As part of our recent Top of the South Community Foundation grants round, the Stoke Toy Library were one of our successful recipients.

The Toy Library, founded in 1983, is a hire service located in Stoke, run by passionate volunteers and a part-time Administrator. It offers low-cost membership options which provide access to families with young children to a wide range of toys and play equipment catering from newborn to 7-8-year-olds.

Nicola Hayman, the Grants Coordinator for the Stoke Toy Library, says they are extremely grateful for the grant, saying it will be put to good use buying new toys. “Having a young whanau can be a challenging time financially, often with one or more parents off work or working fewer hours. The library offers families access to a wide range of toys and also the ability to replace the toys regularly.”

With a membership base of around 150, mainly from Stoke, and includes members from Nelson and Richmond. Louise Holley, the Co-President and Treasurer of the library, said, “We like to try to engage with our members and get the community involved as much as possible, many of them happy to make bedding equipment and clothes; to complement the purchase of new toys.”

Our Community Foundation Admin Officer Kim McGettigan dropped in to see the library in action. “Spending some time at the Stoke Toy Library during opening hours was impressive. It was busy and alive, with families popping in to exchange toys. The staff and volunteers have a streamlined process making it a pleasant experience for all.”

Other recipients of Top of the South Community Foundation grants in 2021 were:

Marlborough Riding for the Disabled
Chin Community of Nelson
Hearing Nelson
Graeme Dingle Foundation (Wairau Valley track project)
Wakefield Community Toy Library
Tasman Environmental Trust
Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park
Whenua Iti Outdoors (Muslim Community project)