This is information for the FALL 2023 swap which already happened for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!
We'll have another one in the SPRING 2024 (April 6th), but the venue has changed BACK to All Saints' Church.
Use the information below to get a sense of how things go at the swap.
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You can still purge your clothing if you need it out of your space!
REMINDERS:
-- If you have clothes to donate -- you can drop those off at the places below or bring them to the Old Stone House before 1pm on Saturday.
-- If you are expecting a baby or have a baby under 6 months old, plan a post-swap meetup with your baby group (email events@parkslopeparents.com for more information.)
-- If you need to cancel your spot, you can email events@parkslopeparents.com.
-- Please do not come to the swap if you (or anyone in your family) is feeling poorly or has tested positive for covid.
FALL 2023 PSP Members-Only Kids Clothing, Gear, and Maternity Swap
You must be logged in to register. NEED TO RENEW? Go HERE!
NOT A MEMBER? Join PSP start enjoying events like these and more! bit.ly/PSPJoinHere
One person per ticket. Please do NOT bring children to this clothing swap UNLESS they are infants in carriers.
When: Saturday, September 30th, 2023
Cost: $10.00/member (one sign-up per family allowed)
Where: OUTDOORS, in the patio area behind the Old Stone House off 5th Ave between 3rd and 4th Streets
Timing: You'll sign up for a time slot and will have 50 minutes to find awesome things! You must register for the swap.
Times:
9:00am - 9:50am 0 - Tweens... Last entry at 9:30am
10:00am - 10:50am 0 - Tweens... Last entry at 10:30am
11:00am - 11:50am 0 - Tweens.. Last entry at 11:30am
12:00pm - 12:50pm 0 - Tweens... Last entry at 12:30pm
1:00pm - 1:50pm 0 - Tweens... Last entry at 1:30pm
2:00pm - 2:50pm 0 - 12 months Baby Items Only Last entry at 2:30pm
NOTE: Expectant parents can sign up for any timeslot. If you're looking for items older than 0-12 months, do not sign up for the 2pm time. The 2pm time is for expectant and new parents since we will ONLY have 0-12 month sizes available (newborn, 0-3 month, 3-6 month, 6-9 month, and 9-12 month clothes), bibs, swaddles, and all that fun new baby stuff! If you have older kids you need to swap for, sign up for a 9am - 1pm time.
JUST WANT TO DROP OFF CLOTHES? Drop them off before 1pm or drop off at locations listed below.
We put out new clothes in every size all day long. If you come later in the day, you'll still have access to great stuff!
Please note: You must show your EVENT REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION in order to enter. Pro tip: TAKE A SCREENSHOT or STAR the email as soon as you receive it.
🌟 Here's a video giving you a sense of how things unfold at the swap. 🌟
WHAT TO BRING
-- Items in super good shape (if you wouldn’t give it to someone finicky, don’t bring it to the swap)
-- Kid clothing for ages newborn - pre-teen years
-- Baby carriers, sleep sacks, blankets, crib sheets (if it's an item that would typically be donated to textile recycling, you can bring it!)
-- Maternity items (especially work clothes)
-- Strollers
-- Bassinets or co-sleepers
-- Swings or bouncers
-- Pumping equipment and bottles
-- Post-natal toiletries (ice packs, sprays, sitz baths, and the like)
WHAT WE DO NOT ALLOW
Here's what's NOT allowed at the swap-- PLEASE put these items on the classifieds or check the PSP website for donation centers that take these items.
----- Body pillows
----- Cribs
----- Breast pumps
----- Hospital gift bags
----- Supplements (prenatal or postnatal)
----- Books (including maternity, parenting, or kids)
----- Toys
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! (You can also bring them during your swap time).
--- Preemie clothes
--- 0 - 6 months
--- 6 - 12 months
--- 12 - 18 months
--- 18 - 24 months
--- 2T
--- 3T
--- 4 - 5 year olds
--- 6 - 8 year olds
--- 9+ year olds
Please presort MATERNITY clothes as well.
