Golden Bay Toy library farewells familiar faces and welcomes new ones
The Golden Bay Toy Library is saying its farewells to Andrea Ward, who has served nine years on the committee and is a familiar face to regular toy borrowers.
While raising her four children, Andrea has worked hundreds of volunteer hours in various positions, including president, vice president and the huge job of toy buyer, and has chosen over $20,000 of toys for the library.
“Andrea has just resigned at our recent AGM and we have a new toy buyer, Janet Brown, plus a new president, Tyler Langford, who has just had baby number three, so she has three kids under four,” said treasurer Fleur Murray. “Our new librarian Henriette Fleischer started in March. She moved from Nelson two years ago and brings with her a wealth of experience from both paid and unpaid positions she has held in the past. Janet is also newish to the Bay, having been here only a year. She moved here with her husband and daughter and they have since had their second child.”
Janet has already been busy buying up new toys. “We just bought a fairy castle for $200 and a wooden stove from the toy shop in town with a donation of $200 from Trash Palace, and we have also just purchased a scooter and trike from Martin at The Quiet Revolution. We are grateful for the donation and we wanted to spend the money locally,” Fleur added.
The toy library has over 40 members and can be found at the showgrounds in a spacious building filled with enticing toys. A kid-safe gate, ample parking and space to pack large toys into vehicles allows for stress-free borrowing.
Andrea recommends the toy library to all parents, caregivers and grandparents as a place to meet and to stock up on playthings to keep the little ones entertained.
“The toy library is a very good idea and it is great to be able to get all these different toys for the kids without having to buy them. I really enjoyed being on the committee and already miss the social side of it,” Andrea said.
The library is open Tuesdays from 1.00 to 2.30pm and Fridays from 9.30 am to11am. Family membership is $40 a year (or $15 if you actively help out) plus toy hire ranging from 50 cents to $4 per item.
Ina Holst
