A wonderland of preloved toys awaits at this year’s Community Toy Swap in Pāpāmoa!

Last year was the first time the Pāpāmoa Toy Library held the Community Toy Swap. Now it’s back due to popular demand and will be held on Saturday, October 28.

Toy librarian Megan Tietjen says the toy library works by people bringing in toys or games they no longer want, and exchanging them for tokens. Then tokens are exchanged for other toys from different families.

“It's a great way to prevent plastic waste going to landfill, and supports those in our community who may not be able to afford brand new toys for their tamariki,” says Megan.

“It gives a different option that’s not just heading to The Warehouse to buy something that their kids are going to get sick of.”

Megan says she attended the Community Toy Swap last year as a parent and loved it. “

My kid was learning the value of money at the time, and I thought it was a really good way for him to learn that he could take his toys somewhere, receive tokens and then use those tokens to ‘buy’ other toys without having to spend money.”

People are encouraged to bring their toys in ahead of the Community Toy Swap to collect their tokens and save time.

“[Toys] do have to be in good condition and have no missing pieces so no puzzles that are missing like three bits, and they have to work if they’ve got batteries.”

For hygiene reasons they don’t accept soft toys or anything that requires washing either.

This community event will also be a fundraiser opportunity to this not-for-profit group that has more than 300 members.

Megan says the toy swap will have some “really cool raffle prizes” up for grabs including passes to Chipmunks, virtual reality arcade –The Cave, Fresh Choice and Pak n Save baskets and more.

The Community Toy Swap will be held from 10am-1pm at the  Pāpāmoa Community Centre on Saturday, October 28. For more information visit: www.facebook.com/PapamoaToyLibrary