Katikati Community Toy Library is appealing to the Western Bay of Plenty community to help them out of a crisis after they lost $7000 worth of funds for new carpet for their facility.

For the past two years, Katikati Community Toy Library Committee has been raising funds and securing specialised equipment to begin to offer the community a weekly activity for youngsters aged under 5 called Minikidi – sort of like a Tumble Time but with a twist – at its Henry Rd base.

The last hurdle to overcome to open Minikidi was replacing the facility’s carpet – which was scheduled to be replaced after a $7000 deposit was paid to a carpet company.

Now the KCTL committee has learned that the carpet company has gone into liquidation and cannot do the work or refund the $7000 deposit.

“When we found out [about the company’s liquidation] our hearts just sank,” said toy librarian Sandy Goode. “We were absolutely devastated.”

Minikidi is planned to complement the toy library and offer the Katikati community another much-needed activity of play-led learning and socialising for under-5s.

“We have worked really hard in the last few years to get this new activity off the ground for youngsters – and carpeting our library was the last thing we needed to do before we can begin Minikidi in early 2025,” Goode said.

“Not only that but the toy library and its users really need this carpet replaced for its operation. The carpet is more than 20 years old and very dirty and grimy, and has stains, and when youngsters play on it their clothing becomes filthy,” said Goode.

The KCTL committee had contacted the liquidator and registered the deposit but has since learned the $7000 is unrecoverable.

Goode said the KCTL committee now has only one option – to fundraise the $7000 to get the carpet laid by a new company. “We just have to keep pushing forward to make this happen – our library members and the community have been waiting for Minikidi to begin. I have families asking every week when it will start,” said Sandy.

As a result, the KCTL committee has set up a Givealittle page asking the public to help it raise the $7000. “We ask those who can, to help us out and please make a donation. We will be grateful for any donations – big or small.”

The KCTL committee desperately wants to get the new carpet laid before Christmas so Minikidi – and the toy library – can begin 2025 on a high.

“We have a new carpet company lined up to get the work done – we just need the $7000 to make it happen,” said Sandy. “So please, please help us if you can.”

To donate, visit: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-us-open-katikati-playgroup-after-liquidation

*Disclaimer: The Weekend Sun editor Merle Cave is current president of the KCTL committtee.