“Little free” libraries and community pantries got a sidekick this week in the form of a community toy chest.
Martha’s Toy Box, officially, was dedicated Monday at Healthy Families Indiana in honor of long-time family services worker Martha Wininger.
Wininger is retiring from a distinguished career in community services, and spent the last decade working as supervisor at HFI. Families throughout West Central Indiana have benefited from her works, especially children, her co-workers said during the dedication.
“We have a nice program called Operation Brain Building where we provide developmental toys for children ages 3 and under ... so we had that area covered, but they had siblings and friends that needed toys as well,” Wininger said. “We have gotten donations of toys at Christmas time, and a lot of toys were for children over 3, so what do we do with all these toys?”
Officials at HFI collaborated with partner organization Family Support Services of West Central Indiana to come up with a way to not only honor Wininger’s work, but also find a use for the plethera of toys donated by county residents and companies.
Executive Director Scott Monnett came up with the thought: What if we call it “Martha’s Toy Box?”
“We saw this as an opportunity: There’s little free libraries; there’s little free pantries; and this is just another version of that, to provide something that’s fun and a resource for families who maybe can’t afford a gift at a special time,” Monnett said. “As Martha said, we’re blessed by donors that support us each year.”
The toy box is located at HFI on the west side of the building. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a few simple rules: Take a toy and leave a new or gently-used (fully functional) toy to ensure there is always an ample amount for those in need.
“Initially, we’re going to start with four [locations], and then we’ll just kind of see where it goes,” Monnett said.
HFI Program Director Sherri Nield had nothing but praise for her predecessor Monday, saying the toy box will solidify Wininger’s work in West Central Indiana.
“By including Martha with the name, it’s a way that her legacy lives on,” Nield said. “She worked with our program for over 10 years and was very instrumental in the services we provide. We just thought it’s a great way to immortalize her.”
HFI and Family Support Services, combined, serve six Indiana counties: Montgomery, Owen, Putnam, Clay, Boone and Parke. HFI specializes in families expecting a newborn, or those with a child aged 3 or under.
The organizations are having a Dinner-Dance Auction from 6-10 p.m. Saturday at Tiger Point Country Club, 37 U.S. 231 North, Greencastle, in Putnam County.
Healthy Families Indiana is located at 1984 Indianapolis Rd. in Crawfordsville.
For tickets and for more information on Martha’s Toy Box and other efforts in West Central Indiana, call 765-307-2196 (toll free at 1-877-913-5536) or email info@pcfss.net. More information on HFI, a state department of child services, can be found at www.in.gov.
