Conscientious Consumption at the Holidays – a New Approach

Some parents at First Unitarian Church in Des Moines IA have come up with a new idea about how to avoid overwhelming the local landfill with barely-used toys and books as they clean out their children’s rooms to get ready for another holiday season. They’ve launched a program called Play It Forward. This month, families are invited to bring in their excellent-to-good condition toys and books, and on one Saturday, the books and toys will be available for others to take home — for free! The only catch is that you can’t choose something for yourself, just to give to someone else. As an incentive to give, families who have donated toys can start their “shopping” an hour early. As a parent and grandparent, I think this is a great idea! Let’s share what our children no longer use. Recycled toys and books – yes!