Every fall the Sunnyside Swap Shop Co-op hosts a Back-to-School Exchange at Sunnyside Environmental School (SE Salmon between 34th and 35th). Co-op members, K-8th grade students, their families, neighbors and friends shop for new-to-you back to school clothes, jackets, backpacks, lunch boxes, bikes, bike gear and supplies from the donations that everyone brings in to share.

The first day of school at Sunnyside is a like a giant parade of recycled clothing and equipment as lots of kids show off their latest find and find their last year’s things living a new life with another student.

This event took place on Monday, August 25th for the 2008/2009 school year. The date and time for this event in the fall of 2009 TBA.

Sunnyside Family Swap Shop and Play Space

October Meet Up Schedule:

Meet-ups provide a way for our membership to get together and get to know each other better. Our space is open to everyone 8am – 8pm, Monday – Saturday. You are not excluded from using the space during the meet up times listed below if you are not a part of the listed group. This just gives a chance for families with similar aged children and/or similar interests to know when to meet each other in the space.

• MONDAY:
  • 9:30am — 10:30am Toddler gym time

    free play in the upstairs gym, open to all ages willing to engage in play that is safe and appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers.

• TUESDAY:
  • 9:30am — 10:30am Music Time

    All ages welcome for creative, musical play. Dancing, singing and playing to a variety of songs.

• WEDNESDAY:
  • 10:30am — noon Baby/Toddler meet up

    Families with infants and young toddlers 6-18 months sharing space, ideas and keeping each other company.

• THURSDAY:
  • 2:00pm — 4:00pm Two Mom Families (and then some)

    A playgroup gathering of alternative families of all varieties.

• FRIDAY:
  • 3:00pm — 6:00pm Older kids gym time

    Free time in the upstairs gym. All ages welcome that feel comfortable in the rowdier environment of school age kids’ play .

• SATURDAY:
  • 9:00am — 10:30am Crafty Toddlers and Big Kid Crafting

    Ann Elkins guides our youngest members through the wonders of crafting and provides challenging crafts for older kids.

  • 6:00pm — 8:00pm Saturday Night Dinner Theater

    Starting October 18th, talented local musicians entertain from 6:30-7:30 on the main stage. Bring your own dinner and enjoy the show!

For more information, contact Karen Hery, Sunnyside Swap Shop Co-op facilitator/coordinator at 503 407-2667. Karen can also be reached via email at karenhery@gmail.com.

About the Sunnyside Family Swapshop Co-op
Meet the Board
History and Vision
Contact Us

Karen Hery - Swap Shop Facilitator / Coordinator
Karen has a BA in Communication and several decades of experience as a community builder and program director, directing summer camps, youth groups and Girl Scout and Camp Fire Boys and Girls events. In California, Karen performed as a spoken word artist for Maiko, a multicultural drum and poetry group funded by the San Jose Multicultural Artist Guild.

Rachel Bloom
is the Director of Portland Supported Employment, an arts oriented day program for developmentally disabled adults. Her staff in conjunction with local musicians and artists, develop, produce, and perform unique and inclusive musicals for the stage. Rachel has wanted a community center space for our youngest children for many years now and has hosted young family hours with live entertainment at local businesses in our neighborhood.

Ann Elkins - Indoor Playground Design Coordinator
Our Indoor playground design coordinator, Ann has a BFA in Museum Studies and 10 years of experience as an early childhood educator and program manager. Ann is currently the manager of the Early Childhood Education program at OMSI where she was the lead R & D and project coordinator for the creation of OMSI’s 7,000 sq. ft. early childhood hall Science Playground.

Dena Wilder
Dena moved to Portland two years ago to find a place she could grow personally and be part of a community that believes in tending to the environment and building unity between its members. She has over 20 years of experience working with children in a variety of capacities: recreational therapist, caregiver, storyteller, and instructor. She is currently an instructor with Portland Parks and Recreation teaching music, creative drama and yoga.

Thank you for your interest in joining the Sunnyside Family Swap Shop and Play Space.
Applications for October are being accepted now through October 31st.

