I first discovered the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library (PTLL) over 18 years ago when my oldest was around 3. He is now 21! I remember how much of a lifesaver it was for me after the birth of my daughter. At the time we were living in a small apartment not far from the Toy Library. We would walk there almost daily so my son could run and play, and I could sit on the comfy couch and breastfeed my baby. I was a young single mom stretched thin, and getting the encouragement, support, and companionship from other moms was exactly what I needed.
In 2020, I had my last child. I also decided to go back to school and finish my undergraduate degree. After Covid began to ease up, we began visiting the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library. A single mother again, it was one of the few places we could go, where my little one could play and I could study, while still keeping my eyes on him.
This time around, after being a volunteer member for about a year or two, I joined the board as Treasurer. I have been able to lend my experience of working with families and for nonprofits to help further our mission.
The Toy Lending Library is such a gem, because beyond being a place to play inside, or a place to discover new toys, it is also a community. I have lived in many cities around the US and there is really nothing else quite like the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library.
It is an absolute testament to the value of the PTLL to the Pittsburgh parenting community that we have been able to survive 50 years as a completely volunteer run organization.
I love the Toy Lending Library! I started coming here after moving back to my hometown Pittsburgh from California after the pandemic in 2021. As a remote worker, I needed a third space to spend with my infant daughter Stella to make friends with other parents and children and build community. We visited during public play hours and hosted parties for her. Stella is a human cat, takes time to warm up, and play with other children. Playing at Toy Lending Library helped her socialize and transition to daycare with more ease. I started volunteering on a regular basis and joined the board in 2024 to coordinate parties for other families. I also co-lead and join a Spanish as a second language play pod at Toy Lending Library. Please visit and build community with us! Play, volunteer, host parties, join a play pod, join the board, donate - the possibilities are endless!
My history with the toy library goes back decades...as a child in the 1980s my mom served as a volunteer member and brought me to the toy library to play. She met friends who she is still close with to this day. Fast forward 40 years to when I returned to Pittsburgh with my young son. As the world began to reopen after the pandemic I sought opportunities to build community in Pittsburgh since I had been gone from the city for decades. I joined the toy library so I had a safe place to take my son to play, and began to meet other families while we were there. My son and I have both made so many friends as a result of our time at the toy library! As we spent more time there I grew more passionate about the mission and took an open role on the board. Now, as the Membership Coordinator (alongside remaining a volunteer member), I have the pleasure of introducing new families to the space so they can see what a great place it is!