Photo Credits: Wee Play Community Project

Going on now is prep work for the annual Ree Play Sale, from the Wee Play Community Project, one of the best affordable kid stuff weekend sales around. The best part? Your purchases of kid stuff go directly to funding kid spaces in Beacon, including the playgrounds at the public parks, as well as some programming at the Library and Rec Center by way of the Blue Blocks Project and Lego Club. The Wee Play Project was started many years ago by volunteering parents, and continues today as the torch is passed from graduating parents to younger parents.

Ways To Help: Sort, Bake, Work, Shop

The first way to help and get involved is to donate your stuff. Collection for this yearly event is going on now - so this is your chance. Bring your stuff to the University Settlement Camp: 724 Wolcott Avenue. (This is also the location of the Beacon Pool and Frisbee golf - but up the dirt road, just beyond it.)

If getting your stuff together now is overwhelming, either take the plunge, and then start a pile in your attic or basement that you put things in over the year. This makes getting all of your Ree Play stuff really easy.

If you’ve got nothing to donate, another way you can be involved is to bake, or shop. Shopping is the easiest! But sorting through everything is really important, and the best time to make new friends. The actual sale is Friday to Sunday, April 26, 27, 28.

Trauma Note: To not traumatize your kids that you are now purging all of their old clothes, toys, games, dolls, sports stuff, etc., involve them in the process. “Stuff” can be emotional. Explain where the things are going. Give them the option to donate, or to keep. As they know, the room can fill up, and the only way to make room for new treasures is to give your treasure to someone else, or keep it in a forever place in your house. It might be exciting to think that their old plastic basketball hoop will help buy a new swing at Memorial or Green Street Park.

Great Way To Meet People

New parents often want to meet new people and build their community, and bringing your stuff to the Ree Play sale is a great way to do that. If you have nothing to donate, you could sort. It’s easy, no pressure, sorting clothes into piles, or shoes onto shelves, or games into a lineup. Plus, if you sort, you might get first dibs on purchasing new/old stuff.

Times To Donate

Most of the times to donate or volunteer are announced on Instagram or Facebook. If you’re not on Facebook, then Instagram would be the best way for you to see times that they post. Most donation and sorting times are volunteer-based. In other words, sorting can only happen if someone has volunteered to be there. Maybe that’s you!

Recent Projects Ree Play Has Been Behind

Lots of what you have seen outside in Beacon’s parks has had an injection of Ree Play Sale cash to support it. The most recent project is the Wee Woods. This is a mini woods-within-woods scene behind the playground at Memorial Park, designed by One Nature with community input. There are natural playthings, like logs and willow arches.

Follow Wee Play’s Instagram or Facebook for updates. They do have a newsletter, which you could subscribe to here. If making newsletters is your thing, volunteer to send theirs a bunch!

Don’t wait on this. Donate your stuff today or this week!