Over 140 active member families are currently enjoying the use of our space. We accept new members into the co-op the first month of every quarter: January, April, July, October.

Our maximum number of active member families is 200. We anticipate that we will reach capacity by our winter member drive. Joining now is a great way to assure that you have secured a membership before our capacity is reached.

All new members pay a $25 joining fee and $25 per month to participate. We ask all families who can afford to do so to pay for a quarter’s membership at a time. Special arrangements can be made for monthly payments if needed.

Applications for fall quarter (October - December) will be accepted through out the month of October.  Our next new member drive if you have not registered by the end of October will begin January 1st.

Ways to join:

By Mail: Include a bank or cashier’s check for the $25 joining fee and your first three months membership fees (total of $100) or a check for $50 (joining fee and first month’s membership) plus an autopay form for ongoing membership payments.

Mail Application, check and Autopay Form if selected to: Sunnyside Swap Shop Co-op c/o Sunnyside Methodist Church 3520 Yamhill Street, Portland, OR 97214. Checks should be made out to Sunnyside Swap Shop Co-op.

You will receive an email (or phone call if you have no email listed) acknowledging your application and giving you the entry access code so you can enter the space to fill out a first visit checklist, select a job and read through and acknowledge the member guidelines.

In Person: Throughout October, come to the space any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday 9am-noon or Saturday 9 - 10:30am and ring the office bell for admittance for a tour of the space. Come to 3520 Yamhill Street, take the steps up to the double entry doors, follow signs to the Sunnyside Family Swap Shop and Play Space. To schedule an appointment outside these times, call Karen Hery, Sunnyside Swap Shop Co-op facilitator/coordinator, at (503) 407-2667.

Open Houses:  Have already taken place for the fall member drive.  Dates for open houses in January will be announced in December.

Application

Member Agreement
Autopay Form

The second annual Useful Goods Exchange was held the first weekend of May 2008 inside the Sunnyside Environmental School gym, and cafeteria and out on the blacktop area behind the school.  Drop off of useful goods began on a Friday.  Drop off of items continued and all swapping happened on a Saturday.  All items not swapped on Saturday were part of the rummage sale on Sunday. Last hour of the rummage sale all items were free. Useful goods that remained were given to charity on a Monday.  This event will be scheduled again in the spring at Sunnyside Environmental school - date TBA.

All items in good, useful condition will be accepted including clothing, books, toys, arts and craft supplies, non perishable food, working electronics, furniture, household and gardening goods. New this year: an outdoor tent to house large play equipment, furniture and building supply items will be set up on the blacktop behind the gym.

Please plan to bring only clean items in good working order. If you have items that just need to be thrown away or recycled, these can be taken to the Sunnyside Neigbhorhood Association’s Spring Clean Up happening the same weekend on a Saturday at St. Stephens Catholic Church parking lot, at the corner of SE 42d & Taylor.

Costs for the Spring Clean up in 2008 were $6 for carload, $10 for SUVs/wagons, and $14 for pickups. They will accept yard debris, wood waste, metal, block Styrofoam, packing peanuts, planting pots, and unusable household items. Auto tires are okay, too; $4 off the rim, $5 mounted. They will accept most electronics except TVs and microwaves, including all computer components, stereos, VCRs, and cell phones. Some things they will not take: gas-powered yard machines, hazardous household waste, recyclables, household (kitchen) garbage, or large amounts of construction debris or sod.

There is no cost to participate in the Useful Goods Exchange and all swaps are done on the honor system. If you have more items to give than you want back in return, consider bringing your items in as early as possible to give swappers lots to choose from. If you want to make sure that you get equal value in swap for your donations, you are welcome to shop first and swap second by coming in on Saturday, finding the things you want to use, taking them home and then returning before the end of the swap on Saturday with items that can be offered up for the rummage sale on Sunday.

Event volunteers have the best access to swap items during the event. To volunteer for a set up, swap or rummage sale shift or for more information on the event contact Karen Hery: karenhery@gmail.com (503) 407-2667. For more information on the Spring Clean Up event on Saturday, call the Sunnyside neighborhood hotline at 503-295-1699.

