“A win for everyone”: Toy swap welcomes shoppers at South Surrey hall Saturday

The fourth annual Ocean Park Toy Swap takes place Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at Ocean Park Hall, 1577 128 St. in South Surrey. New and used toys will change hands ahead of the holidays. Volunteers check and sort the toys by age, and families can shop for what their children need by donation.

The swap has become a community tradition at a time when many families in Surrey and White Rock are feeling financial pressure. Organizer Kelsey Findlay said parents have told her they are scaling back on holiday gifts. The event means children can still have something to unwrap, while keeping good toys out of landfill — “a win for everyone,” she said.

More than 60 families have registered this year, and over 40 households have dropped off donations. Findlay said Friday that people looking for toys can still attend Saturday, but organizers are no longer seeking donations because there is little time left to clean and prepare them.

“We get hundreds of toys, if not thousands,” Findlay said. The selection includes costumes, puzzles, games, figurines, toy kitchens, books, baby toys, many stuffed animals and crafts. People also bring new items such as Lego, brain-teasing games and sports equipment. “Tables are full,” she said.

Findlay can be contacted through the TOTL Real Estate Team website at teamtotl.ca.