Decades of Fun: Toys Go 'Round Celebrates 32 Years

DECORAH -- Toys Go 'Round (TGR) is celebrating 32 years of providing tools for children's learning and enrichment. Toy libraries are a unique service, and TGR is a very fine example of the successful efforts of many during its 32 years. Its founding members made the decision that the toy library would be there to serve its community. To date, anyone in Decorah and the Winneshiek County surrounding area are able to take out an affordable membership to check out toys. Acting coordinator and one of the original founding board members, Kathy Barloon, states that the toy library is and has always been a work in progress. "Through the years, TGR has been fortunate to receive in-kind space at the Decorah Public Library with a temporary move to the SIMS building before finding a home in the newly named Winneshiek County Community Services building (formerly The Spectrum Building) at 607 Washington St." Barloon states that the current space which TGR has called home for the past three years has been a "perfect location." TGR has been able to grow into this space with assistance from Winneshiek County Community Foundation and the Depot Outlet who provided shelving for puzzles, games and carpet runners between shelving units and toys. Currently, volunteers are in the process of setting up shelving units which were donated by Stan Fullerton and used at Donlon Drug before they closed. Toys Go 'Round toys were checked out over 2,600 times last year with a current inventory number at 1,526. This number is constantly changing as toys are evaluated by staff and removed for wear and tear. The community also helps to contribute high quality toys, which are then added to the TGR inventory or sold at the annual TGR garage sale. Honoring the vision of the original founding board members, TGR is a community toy lending library and membership is open to anyone in Winneshiek County and beyond. Toys may be checked out for 3 weeks and can be renewed once. Members currently pay an annual fee of $65.00 or $30.00 for three months. The toy library realizes that occasionally a toy comes back broken and pieces are temporarily "lost" but returned later. There is no charge when this happens and the coordinator even keeps a "stash" of random toy pieces. For example, if a Paw Patrol toy comes back missing a pup, another can be substituted until the missing one is returned. This system allows the toy to stay in circulation. The toy library initiated a "TGR STRONG!" campaign in the fall of 2023 to help cover operational expenses. Toys Go 'Round has been very fortunate to receive donations from the Marion E. Jerome foundation which helps cover the rent at the current location. However, most grants do not cover operational expenses, and he toy library has faced challenges due to a downturn in United Way donations. These donations had covered staff expenses in the past. Toys Go 'Round is their own 501(c)3 agency and does not receive financial backing from any other organization. Thus, individual donations are very important to the overall well-being of the toy library. Barloon thanks the community for supporting Toys Go 'Round. This support allows for the toy library to continue to provide a wide variety of toys for ongoing learning of local children. To assist with the operational expenses of the toy library, members of the public are encouraged to donate to the TGR STRONG! Campaign by sending a check to TGR at 607 Washington St. in Decorah or by dropping it off during the open hours. These hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. or Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Members of the community are additionally invited to stop by to see how Toys Go 'Round is organized and maintained. Tours are also available by appointment and during the City-wide Spring Garage Sale, which falls on the weekend of May 4. April is the National Month of the Young Child. The toy library itself first opened their doors in April of 1992, during the Week of The Young Child! In this special season, TGR believes in celebrating the importance of play and appreciating the wide assortment of toys that have supported 32 years of children. More information about their year-round mission can be found at toysgoround.org.