Toy library thanks community for new carpet

Toy librarian Sandy Goode inside the Katikati Community Toy Library, which looks amazing with the newly-laid carpet.

Katikati Community Toy Library is beginning 2025 on a high – with new carpet throughout its entire facility at Henry Rd – and the committee wants to thank the Katikati community.

“We couldn’t have done this without the help of the community and the businesses that got behind us,” said toy librarian Sandy Goode.

Katikati Community Toy Library Committee had spent two years working to upgrade the facility – to begin a new weekly activity for preschoolers – only to hit trouble at their last hurdle in October 2024.

Before: Toy Librarian Sandy Goode with the worn-out, stained old carpet inside the Katikati Community Toy Library that needed replacing.

After paying a $7000 deposit to replace the old, grimy carpet in their facility, the carpet company went into liquidation and the deposit was unrecoverable.

“When we found out our hearts just sank,” said Goode. “We were absolutely devastated.”

But when the committee reached out to the Katikati community with its plight to raise the $7000 again to get the carpet laid – it responded, and quickly. The lost $7000 was quickly raised via a Givealittle page and donations direct to the toy library.

“I was just blown away,” said Goode. “The community just got right behind us.”

Goode said the committee wants to thank Karen Vigus from Giles & Associates, the Katikati Community Board, Katikati Lions, and Katikati Christian Centre who all made sizeable donations towards the carpet.

“We’d also like to thank all the people who donated via Givealittle page – we believe some of the members donated through this and every little bit added up and meant we were able to reach our goal – we are just so grateful!”

The committee also wants to acknowledge Owens Flooring, who came to the rescue to lay the carpet at a competitive price and within a short timeframe.

“And we need to thank Dave and his team from the Christian Centre who worked pulling up the old carpet.”

In early December the new carpet was finally laid.

“It has elevated our whole toy library to a new level.

“We’re able to operate the toy library without children getting filthy, and we’re able to start our new weekly activity for preschoolers called Minikidi. Watch this space! Communications will be coming on start times very shortly.”

Katikati Community Toy Library is open Tuesdays 6.30pm-8pm, Wednesdays 2.30pm-4pm and Saturdays 9am-10am at 13 Henry Rd, behind the Christian Centre.

Visit: https://katikatitoylibrary.org.nz Or search ‘Katikati Toy Library’ on Facebook.