Testimonials about the annual Useful Goods Exchange:

Although I’ve said it before, here is the “offical” version: Thank you, Karen, for dreaming up & organizing the Sunnyside Swap Shop. Everyone there, including Sarah Taylor, our school principal, had a big smile on their face and big bags in their hands as they exited the school Saturday.But more than that, it created a big open space in our hearts, filled with dreams, hopes, realities, possibilities and connections for me and my family. My son, who somehow has the “materialism” gene, was utterly amazed at the sheer number of items there just for him (I imagine he thought) to choose from! The miracle occurred when he came to realize that all those toys that were there, all the stuff, was stuff that members of the community, his community, were so freely giving away. There were so many levels of appreciation to that realization of his, that his face could barely contain it, so that his smile got wild and his eyes rolled around happily in his head! It was breathtaking to behold, truly, to see the effects of your dream on my son’s face last Saturday! I cannot thank you enough.

Many people dream. Few persevere, walking with their dream to it’s destiny, as did you. It still inspires me to think that you’ve only just arrived here in Portland, young children in tow, recently separated from their father, your husband. (and let’s not forget your close friend who you helped transition to The Divine Unknown) Yet, your trust in others remains strong despite adversity, and leads you to build community in wise and wonderous ways. You are the Phoenix, born and rising from the ashes, providing a light beackon to all of us here, as a guide in how to fly.

- Nikki Monacelli
Founding member of the Sunnyside Family Swap Shop and Play Space
Parent of a Sunnyside Environmental School student

May 2008 - Useful Goods Exchange

Fall 2008 - Back to School Exchange

Where is the Family Swap Shop and Play Space located?

The Swap Shop is located in Sunnyside United Methodist Church at 3520 SE Yamhill St in Portland’s Sunnyside neighborhood. We are at the corner of SE 35th and Yamhill directly across from Sunnyside Environmental School and Sunnyside’s neighborhood park.

The Family Swap Shop and Play Space is open for use six days a week, 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Saturday with special events through out the week.

Our motto as we distribute and communicate co-op family responsibilities is to keep it simple and keep it clear. As a co-op family, you will be asked to do the following:

• • Pay your monthly co-op membership fee either by direct deposit or by paying three months at a time by cash or check.
• • Keep a mental awareness of your own swapping activities so that over the course of time you are generally giving into the swap shop as much as you are taking out in clothing, toys, books, etc
• • Sign in when you enter the space.
• • Follow all guidelines for using the space.
• • Clean up after yourself each time you leave the space
• • Sign up each quarter for a primary co-op job

  Every family is responsible for a co-op job that you select and have the chance to change every three months. You are the primary facilitator/coordinator of the job you select and can seek help from others to meet your responsibilities. Jobs vary in their frequency from things that need to be done weekly or monthly or one time special projects. We encourage members to select jobs that match the way you intend to use the Sunnyside Family Swap Shop and Play Space. If your children will be playing in the space weekly, a weekly job makes sense. If you work during the day or your children have busy schedules and you may not be in every week: monthly jobs work best. If you are an occasional swapper and user of the playspace or you would like to just play and not work while in the space, special project jobs can be a good match.

  Co-op jobs are available in the following categories:

  • • Keeping it clean: being responsible for one item or area such as the train table or a piece of play equipment and making sure the area/item is in good clean working order.
  • • Sorting/organizing: keeping a set of toy tubs (Lego, dress up clothes, baby toys, etc) or a part of the clothing swap area clean and well sorted.
  • • Materials purchaser: Our arts and crafts room, cleaning closet, first aid kit all need to be well stocked.
  • • Instructor: Have a craft or hobby you love? Be a weekly or monthly instructor in the space.
  • • Data base entry/management: Help keep our member data base up to date and well organized
  • • Building maintenance: Keep a part of the building (entry porch, planter box, dumpster area) clean and well swept/planted.
  • • Outreach: Be a liason between our group other social services in the building and community.
  • • Special projects: are available in a number of areas including developing a farm share pick up, retrofitting our lighting, wi-fi development, etc.
  • • Create your own job: put your talents and desires to work to develop a job that suits you and benefits our group.