy Drive For Second Consecutive Year!

 

 
Don't mess with those kids and families from Mill Creek Elementary School in Warrington, PA.  They know how to organize a toy drive!  Do they ever!  They filled our 15 x 15 cubic yard 1-800-GOT-JUNK? truck up to the gills with gently used plastic toys; great toys to be recycled and distributed to literally hundreds and hundreds of kids in our community just in time for the holidays.  That is community and holiday spirit at its best.  Thanks to Principal Leonard Schwartz, Home & School leader, Stephanie McDonald and all the great students who helped make the December 3-10 toy drive such a resounding success for the second year in a row.  Some say "Ho Ho Ho" at this time of the year!  We simply say "Wow, you are the greatest!!

Springfield, PA Lends Tremendous Support to Second Chance Toys This Holiday Season!

Second Chance Toys of PA wants to publicly thank and congratulate the wonderful children at Springfield Elementary School and Springfield Literacy Center who worked so hard to collect toys for us during their drive from November 3-12.  You did a great job and your efforts will help some very deserving children in Delaware County and beyond.  Your efforts are what the holiday spirit is all about.  Let's keep that spirit throughout the year.  Help the kids -- Help the Environment!  Way to go!!!

Way to Go Girl Scout Troop 21808 and Warwick Elementary School!

 
 
Talk about a team effort.  Led by Girl Scout Troop 21808, the students, families and Parent-Teachers-Organization of Warwick Elementary School in Warwick, PA orchestrated a very successful toy drive and collection in support of Second Chance Toys of PA from November 22 to December 1, 2010. All banned together to help many needy children in the Bucks County and surrounding areas hopefully enjoy the holidays a little bit more this year.  Many boxes and bags were filled with reusable plastic toys collected by the Girls Scouts at the school. This is the first year the scouts have coordinated with Second Chance Toys and we are very proud of them for their truly outstanding efforts. They are helping to make a positive difference in the lives of other children and our environment!

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Fills The Truck Again

 
The great kids and families of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Doylestown, PA organized another successful toy collection on November 20, 2010 in support of Second Chance Toys of PA.  Once again, our 1800GOTJUNK truck was filled with quality, polished-up toys that will make hundreds of deserving children in our community very happy this holiday season.  This is the third year in a row that Mount Carmel has supported Second Chance Toys of PA activities.  We are not only impressed by this consistent effort, but very grateful indeed!  Thanks to all who pitched in. Special thanks to Laurie Frayne who coordinates these activities at the church and to Eric Blum from 1800GOTJUNK who helps us get the toys where they need to go.  

Early Intervention Program of New Jersey Loves Their Second Chance Toys

To our friends at Second Chance Toys: 

Once again your organization has overwhelmed us with wonderful toys that are developmentally appropriate for the infants and toddlers whom we serve.  The families, children and therapists who serve them will be THRILLED to have such wonderful materials to work with. One of the real strengths of your program is that you get toys that have all of their parts and work!  We do not have to sort through them and then discard toys that are unusable. 

Pamela Schachter, M.S. Ed

UMDNJ Early Intervention Program Manager

Newark, NJ 07103

Troop 335 Brightens the Holiday for Needy Children

 
Girl Scout Troop 335 of Manalapan has been very busy this holiday season. As part of their Bronze Award project, the troop held used toy drives in their neighborhoods to benefit Second Chance Toys.

The troop collected over 13 bags of gently used plastic toys in addition to two bags of new toys, two large plastic kitchens, a desk, an art easel and a Barbie jeep. Next, the girls cleaned the toys and made sure they were in working order. The toys were then dropped off to the Marlboro, NJ Branch of Investors Savings bank. They will soon be transported by volunteers from 1-800-Got Junk? to organizations that will distribute them to children in need.

In addition to having lots of fun, the girls learned about the value of recycling to help the environment as well as the importance of helping those less fortunate than themselves.

Art Imitates Life!

 

It’s as if the writers of Toy Story 3 consulted the Second Chance Toys website to get their material! As Andy leaves for college, his toys are excited at the prospect of being donated to a daycare center and getting a second chance to make other children happy.

 

The simpler, older-style toys of Toy Story 3 are those that depend more on a child’s imagination to be fully enjoyed. Second Chance Toys was founded on the knowledge that toys are essential tools of play and socialization and are important in helping children develop their imaginations.

 

The story line also points up the goal of the toys……quite simply, the desire to be loved and played with……. and of course, to avoid the landfill at all costs! Second Chance Toys is happy to be bringing toys and children together and keeping plastics out of our landfills!

 

May the squeals of joy continue!!