Play it forward: How $1500 can create a season of smiles at the Wakatipu Toy Library
What if just $1500 could bring joy to hundreds of local children, support families doing it tough, and promote sustainability all at once? That’s the powerful ripple effect your business creates when you partner with the Wakatipu Toy Library.
This small but mighty not-for-profit, located next to the Queenstown Events Centre in Frankton, has been supporting the wellbeing of local whānau for over 25 years. Open three times a week – Tuesdays from 2pm to 4pm, Thursdays from 9.30am to noon, and Sundays from 1pm to 3.30pm – the Toy Library is a treasure trove of fun, learning, and connection.
Families can borrow from a huge collection of over 1200 toys – from puzzles and ride-ons to STEM kits, costumes, games and more – tailored for tamariki from birth through to around age seven. With annual family memberships starting from just $80, it’s an affordable, sustainable way to keep playtime fresh without constantly buying new toys or contributing to landfill.
But the Wakatipu Toy Library is more than a toy-lending service. It’s a vital community hub – fostering imaginative play, supporting early learning, and relieving financial pressure for local families. It also teaches tamariki the value of sharing, caring, and looking after communal resources.
Now, the Toy Library is inviting local businesses to ‘play it forward’ by sponsoring one three-month season. For just $1500, your business can help fund new toy purchases, subsidise memberships for families in need, and help ensure this beloved community service continues to thrive.
In return, sponsors enjoy genuine community recognition through regular features across the Toy Library’s social media, newsletters, and in-library signage – connecting you with a loyal, engaged audience of local families.
Whether you’re a café, a builder, a boutique, or a local service provider, this is your chance to turn your marketing budget into meaningful impact.
To find out more or get involved, pop in during opening hour, email wakatiputoylibrary@gmail.com, or follow the Wakatipu Toy Library on Facebook and Instagram.
Because when you support the Toy Library, you’re not just giving toys – you’re giving relief, joy, and a stronger, more connected Wakatipu community.
