Each year the Toy Time toy consignment sale benefits the Combined Community Services Toy Giveaway, which provides Christmas to about 2,700 area kids while also spreading the word of Jesus Christ. The toy consignment sale this year is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Home & Family Arts Building at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. As of early Thursday afternoon, the sale had over 8,000 toys in stock, with donations still accepted until 9 last night. “We need to sell the toys. We’re like a 104-families garage sale with nothing but children’s items,” organizer Ami Pitt said. “We have lots of baby equipment, a twin-sized bed, Legos® – two rooms in the Home & Family Arts Building.” The CCS Toy Giveaway receives 50 percent of the proceeds from the consignment sale. With its half, new toys are purchased and given away to children who otherwise might not have a Christmas. The giveaway this year is 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. “A lot of people donate their proceeds from the consignment to the giveaway as well,” Pitt said. Toys that don’t sell at the consignment also go into the giveaway. Organizations like American Bikers Aimed Toward Education and Toys For Tots also provide toys for the giveaway, Pitt said. “We’re either regenerating a new toy from this (consignment sale) or ‘rehoming’ toys. It’s like recycling. It’s a win-win for everyone,” Pitt said. At the giveaway, the 700 families who are helped also will get a Bible. “The number one thing really we want to give people at Christmas is Jesus,” Pitt said. “We will tell them all we can about Him, and give them toys.” She said they are still taking donations of Bibles, new and used, as they are about 200 short. Bibles can be dropped off this weekend at the consignment or Monday after 6 p.m. at the Home & Family Arts Building. This is the 22nd year for the event. Pitt’s daughter, Rissa, was a month old when Pitt began organizing the event. Rissa is now married, and this is the first year that Pitt has had a grandchild at the event. For more information, call Pitt at 574-265-4179.
