The DCGB Facebook page is one of the many wonderful ways that the club reaches out to, informs and interacts with its members and it was initially via a kind post by Lucinda Prince (and followed up by Tracie Vallis) that my attention was brought to ‘Loved Before – A Sustainable Soft Toy Adoption Agency’.
Loved Before is an “eco friendly soft toy adoption centre” that takes in pre-loved soft toy donations, cleans, spruces and packages them up and then advertises the new recruits via their website every Monday. Fifty percent of their profits are donated to charities, with ‘Make-A Wish UK’ being their current nominated charity.
Their website https://www.lovedbefore.london features a very comprehensive insight into their mission and objectives, with their founder, Charlotte Liebling explaining the inspiration behind the idea: “Several years back, during my time as a volunteer at a charity shop, I observed the influx of second hand toys arriving at the store. These pre-loved toys, often handed over with cherished memories and sentimental significance, were carelessly cast aside, sometimes relegated to becoming dog toys or, even more dishearteningly, destined for landfill. It became evident to me how the love, the vibrant life, and the stories of these eco toys were at risk of being lost and forgotten in an instant.” ” A lifetime of stories, memories and love, just thrown away “
“Loved Before was born with the mission to revolutionise our perspective on sustainable toys. By redefining our attitudes toward pre-owned items through the medium of pre loved toys, we aim to demonstrate that, far from diminishing in value, an eco-friendly toy, once cherished, is made even more valuable by the love and life it has already experienced.” Charlotte, Founder.
The heart behind Loved Before is something that will no doubt resonate with many club members. In our own ways we prolong the ‘lives’ of our dolls, bears and toys, clean them up, treasure them and offer ourselves as custodians. Loved Before’s celebration of ‘”cherished before” items that have “weathered the journey of life – worn, battered and beautifully imperfect” particularly resonates with me personally!
Perhaps you might take a look at the good work of Loved Before, make a soft toy donation or perhaps offer a soft toy a new home.