PRISON PUZZLE
Inmates donate their talents and works to city’s toy library, including trucks, an aircraft carrier, flax bags and jigsaw puzzles
Whanganui prisoners have made some puzzling children’s gifts for the city’s toy library. Trucks, an aircraft carrier, bags woven from flax and jigsaw puzzles were among the items created by inmates of Whanganui Prison.
Prisoners with artistic talent used offcuts from the prison’s timber industries to make the toys.
Acting assistant prison manager Deb Griffiths said making them was a constructive activity the prisoners chose because they wanted to give back to the community.
Toy Library manager Rose Woon was excited to get the new toys yesterday, and delighted the relationship with the prison is to continue. Wooden toys are especially welcome, because library members want to move away from plastic.
The prison’s relationship with the toy library will be ongoing, Woon said. She’s asked for planes and helicopters in the next set of toys. The toy library is in London St, near the SPCA building, and it has more than 2000 toys that are hired out for two weeks for 50 cents each — and puzzles are free.
There’s also a portacot and high chair which grandparents can hire.
The library aims to support families and wha¯nau and encourage togetherness, with quality time spent playing with children. It has toys for all ages and abilities.
The annual membership fee ranges from $30 to $80, depending on how much help the member gives. The library is a charity, paid for by fundraising, grants and donations. It is open on Thursdays and Saturdays.