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Date: 12/3/2019
AGAWAM – It’s not often that a charity event can touch as many people in as many ways as the Holiday Used Toy Exchange will when it is hosted at the Agawam Public Library this December.
The event is a gently-used toy drive, the effects of which people can see almost immediately.
Here’s how it works: “All week long at the high school they’re collecting gently used toys,” said Nancy Bobskill, president of the Zero-Waste Club, an organization of Agawam residents focused on local environmental issues that runs the event.
About 20 members of the Agawam High School Students Against Violating the Environment (S.A.V. E.) Club collect donations of gently used toys from staff, many of whom have younger children, and students, who donate toys from younger siblings or their own childhoods.
“[The students] enjoy doing it and are often surprised at the generosity of our community. We collect a lot of toys that will bring joy to new kids instead of being dumped in the trash can and end up in our landfills,” said Beata Fleury, the S.A.V.E. Club advisor.
Then, on Dec. 6, from 12 to 5:30 p.m., hundreds of area residents drop off thousands of gently-used toys at the library, at 750 Cooper St. Clean, working toys, such as musical instruments, action figures, dolls, sports equipment, books, bicycles, electronics, video games, DVDs, stuffed animals, model kits, art supplies, building toys, creative learning toys, outdoor toys and structures, games, puzzles and baby toys are collected from the community and join the toys that the S.A.V. E. Club collected.
After school that day, students from the National Honor Society (NHS) go to the library to unpack the toys and set them up on long tables in the Judith Clini Community Room. William Bobskill, who often helps his wife with the event described rows of tables with toys stacked underneath them with more stacked another 3 feet high on top.
Finally, on Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. community members shop the toys.
“In order to share with as many families as possible, families will be limited to [the] amount they are able to carry in one trip to their vehicle. Shoppers are asked to bring their own reusable shopping bag, as this is a zero-waste event,” the Zero–Waste Club stated in a press release.
In a separate, smaller room in the library, students put big-ticket items and popular toys. Nancy explained that as people enter they receive a free raffle ticket for the other room. That way, everyone has a chance at the toys with the most “wow factor.”
“Ninety-five percent of the toys go,” William said. Anything that is left is donated to charity.
The National Honor students, who participate as part of their 40-hour community service commitment, staff the event. Bonavida said the experience affects them.
“They’re 17, 18 years old and as they unpack all these toys they remember, ‘This was my favorite game,’ and they really have a good time setting up all the toys,” said Mary Bonavita, Agawam High School, History Department, NHS Co-Adviser. But on the shopping day, she said it is “eye-opening for students to see that there are inequalities. I think that the holidays can be stressful for a lot of families and the students get to see what’s going on in their own town.”
Nancy told Reminder Publishing, “The first reason we started out with this, is we’re a Zero-Waste Club, we want to normalize the idea of reusing items.”
Aside from the environmental effect of keeping toys out of landfills, Nancy said there are other benefits to the event.
“It helps people on tight budgets, and it really gives a sense of community to see that everyone is donating,” Nancy said. Last year, she noted, about a hundred people came to shop.
The two-day event was begun by the club four years ago. The National Honor Society has been participating in the toy exchange for at least two years, and this is the third year for the S.A.V. E. Club. Bonavida said Nancy was formerly a teacher at Agawam High School and had an “ongoing relationship” with the clubs.
“There’s a group of five of us,” said Nancy. She, Abbey Massaro, Danielle Light, Judy Kiely and Susan Grossberg spent hundreds of hours putting the event together. They started by getting the word out in October, Nancy said.
There are rules as to what can be donated.
“No dirty, broken or incomplete toys will be accepted. Your cooperation to pre-inspect your donations is much appreciated,” the Zero-Waste Club said in their press release.
“We make sure everything is operational,” William said.
There are also rules designed to ensure children get the most out of the event.
“Children should not be brought into the shopping area so that each toy will be a surprise. Games and activities will be available to children in the library children’s area,” they organization said. Six Flags New England will be sending two of their characters, Sprinkle and Gumdrop, to entertain and read stories to the children while [the] adults shop.