FLTL Awarded Sustainable Tompkins Mini-Neighborhood Grant!

Post date: Apr 10, 2017 7:30:36 PM

Toy Library receives Sustainable Tompkins grant, hosts Sustainability Event in May

Ithaca, NY, April, 6, 2017: Finger Lakes Toy Library (FLTL) has received a $750 Neighborhood Mini-Grant from Sustainable Tompkins for the creation of a “Pop-up Event Kit.” Finger Lakes Toy Library, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed in 2016 to operate a toy lending library in Ithaca.

The mission of FLTL is to improve quality of life by increasing access to toys, supporting play, and encouraging a culture of reuse and sharing. The newly-formed toy library helps the community reduce waste and environmental impact by encouraging the sharing of resources and reducing the total number of toys needed by the community.

“The Mini-Grant Council and Sustainable Tompkins Board are especially enthusiastic about the Toy Library, and would like to see it thrive as a force for waste reduction and healthy play,” Sasha Paris, Neighborhood Mini-Grant Coordinator, writes in her acceptance letter.  

The grant will be used to purchase a refurbished iPad to operate lending software; a tent, table and chairs for attending and hosting events; and a selection of eco-education toys for lending, such as a recycling truck, an eco house, an eco town board game, and a vegetable garden toy.

“Exposing children to sharing economy and reuse culture at a young age helps instill in them the true meaning of what it is to share and sets them up for a lifetime of participation in sustainability efforts and community building,” says FLTL President Debra Lewis.

Toy libraries work just like book libraries, except that instead of borrowing a book members borrow a toy. Toy libraries have been around in the USA since 1935, and are supported by the USA Toy Library Association as well as the International Toy Library Association.

Every year in May the International Toy Library Association organizes ‘World Play Day’ and encourages toy libraries around the world to host events to celebrate that year’s theme. This year’s theme is Sustainability, and FLTL will be hosting a ‘Celebration of Sustainability in Play’ on May 20th from 10am-1pm at the Cass Park Pavilion.

For more information about the Finger Lakes Toy Library and its sustainability efforts please visitwww.fingerlakestoylibrary.org. Mark your calendars for May 20th and join FLTL as they expand and celebrate Ithaca’s commitment to sustainability.