Here’s how you can you give the neglected toys just hanging around your home a second chance.
Sasha Lipton, a New Jersey native, regularly did community service work growing up. She spent time with her father delivering food to homebound seniors for Meals On Wheels. And over the years she has worked at numerous soup kitchens and also sponsored a child from the Dominican Republic through Children International. In the summer of 2006, Sasha volunteered as a counselor at Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. It was during the same summer that she got the idea for Second Chance Toys, a nonprofit organization that directs plastic toys into the hands of disadvantaged children, through donations to community organizations.
To date Second Chance Toys has distributed more than 113,000 plastic toys needy children. As another bonus, by recycling these plastic toys Second Chance Toys has kept these items out of our landfills, which is a blessing to the environment as well.
Here’s how you can get involved:
• Donate Toys
Toys are accepted in November – December for holidays.
And in March – April for Earth Week.
Make sure your toys: are plastic; are clean; are in working condition; have no missing small parts( cannot fit through a toilet paper roll); and include batteries (if required) that are fully functioning.
Find a drop-off location online by entering your zip code.
• Collect Toys
Register online to become a collector. This can be a great program for your family or scout troop.
Go online for the Getting Started Kit, a step-by-step guide that can help you organize a toy collection. www.secondchancetoys.org.
• Receive Toys
If you are an organization that cares for children in need you may qualify to receive some of these gently used toys. Go online and fill out a registration form to be considered to receive free toys. www.secondchancetoys.org.
• Make a Donation
Time and funds are always welcome to continue the work of Second Hand Toys. Funds can be sent to: Second hand Toys, P.O. Box 1233, Mountainside, New Jersey. 07092.
Donations can also be made on the website. www.secondchancetoys.org.
