TOY SWAP SHOP - part of our drive to live more sustainably
Concerned about the mega amounts of toys no longer in use, and the cost of new toys, we put our heads together to think of a way of up-cycling and sharing toys - and our HNCS Toy Swap was born.
Good-quality unwanted toys, for any age, could be swapped or donated. Those with nothing to swap were welcome to buy toys at car-boot type prices, On Saturday 23rd November 2019, from 9am to 11am we accepted high-quality but unwanted toys which were exchanged for tokens, or donated. From 11.30am to 2pm the toys were available to take away - 'paying' with tokens or cash.
Despite the rain we had a great time and were amazed at the generosity of people donating unwanted goods. Many children (and adults) left clutching new toys, and Helen and Douglas House charity shop at Didcot was thrilled to receive the toys left over at the end of the event.
Toys left over were donated to a charity shop run by Helen and Douglas House, a local hospice that helps terminally ill babies, children, and young people to live their short lives to the full.
Although the prime aim was not to raise money, £170 was raised at the event, shared between Helen and Douglas House and West Berkshire Hospital, for the children's ward.
We had planned for this to be an annual event, but of course 2020 proved to be problematic. However, we hope to bring it back in 2021!