You know what really gets to me? Walking through my house and seeing all the stuff we accumulated over the years – toys my grandkids outgrew after five minutes, books I bought with good intentions but never cracked open, things that seemed so important when we bought them but just ended up taking up space. And then I think about all that plastic junk sitting in landfills while parents are out buying more of the same stuff their kids will get bored with in a week.
That's what got me thinking about starting a toy and book exchange in our neighborhood. Honestly, it wasn't some grand environmental awakening – I was just tired of seeing waste everywhere and remembering how we used to share things when I was growing up. My mother would have laughed at the idea of throwing away a perfectly good toy just because your kid didn't want it anymore. She'd have found another kid who did.
The whole thing started when my neighbor Susan mentioned she had boxes of her daughter's old books cluttering up the basement. Same daughter's now twenty-six, by the way, but Susan couldn't bring herself to throw them out. I had bags of toys my grandchildren had left behind over the years, stuff they'd played with once during visits and forgotten about. We got talking and realized half the neighborhood probably had the same problem.
So we decided to do something about it. Turned out organizing a community toy and book swap isn't rocket science, but there are definitely things I wish I'd known before jumping in.
First thing you need is a place to hold it. We tried the community center first, but they wanted to charge us fifty dollars for a Saturday afternoon, which seemed ridiculous for a free community event. The library was booked solid for months. Finally, my neighbor Jim offered his backyard – he's got this big deck and plenty of space. Weather was our only concern, but we figured we'd cross that bridge when we came to it.
Timing matters more than I expected. We tried a weekday afternoon first, thinking retired folks and stay-at-home parents could come. Total disaster. Got maybe eight people. Switched to Saturday morning and suddenly everyone showed up. Lesson learned – just because I have all day free doesn't mean everyone else does.
The rules part was trickier than it sounds. Do you let people take more than they bring? What if someone shows up with broken junk? What about those parents who grab everything in sight without bringing anything? We kept it simple the first time – bring something, take something, everything should be in decent shape. Had to turn away a few items that were pretty beat up, but most people were reasonable about it.
Getting the word out was actually kind of fun. I made flyers – yes, actual paper flyers, because not everyone in our neighborhood is on Facebook, despite what my daughter thinks. Posted them at the grocery store, the library, the coffee shop downtown. Put a notice in our little neighborhood newsletter. Susan posted something on that Nextdoor app, which I still don't really understand but apparently it worked.
The word-of-mouth thing surprised me though. Once a few people heard about it, the news spread fast. Kids told other kids at school, parents mentioned it at soccer practice, someone brought it up at a PTA meeting. By the time our swap day arrived, we had people asking if they could bring friends from other neighborhoods.
Day of the event, I was nervous as heck. What if nobody came? What if too many people came? What if it rained? (It didn't, thankfully.) Jim and I got up early to set up tables on his deck – card tables borrowed from various neighbors, plus a couple of those plastic folding tables from his garage. Made signs for different sections – "Books for Little Kids," "Chapter Books," "Toys Ages 3-8," "Older Kid Stuff." Nothing fancy, just index cards and markers.
Susan appointed herself the greeter, which was perfect because she actually knows everyone in the neighborhood and I'm still learning names after four years. She had people sign in – not for any official reason, just so we'd know how many folks showed up. Turned out to be thirty-seven families, way more than we expected.
The actual swapping was… well, it was organized chaos. Kids were excited, parents were digging through book piles, everyone was talking and laughing. A few little disputes – two families wanted the same bike, one mom thought another mom was taking too much – but nothing major. Mostly people were just happy to get rid of their excess stuff and find new things their kids might actually use.
One thing I hadn't thought about was cleaning. Toys that have been sitting in basements and closets aren't always the cleanest. Next time I'm definitely having disinfecting wipes available and maybe asking people to give their items a quick wipe-down before bringing them. Not trying to be germophobic, just practical.
We had volunteers, sort of accidentally. Couple of teenagers showed up with their parents and ended up helping organize tables and carry stuff to people's cars. My granddaughter's friend Emma turned out to be great at matching little kids with age-appropriate books. Made a mental note to actually ask for volunteers ahead of time next round.
Safety wasn't a huge issue since it was all neighborhood families, but I did check toys for broken pieces and anything that looked unsafe. Found a couple of items with small parts that could be choking hazards and set them aside. Better safe than sorry when you're dealing with little kids.
The end of the day was almost as much work as the beginning. Still had piles of leftover stuff – always happens, I'm told. We bagged up the remaining toys and books and I drove them to the children's shelter downtown the next week. They were thrilled to get them, especially the books. Made the whole thing feel even more worthwhile.
People started asking when we'd do it again before they'd even left that day. We decided on quarterly – often enough to be useful, not so often that it becomes a burden. Susan volunteered to organize the next one, which was a relief because this stuff is more work than it looks like.
Few weeks later, I ran into neighbors at the grocery store who were still talking about books their kids had found or toys that became new favorites. Mrs. Patterson down the street told me her grandson was obsessed with a puzzle he'd picked up, played with it every day for weeks. That's what made all the organizing worth it right there.
The feedback was mostly positive. People appreciated having something constructive to do with outgrown items instead of just throwing them away or letting them sit around taking up space. Parents liked that their kids could get "new" things without spending money. Kids enjoyed the treasure hunt aspect of looking through everything.
A few suggestions came up – maybe have a section for baby/toddler stuff separately, consider including games and puzzles in their own area, possibly expand to include children's clothes. All good ideas for next time.
What I didn't expect was how much it brought neighbors together. People who'd lived on the same street for years but barely spoke ended up having long conversations about their kids, sharing parenting stories, making plans to get together. The swap gave everyone a reason to actually talk instead of just waving from their driveways.
It's been six months now and we've done two more swaps. Each one's gotten a little bigger, a little more organized. We've got a regular crew of volunteers, a better system for sorting items, even a waiting list of people who want to host future events at their houses.
The environmental impact feels good too. All those toys and books that would have ended up in closets or landfills are getting used again. Kids are learning that sharing and reusing things is normal, not something weird their grandmother does. Parents are saving money and space in their houses.
But honestly, the community building part has been the biggest surprise. These swaps have become social events as much as practical ones. People plan around them, look forward to them, volunteer to help even when they don't have kids who need anything. It's brought life back to our neighborhood in a way I wasn't expecting.
If you're thinking about starting something like this in your area, just do it. Don't overthink it like I did at first. Start small, keep it simple, expect some chaos, and remember that done is better than perfect. You'll figure out what works and what doesn't as you go along.
The hardest part is taking that first step and actually organizing the first event. After that, if people like it, they'll help make the next one happen. And trust me, seeing kids get excited about "new" books and toys while keeping perfectly good stuff out of the trash – it's worth whatever effort it takes to set up.
Donna’s retired but not slowing down. She spends her days gardening, reusing, and finding peace in simpler living. Her writing blends reflection with realism—gentle reminders that sustainability starts at home, in daily habits and quiet choices.
