Give back to struggling families this Easter by donating your toys

If you live in Melbourne’s north, there’s an easy way to give back to families who are struggling this holiday time, by making a toy donation at Northland shopping centre.

Circonomy and Moose Toys are collecting toy donations this month at Northland shopping centre, to go to local families in need. ​

For families looking for a way to give back to the local community this Easter — and clean up the house — there’s an easy way to make donations to people who are struggling.

Circonomy and Moose Toys are taking toy donations at Northland Shopping Centre in April as part of their More Smiles, Less Waste program designed to reduce waste and help disadvantaged families who need some extra joy this holiday period.

They’re collecting unwanted or broken toys, which will be repaired, rehomed or recycled and distributed to charities, such as Big Group Hug, who can give them to families who can’t afford toys for their kids.

Big Group Hug provide essential children’s items, such as toys, clothing, cots, prams and more, for families that are struggling with financial hardship with children aged from newborn to 16 years old.

People who receive the donations may have fled domestic violence, are refugees or new migrants, or are dealing with financial difficulties due to high cost of living or job losses.

Big Group Hug collect donated children’s items to distribute to families in need. (Picture: Big Group Hug)

Big Group Hug ambassador Jacinta D‘Angelo has witnessed the impact that a simple toy donation can make from both sides of the story.

“When my children and I fled a family violence situation, we left with nothing … my kids were almost two and four.

“I can still remember their faces when they received their books and some toys and it just gave us that glimmer of hope,” Ms D’Angelo said.

“It had a huge impact and it just inspired myself to keep going and move forward.”

Since then, Ms D’Angelo has turned her life around and now works with Big Group Hug to donate to other families in need.

Jacinta D’Angelo was supported by Big Group Hug when she fled from family violence, but now she supports the cause in donating to other struggling families. (Picture: Big Group Hug)

“It's so important for people to reach out … it took me a number of years to change my whole life around but it‘s little stepping stones, these are just little things that I believe that keep you going,” she said.

“Donating things that people may not think would make a difference or make a huge impact. this is huge for someone else to receive this, it’s very big, very powerful and can really change people’s lives.

“The children are getting joy out of receipt of these toys and also the parent is also getting joy by seeing their child being happy as well.”

The donation program also combats plastic toys going to landfill by supporting a circular way to recycle toys.

Circonomy chief executive Ryan Swenson said the donations were a one-stop solution that made this easy for local residents.

“With an estimated 26.8 million toys ending up in landfill in Australia each year, we need to think differently … we know that Australians want to make more sustainable choices, including how they dispose of unwanted toys,” Mr Swenson said.

“In doing so, we can maximise the joy toys bring to children and minimise the waste they create.”
The toy donation station will run until April 9 at Northland, on Ground Level between EB Games and Games World.