Bringing Smiles to Children’s Faces
The Peninsula Senior Citizens Toy Repairers was established in 1975, originally known as the Warringah Senior Citizens Toy Repairers. Its primary goals were to create a beneficial organisation within the community, provide an engaging activity for senior citizens, bring joy to underprivileged children, and contribute to toy recycling efforts, reducing landfill waste.
Over the span of 45 years, the group has not only achieved these objectives but surpassed them. Beyond positively impacting local children, their reach now extends to children in various parts of the world. Comprising over 30 dedicated senior retirees, both male and female, they tirelessly devote countless hours each week to ensure that disadvantaged children in impoverished communities have access to toys, books, games, puzzles, and more. They graciously accept toys in any condition, restoring them to near-new status whenever possible. Their unwavering efforts have resulted in the processing and distribution of thousands of toys throughout the years.
Throughout their journey, the group has faced numerous challenges. Without a permanent home, they have operated from garden sheds, demountables, and various buildings. They have endured acts of vandalism and graffiti. In 1998, a devastating fire destroyed their entire stock, which was ready for distribution to children during the Christmas season. Even during the recent pandemic, they managed to adapt and continue operating in a reduced format, adhering to health guidelines.
With the support of the community, local tradespeople, businesses, and contributions from Rotary, the group established their present workshop in Ingleside. Since the fire incident, they have experienced continuous growth and currently serve nearly 80 recipients who benefit from their resources. The group actively supports numerous local and international charities and nonprofit organisations. They maintain a substantial stock of toys readily available for immediate dispatch.
However, due to the development at the current site in Ingleside, the Peninsula Toy Recyclers found themselves in need of a more stable and permanent home. In late 2022, they received an invitation from Kimbriki CEO, Peter Davis, to relocate to The HUB at Kimbriki. In recent months, the dedicated volunteers have started the process of relocating their bustling and extensive operations.
Their impact has reached children in poverty-stricken countries through various agencies. These include organisations in Cambodia, P.N.G, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Toga, Fiji, Samaritans Purse, Network Heaven, Operations Christmas Child, and Operations Food for Life which distribute school resources and provide hundreds of soft toys to children living in poverty, particularly those residing in rubbish dumps around Port Moresby who have never received toys before.
The group has also supported drought-stricken farmers through Rotary and Lions Clubs, as well as contributed to fundraisers for Rotary and provided toys to Aboriginal children in Redfern and Brewarrina. Additionally, many healthcare professionals have utilised the toys to assist children coping with trauma, anxiety, and stress-related issues.
While the group engages in numerous humanitarian causes that are too many to mention, they remain true to the founding ideals of the organization.
HOW YOU CAN DONATE: If you wish to contribute, you can donate toys by dropping toys off at the Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre’s Toy Repair Shed (pictured below), located at Household Problem Waste (Drop-off Point 3), during the centre’s opening hours from 7am to 5pm, seven days a week.
VOLUNTEERS: For those interested in learning more about their work and willing to travel to Ingleside, please email Terry – cookt308@gmail.com to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
SAVE-THE-DATE
PRE-LOVED TOYS
Toys include everything that kids would love to play with, from: fluffy animals, to dolls, to board games, to puzzles, to musical instruments, to sports equipment, to electronic games, to bicycles and to dress up clothes for girls and boys.
Saturday 4th November 2023
9am till 2pm
at The Hub Kimbriki
(turn off on the left as you head down the hill into the Kimbriki site)
