Many parents might agree that toys have a superpower where they seem to multiply overnight…not to mention appear under our bare feet when we least expect it (we’re looking at you, Legos). When we work in homes where there is an abundance of toys that are no longer pulled out to play with, we love being able to share the impact that Project Play Inc. has on the community (and set up a Donation Pick-Up while we’re at it).

Project Play Inc. takes donated toys and redistributes to children and families in need. The team at Project Play Inc. works diligently to meet the needs of kids who do not have toys or books to use. Angie Lacy, Occupational Therapist, Preschool Teacher and Founder of Project Play, took the time to share with us what Project Play Inc. does and how we can rehome our toys and books while benefitting the greater community. 

What need did you see in the community that led you to start Project Play Inc? 

I have been an Occupational Therapist with the First Steps program for 28 years. Being in children’s homes, I realized that many children either did not have toys, did not have age-appropriate toys, or had toys with missing pieces. That is what prompted me to start Project Play.

Can you share a bit about the services you provide?  

We take referrals for children and families that are in need of toys and books. Once we receive the referral, we pack a bag specific for that child. Each child receives approximately five toys and 5 to 10 books. We then deliver the toy bags to their homes.

How has Project Play Inc changed over time?  

Since our beginning in October 2016, we have a grown. We have developed more partnerships with organizations that serve children and have been able to increase the amount of children we serve each year.

What types of items can be donated to Project Play Inc? 

We serve children from newborn through teenage years. We accept toys, books, games, puzzles for any of these age groups. The only thing we do not except is used stuffed animals.

Is there a specific example you can share of how a toy drop-off has impacted someone’s life? 

One particular family that we were able to serve was involved in a house fire. They lost everything that they owned. We were able to provide toys and books for their five children. The family thanked us because despite the tragedy, their children were able to continue to play and have some sort of normalcy while they were rebuilding their life.

How about the number of people in our community who have benefitted from Project Play Inc. Any idea how many?  

Since our beginning in 2016, we have been able to serve 1725 children which equates to approximately 8625 toys and approximately 13,000 books.

Wow , that is such a huge impact on the community. What can we anticipate seeing from Project Play Inc. in the next 3 years?

Our goal each year is to serve more children and families than we did the year before. We are hoping to continue to increase our referrals and increase partnerships with organizations that serve children and families.

Project Play Inc. is the perfect spot to take those toys that seem to keep reappearing. To keep up with Project Play Inc. you can follow them on Facebook @ProjectPlayInc or on their website www.projectplayinc.org. 

The Baer Minimalist helps busy families create ORGANIZED + STYLIZED spaces throughout Indianapolis. We’ve loved supporting Project Play over the years…and so have our client’s playrooms and basements . ;)

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