Local business making a difference
Like most parents, Becky and Mike Taylor of Canonsburg had a house full of toys their 5-year-old son no longer played with. So when they saw a news segment about a nonprofit organization, Play it Forward, the Taylor’s devised a plan to alleviate their clutter and help those who are less fortunate this holiday season.
The couple, who own All About Kids Furniture in McMurray, held a two-month toy drive that ended Nov. 30. Play it Forward stopped collecting donations Dec. 1. Play it Forward co-founder Heather Starr Fiedler said the store’s donation was the largest business donation the organization received.
“I was shocked when they opened that truck,” she said.
The couple spent the morning of Nov. 30 loading their collected items onto their 16-foot delivery truck. When they were done, the truck was full.
“I’m just so thankful that the community stepped forward to make this work,” Becky Taylor said. “It was a win-win situation. The community was able to get rid of their excess toys, and they were able to give it to someone who needs it. Those toys went to a good home.”
Starr Fiedler and Amy Kier Reinhart started Play it Forward four years ago after Starr Fiedler, who lives in Indiana Township, donated her sons’ unused toys to a local family instead of Goodwill. It has grown through word of mouth and social media, and collection sites have now popped up in Westmoreland and Washington counties.
Last year, Play it Forward helped more than 2,000 children get toys, books and games for Christmas. Working on the honor system, parents in need can leave with nine items per child. Starr Fiedler said each child will receive three toys, three books and three stuffed animals, in addition to one “big ticket” item per household. Items are available for infants through 16-year-olds.
“If you need it, come and take it,” Starr Fiedler said. “There are a lot of people struggling paycheck to paycheck.”
In past years, Play it Forward had its distribution at Propel School – Braddock Hills. This year, the one-day event will be held at Century III Mall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at entry F.
After dropping off their collection and helping to organize the space, Becky Taylor said she already began to think about next year.
“Maybe we’ll do a Christmas in July type thing,” she said.
In the meantime, she finds solace in making a difference this year.
“We left there with a great feeling,” she said. “Like we did something really good.”
For more information about Play it Forward visit, https://www.facebook.com/playitforwardpittsburgh.