Peggi Lisenbee-Wright of Combined Community Services, standing, and Sarah Pitt-Baier are preparing for this year’s annual Toy Consignment Sale. Consignments are being collected this week. (Photo by Stacey Page)

For the past 20 years, the Pitt family of Winona Lake has made it possible for thousands of children to receive toys for Christmas. This year will be no exception.

What has become an annual toy consignment sale and giveaway is happening again this week. It’s an opportunity for people to make money and for parents and grandparents who otherwise couldn’t afford Christmas gifts, to put some toys under the Christmas tree.

From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Dec. 9-12, the public is encouraged to bring gently used toys to the Home and Family Arts building at the Kosciusko County Community fairgrounds for a toy consignment sale. Members of the Pitt family and their friends and other volunteers will on hand to collect the toys and price them for the consignment sale, to be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15.

On Friday night, Dec. 13, those who contribute toys for the sale will have the opportunity to shop for replacement toys first. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, the public is invited to shop for some great toys at garage sale prices.

According to Sarah Pitt-Baier, 50 percent of all sale proceeds will go toward the purchase of new toys that will then be given away the following week in the annual toy giveaway. Sellers should note that none of the toys brought for the consignment sale will be returned.

“The consignment sale is a good opportunity for preschools and child care centers to get toys,” noted Peggi Lisenbee-Wright of Combined Community Services.

Pitt-Baier added, “We really want to promote that this is a great way to recycle toys kids no longer play with.”

Consignors may choose to collect their 50 percent of the sale or donate it to for the toy giveaway. Proceeds from the sale will be used by the Pitt family and CCS to purchase new toys that will be made available to parents and grandparents on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 17-18.

Parents who cannot afford to provide for their children’s Christmas are encouraged to attend the Combined Community Services Toy Giveaway on Tuesday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Home and Family Arts Building at the fairgrounds.

CCS staff and volunteers will assist in making sure toys are evenly distributed. It is preferred that parents come to the toy giveaway without their children as Pitt-Baier explained, “We want this to bring family unity on Christmas morning. If the kids are there, then it isn’t a surprise and we want them to have that excitement on Christmas morning of opening their presents.”

The toy giveaway will then be opened to grandparents on Wednesday, Dec. 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., also at the fairgrounds.

Each year, proceeds from the consignment sale, as well as donations from private individuals and groups like ABATE, make it possible to provide approximately $5,000 in new toys for the CCS giveaway.

For more information, contact this year’s toy sale coordinator Ami Pitt at 574-265-4179.