After several incidents of toys not being brought back, Masterton Community Toy Library has chosen to reach out to the public via social media in the hope of their return.
“WANTED! [Preferably alive!] Please help us find our missing toys!” the Facebook post reads.
Although Toy Library staff understand that families, especially with young children, lead very busy lives, the missing toys have been on the lam for over 12 months now.
A dinosaur coupe, car garage, and basketball hoop are among the five items that haven’t been returned.
The missing toys come to a total cost of around $500.
A spokesperson said the toy library is now faced with having to fundraise to replace the missing items.
“The Little Tikes Cozy Coupes, in particular, are very popular at our Toy Library and come at a cost of around $200 each.”
The toy library is run by volunteer librarians and a small committee, and has been operating for over 40 years.
The library recognises that toys for younger children are very expensive and “children will often only enjoy them for a short period of time” before out-growing them.
The toy library operating model allows parents and caregivers to borrow items for a small fee rather than buying new toys for each developmental stage.
It relies on community support to keep running.
“We apply for grants and do a lot of fundraising to purchase new toys and to help with other running costs,” the spokesperson said.
- The Masterton Community Toy Library is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10am – 12pm.
