September 2021 Event
PSP Members-Only Kids and Maternity Clothing Swap!
And it’s going to be OUTSIDE under a tent!
These are extraordinary times, and we’re doing our best to make this swap happen in spite of them. We ask for your patience and understanding as we do our best to put on this much-loved event as well as we can under the circumstances.
When: Saturday, September 25, 2021
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm Last entry at 1:30PM
Where: OUTDOORS, in the patio area behind Old Stone House off 5th Ave between 3rd and 4th Streets
Cost: $10.00/member (only one sign-up per family allowed)
RSVP: Due to Covid, we are limiting the number of participants by having timed entry. Sign up and pay online for a one-hour time slot. Sign-ups are open till 8:00pm on Friday, September 24th, or until all spots are filled.
IF YOU NEED TO, RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP HERE.
NOT A MEMBER? Sign up and become a member to start enjoying events like these and more! http://bit.ly/JOINPSP
COVID precautions:
Vaccination card or Excelsior Pass required for entry
Masks required at all times
For the safety of all of our families, in order to keep the number of people at the swap down, we are asking that people do NOT bring their children to this clothing swap. Exception: Infants worn in carriers will be admitted.
So what’s different?
Outdoor venue
Only one parent/caregiver per family
No children (except infants in carriers)
Proof of vaccination required
Masks required at all times
No big baby gear
Online sign-ups/payments before the event (sign-ups close 8:00pm Friday)
WANT TO VOLUNTEER? Stay tuned for the volunteer sign-up form. We’ll be glad to have your help!
Download/print your membership card, as it is REQUIRED to enter. Here’s how: http://bit.ly/MembershipCard_DL
What to bring:
-- Kid clothing for ages newborn - 10 years. If you wouldn’t give it to someone finiky, don’t bring it to the swap.
-- Baby carriers, sleep sacks, blankets, crib sheets (if it can be donated to textile recycling, you can bring it!)
-- Maternity items (especially work clothes)
What NOT to bring: Given space constraints and difficulty in donating larger items, we are NOT accepting:
--- Gear:
------ Strollers
------ Bassinets, co-sleepers, or cribs
------ Swings or bouncers
------ Pumping equipment and bottles
------ Post-natal toiletries (ice packs, sprays, sitz baths, and the like)
--- Books
--- Toys
If you have these items, please use the PSP Classifieds to find a happy new owner!
PRE-SORT YOUR DONATIONS!
Please PRE-SORT clothes by size to make it easy for us to put things out. Sorting your donations will help us get you into the swap as quickly as possible!
--- Preemie clothes
--- 0 - 6 months
--- 6 - 12 months
--- 12 - 18 months
--- 18 - 24 months
--- 2 & 3 year olds
--- 4 & 5 year olds
--- 5 - 8 year olds
--- 8 - 10 year olds
Please presort MATERNITY clothes as well.
--- Maternity S
--- Maternity M
--- Maternity L
--- Maternity XL
Anything not swapped will be donated.
Reminder: Please wash all clothing and heat dry before swapping. Wash and heat dry anything you take HOME as well!
DROPPING OFF YOUR DONATIONS:
We will be accepting early drop-offs at a few locations:
NORTH SLOPE drop-off: starting Sunday, September 19
190 Garfield Place (between 6th & 7th), Apt 5E; please text Jeff at 917-685-8250 or Amy at 917-275-3320 to double-check availability.
SOUTH SLOPE drop-off: starting Sunday, September 19, 9:00am - 8:00pm
438 12th Street (between 7th and 8th). If no doorman is present, buzz #32 (PHC) and we’ll try to make it work.
WINDSOR TERRACE drop-off: starting Monday, September 20, daytimes only between 9:00am - 5:00pm
1 Prospect Park SW (at Bartel-Pritchard Square); please text MC at 407-864-2225 to double-check availability.
DAY BEFORE DROP-OFF: You can also drop off at the Old Stone House (5th Ave between 3rd St & 4th St) from 12:00pm - 5:00pm on Friday afternoon. You’ll still sign up online if you want to come to the swap, or just drop off items if you don’t want to come.
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DROP OFF EARLY!!!! We will also accept donations on the day of.