--- Maternity S
--- Maternity M
--- Maternity L
--- Maternity XL
Please wash all clothing and heat dry before swapping. Wash and heat dry anything you take HOME as well!
Wanna be even more awesome? Rubber band shoes together, label unusual items so folks know what it is, write why an item was good if it helps someone realize they might want it 😀.
Anything not swapped will be donated to a number of different organizations (e.g., in past years, we've donated to Little Essentials, St. Mary's, and Gowanus Mutual Aid).
We are only accepting donations at the swap. Drop Off locations other than that are no longer accepting
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 registration confirmation, 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 are holding larger sized items to spread out throughout the day.
A note about how sharing the wealth. Come in with the "less is more" mindset since the amount of stuff you have decreases by age. If you bring 20 2T items it's unlikely you'll be able to find the equivalent number of 3T . 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 PSP members who have also brought things to swap.
Please don't hover around a table for older kids. Things are coming out all the time, but it's important that if you've gotten a few things to step back and give someone else a chance.
You'll have 50 minutes (plenty of time!) to find great stuff. At the 50 minute mark you'll exit and we'll prepare for the new crop of folks!
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!
4. If you're pregnant, of course you won't have stuff-- we have the most 0-12 month stuff, so worry not! (see below)
NO BODY PILLOWS! (We had 12 left over from the 2020 swap! Put them on the Classifieds!)
Q: Can I drop off?
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 18+ months. Early drop-off goes from 3:00pm - 6:00pm on Friday afternoon, and starts at 8:00am on Saturday morning. You do not need to come to the swap to drop-off.
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 3:00pm - 6:00pm on Friday afternoon, and starts at 8:00am 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: I don’t have childcare. Can I bring my child to the swap?
A: Only kids in carriers are allowed in the swap. Ask to swap babysitting favors with someone you know; there's a park and a playground right there. Also ask the Single Parents Choice group, or Single/Divorced/Separated group for ideas.
Q: How do I prove who I am and that I'm a PSP Member?
A: You'll need to show proof of who you are (a valid picture ID) and your event registration confirmation, so be sure to take a screenshot or star the email when you receive it. Showing us a digest from the Advice Group when the line is busy unfortunately won't count. If you have any trouble receiving your confirmation email, email membership@parkslopeparents.com.
Q: Can both my spouse/partner/mother/sister and I get in the door?
A: We are only admitting one adult per family. There's plenty of room for your partner/kids to hang out around Washington Park. You can take your load out of the swap area, sort through, and give back what you don't want.
Q: How does the 2-2:50pm swap differ than the rest of the swap?
A: The 2pm slot is ideal for expectant and new parents. Here's what happens:
--- We clear away the older stuff and put out MORE 0-12 month stuff. Anything larger than 12 months is removed.
--- There will be 0-12 month sizes only (0-6 months, 6-12 month clothes), bibs, swaddles, and all that fun new baby stuff!
--- There will also be lots of maternity clothes. There will be sleep sacks, blankets, swaddles, breast feeding supplies, bottles, belly bands, and other things as well! There will be post partum nursing shirts and more!
--- We'll be wrapping up the rest of the swap around you so there will be a bit of a bustle.
--- We will not be able to access bags of older-sized clothes.
One more idea: Coordinate with other baby group members and pick up some bags of 0-6 and 6-12 month clothes at the end of the swap for folks who can't make it. It makes for a great reason for a meet-up (lay out the clothes on blankets at the park) with snacks. NOTE: Anything extra you'll need to give away for free on the Classifieds.
Q: My kid(s) grew out of the stuff I got at the swap? What do I do with it?
A: You got it at the swap, give it back to the swap next round. Or pay it forward for free on the PSP Classifieds. By all means do not sell things you got at the swap. Super BAD karma and not allowed!
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