Ocean Grove Toy Library will update its popular ‘party packs’ with a $500 CommBank community grant for its continued efforts for families in the area.
Toy library secretary Anita Mullick accepted the funds on behalf of the committee of volunteers during an evening shift and was taken by surprise when Ben Mumberson from CommBank Ocean Grove branch arrived with a cheque.
“I couldn’t believe it, we were absolutely thrilled,” she said.
“It’s perfect timing as we need to update our very popular party packs, so this money will go to buying ‘big-ticket’ party toys that will make any birthday event a success.”
The toy library is made up entirely of volunteers, and opens its doors on Tuesday from 7pm to 8pm and Saturday from 10am to 11am.
The library was first opened in 1980 and is now located at the Boorai Centre, 4-50 Shell Road, Ocean Grove.
Members pay an annual fee to join and can borrow four toys a fortnight or up to eight toys with a family membership.
“A lot of our members are really into the philosophy ‘borrow don’t buy’ – it just makes so much sense from an environmental perspective, not to mention financially,” Anita said.
The committee is made up of 10 local mums who volunteer their time between parenting and day jobs, supported by members helping out for a one hour session each term.
“We are firmly in an ‘emergency vehicles’ phase at our house at the moment, so the police and firefighter costumes and accessories have been fun,” toy library member Jo Blair said.
“And construction toys are always a winner so we’ve borrowed the big dump trucks and diggers quite a few times over.”
Visit oceangrovetoylibrary.org.au for more information or to join online.