DROP-OFFS ARE ACCEPTED even if you’re not coming to the swap.
PICKUPS We will also be doing PICK-UPs of larger donations for ages 2 and older. Stay tuned for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How does it work?
A: You’ll come in, drop off your items with volunteers who will put out your items, show your receipt and vaxx card, and then seek out the tables with sizes you need.
After you come in, follow the signs to the area with the sizes you need. New items arrive throughout the day, and we’re holding larger-sized items to spread out throughout the day. There's no "moderator" or "show and tell" aspect to the swap.
We ask that you take no more than what you brought, take what you need, and share the wealth. It’s always fun for everyone to find a “diamond in the rough” so if you find more than one of something great, please leave it for the next person.
A note about how much to take. Since the number of items decreases by age (kids can wear them longer, so you, thankfully, don't have as much stuff as you had for newborns), you need to come in with the "less is more" mindset. We'll be honest, if you bring 20 2T things it's unlikely you'll be able to find the equivalent for 3T things. That said, we work hard to collect items from parents with older kids, so we've been lucky to have lots more to choose for those age ranges.
Please do not “shop” for other people. This includes items for non-members or “clients.” If you want to sign up for the last time slot and take things at the end of the day, that is allowed. However, this swap is to benefit the folks who have brought things to swap, not your out-of-town family members.
Please don't hover around a table for older kids, especially for Covid safety reasons. If you are waiting for new things, get a hand stamp and come back in a few minutes. Do not block the table from other people who haven't had a chance to look.
Q: What do I bring?
A:
1. If you wouldn’t give it to a finicky in-law, don’t bring it to the swap.
2. Bring baby clothing, kid clothing, and maternity clothing!
3. All seasons allowed! No worries if you are swapping winter clothes and looking for summer—we get clothing from all seasons!
NO BODY PILLOWS! (We had 12 left over from the last swap! Put them on the Classifieds!)
NO GEAR PLEASE! (We do not have the space for gear at this swap! See above.)
Q: Can I drop off?
A: Unlike years past, we’ll be having you sign up and pay early in order to keep the density of folks at a minimum. Early drop-off goes from 12:00pm - 5:00pm on Friday afternoon, and starts at 9:00am on Saturday morning. You can drop off and enjoy the playground, eat bagels on the front lawn with baby group friends, watch the PSP Dads play basketball, or anything else as you wait for your timed entry.
Q: Can I just donate without attending the swap?
A: Yes! You can drop off early at a number of locations (see list above), donate the day before or day of the swap, or we can come pick up things that are size 2+. Early drop-off goes from 12:00pm - 5:00pm on Friday afternoon, and starts at 9:00am on Saturday morning. Or drop off at one of the donation places listed above.
Q: I'm expecting and have nothing to swap. Can I still come?
A: Yes, please do! The most frequently remaining items are those for newborns, so YES, come without things, as we always have 0 - 12 month old things left over! We'll trust that you'll give back later!
Q: Any other ways to help make the swap run more smoothly?
A: Yes, please have your vaccination and membership cards ready (see above) and only come in at your allotted time. That will make things go much faster. Also, please only stay your allotted time. Trying to stay past your time increases risk for everyone.
Q: I’m a single parent and I don’t have childcare. Can I bring my child to the swap?
A: For the safety of everyone, we ask that you arrange for childcare during your hour slot. We’ll be asking members of the SDS (Single/Divorced/Separated) and SPC (Single Parents By Choice) groups to brainstorm ways to get coverage so you can still join in.
Q: How do I prove I'm a PSP Member?
A: Go to http://parkslopeparents.clubexpress.com, log in, click Profile, then download the jpg onto your phone or print the membership card. Showing us a digest when the line is busy doesn't count. We need to see a valid membership card.
Q: Can both my spouse/partner and I get in the door?
A: In order to make this swap as safe as possible, we are only admitting one adult per family.
Q: What happens to the leftovers?
A: Anything not swapped will be donated. In the past, we've donated to Little Essentials, the Family Justice Center, Room to Grow, and other organizations. If you know of an organization that might like to have the leftovers, let us know!
SEND US ANY QUESTIONS/CONCERNS!
—THE PSP CLOTHING SWAP TEAM