by North Forty News Staff | NorthFortyNews.com
Project RePlay turns donated toys into hands-on sustainability effort for local families
A Fort Collins nonprofit is inviting the community to rethink how toys are used—and reused—through a new sustainability-focused program launching this week.
The Toy, Game, and Puzzle Library (TGPL) will host a soft-launch event for Project RePlay on Friday, April 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. at its Fort Collins facility in Foothills Mall. The initiative aims to reduce waste by repairing, refurbishing, and repurposing donated toys, games, and puzzles that might otherwise end up in landfills.
TGPL, a long-standing community organization, processes nearly 600 donated items each month. About half of those are suitable for lending, while the rest have traditionally been discarded. Project RePlay is designed to change that by transforming unused donations into opportunities for creativity and sustainability.
The program converts TGPL’s back storage area into a hands-on makerspace equipped with tools such as 3D printers, sewing machines, and soldering stations. Volunteers will be able to fix broken items, combine parts to create new creations, and extend the life cycle of play materials—keeping them accessible to Northern Colorado families.
Funding support for the project comes in part from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s Colorado Circular Communities program, which promotes local efforts to reduce waste and support circular economies.
As a fully volunteer-run and donation-funded nonprofit, TGPL is encouraging residents to get involved. Community members can contribute by donating approved items, volunteering their time, or participating in future workshops tied to the program.
The April 17 event offers an early look at how Project RePlay could reshape how play resources are shared and sustained in Fort Collins, with broader implications for waste reduction and community engagement across Northern Colorado.
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Attribution: Toy, Game, and Puzzle Library