Archive: Around Town

Toys are an often-overlooked source of resource waste and resource inequality – bought and discarded in large quantities by some families, prohibitively expensive for others. Toy libraries, found across the nation and world, use lending collections and community play spaces to address these issues while fostering a culture of sharing and social connections.

"What an environmentally friendly way to provide new toys/experiences for our children without cluttering our homes up with things that our children have lost interest in and that might just end up in a landfill somewhere," says parent Katie Feather.

Finger Lakes Toy Library (FLTL) was founded in 2016 to bring this system to Ithaca and the surrounding communities, and sought support from Sustainable Tompkins after a conversation at the Tompkins County Community MatchUp in December 2016. In March 2017, FLTL received a Neighborhood Mini-Grant from Sustainable Tompkins to purchase essential equipment along with several toys themed on environmental stewardship.

"It costs hardly any money, and that's good because then you have more money for the things you really need," Fall Creek Elementary second grader Julia Kleinberg. "Also, if you use toys over and over again, you don't have to make new ones to replace the old ones. That's good because gas is needed to run the machines in the factory and stuff like that. So if you're not making new toys you use less gas. And that's important because gas goes into the air and pollutes it."

Since then, FLTL has become a flourishing local presence, with dozens of member families and hundreds of new and donated toys that members can borrow and play with at its headquarters in Ithaca's Clinton West Plaza. Its collection prioritizes environmentally-friendly, gender-neutral, and educational toys that encourage open-ended creativity. With a mobile set of toys, tent, and table, it has brought "Playtimes" — open to all, some with themes such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) or Puzzles and Games — to events such as the Apple Harvest Festival, and hosted them at venues throughout Tompkins County and beyond.

"Such a great idea for saving money, living a minimalist lifestyle and having the opportunity to expose your child to new ways to play," says parent Jennifer Wills.

In the years ahead, FLTL officials say they will continue to expand and diversify its toy collection and Playtime offerings.

Since 2008, the Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program has provided small grants to organizations, community groups, and micro-businesses in support of initiatives that build local self-reliance, promote environmental stewardship and social justice, and improve the social, economic, and environmental health of communities in Tompkins County.

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