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20 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, October 5,1993 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Toy Lending Library more than fun and games - By Julia Dempsey Port Perry Star About 70 local childrey have access to the largest toy box in Scugog Township. e children. and their par- ents are members of the Scugog Toy Lending Library. ach Thursday morning, the .-0 families that are members of the library meet in the Port Perry United Church basement to return and check out toys, videos, puzzles, and a limited number of resource and chil- dren's books. : The library offers a vast selec- tion of toys suitable for children up to five years of age. "Most of the toys are educa- |} W ong tional and of the highest quali- ty, Yvonne Van Camp, co- special events co-ordinator, told the Port Perry Star. The library doesn't offer stuffed animals because chil- dren tend to become attached to them. Violent toys, such as guns, are also not available, she said. The yearly membership fee is $25 per family and allows mem- bers to sign out any of the. re- sources for one week at a time. Membership is free for families on subsidized funding. But the library is much more than a lending outlet, Mrs. Van Camp said. It is also a place to meet with friends. #8 also a social outing for parents and their children. : for the whole family We provide our. patients: State-of-the-Art Care Comfortable atmosphere Relaxation techniques g# Nitrous Oxide (gas) Cosmetic Bonding Emergencies welcomed Insurance assignment (we collect from insurarice companies) DR. A. CHIA DR. J. COTTRELL DR. M. GARFAT DR. J. HARDY DR. T. KING (Orthodontist) New patients always welcome! "The idea is parents and tots together," Mrs, Van Camp said. "It's a great place to come. The kids thrive on the interaction with other children, and it's a great social time for the par- ents." Since the toy lending library is a non-profit co-operative or- ganization, all members are ex- pected to take an active role by being a member of at least one committee. "Everybody plays a part in keeping the library going," Mrs. Van Camp said. ) As co-special events co- ordinators, Mrs. Van Camp and Janice Gilmour will plan events such as a Halloween, Christmas and end-of-year parties, as well as a story time and puppet show on the first Thursday of every month. The Scugog Toy Lending Li- brary was formed five years ago by Pat Bird, Martha Larsen, - and Marilyn Pearce. "We had heard of other librar- ies in Oshawa and Sunderland and thought it would be a good idea for this area," Mrs. Bird said. To get the library operational, the women sent letters to local businesses and service clubs asking for toy or monetary do- nations. "TI don't think there was any- one who didn't help us out," Mrs. Bird said. "We were very fortunate. The success of the toy lending library is a tribute to the community." The Port Perry United . Church has also been a great help to the organization. "The church has been great to us," Mrs. Van Camp said, add- AN 0. T-- : Tn ER _ingit offers the library rent-free ~ Shanna Taillon and Ryley Clark, pictured playing on a teeter totter, are two of about 70 local children who benefit from the rograms offered by the Scugog Toy Lending Library. Mem- bers of the library meet on Thursday momings (September through to May) in the basement of the Port Perry. United Church. But the organization is more than a lending library; it is space to run the program. "I 'don't think we would be able to operateif we had to rent space." In its first year the organizers were advised to start with no more than 14 families on the membership list. But the popu- ' PORT PERRY ) DENTAL CENTRE 238 QUEEN ST. - PORT PERRY | 985-8451 Evening & Saturday appointments available larity of the program encour- ois the women to accept 20 families. The library has doubled in . size since opening in 1988, The membership is limited to 40 families. Many more are on a waitinglist. h "Some people have called us - an elitist group because we limit our membership," Mrs. Bird said. "But we only limit it for safety reasons. Any more than 40 families would be disaster- ous." brary is one of more than 1.000 _volunteer-driven family re- source programs supporting Ca- nadian children and parents in changing time, said Maureen Kellerman, regional = develop- ment Jrojest co-ordinator of the Canadian Association of Toy Li- braries and Parent Resource Centres. i {on During National Famil Week October 4-10, the TLR Canada wants to celebrate the vital. contributions made by family resource centres across The Scugog Toy Lending Li- the country. * All At Guaranteed Low Prices" unireo || KE || Levolor- = Largest Carpet Selection In Scugog Township VERTICALS * VENETIANS a ree Pot PLEATED SHADES HOMESTEAD by Ballard & Carnegie HWY. 7A EAST - PORT PERRY ~ 985-2451 or 985-2157 8 Free water testing for nitrates because of the concern with farm pollution involving high levels" of nitrates as shown on CBC's Wb. : There are higher levels of nitrate showing up in water testing samples through-out Southern Ontario. 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