Testimonials

I love being a part a community that not only fosters and strengthens a family-friendly sense of community & friendship, but encourages us to consume less and keep things out of the landfill! I’m really happy to see the swap shop community thriving and growing as much as it has!

Just a quick cheer from an adoring fan.

Thank you for all the time and energy you spend in making the co-op a place filled with fun and mutual responsibility.

Here’s the basics.

You provide my family with the community needed to never be alone.  We are filled with love, clothes, toys, and deep satiating conversations.

These deposits and filling of our tanks has allowed us to be a better and deeper support for those around us.

In essence, you’re touching lives you may never meet and for that I say a BIG thank you.

In deep appreciation,

Hi Karen,

Thank you so much for your incredible vision. I am a proud founding member and hope to stop by today after work. My twins turned 5 this summer and recently got their first new pair of shoes…soccer shoes. Up until then, I have been able to get all their shoes second hand from cousins, friends and for the last year, the swap shop. We have also actively swapped clothing, toys and books.

Even though they are now in kindergarten, I find myself alone at the swap shop every week bringing in a tub full of clothing, books, and shoes that we no longer use. When I consider the reduction in packaging waste and shipping fuel (from overseas), I know it really adds up and makes a difference. I am also glad to know that we can come together as a community and support each other. I feel better knowing that we have resources to help get us all through whatever may be ahead.

Thanks again, Karen. And thanks to the readers who have brought so many interesting books into my life.

Sincerely,

We always have a good time. This is an easy way to meet up with other moms and dads on my schedule.

I love that I have some place close to go when I have a short period of time between drop-off and pick-up for my older son.

This is the best kept secret in town. I cannot ask for a better way to build community, to have a safe place for our kids to play, to share similar values with other families and to save our planet!

We recently moved to Portland from the east coast and feel like the co-op embodies everything we love about the culture here.

Our child isn’t one who normally plays independently for very long. This space has helped him achieve this goal.

This indoor park has been a godsend for me and my 2 kids during the rainy weather!

In addition to being a great space and swap shop, I am also really impressed with all the programs that go on – the music time, art classes and scheduled gym times.

My kids like to get something everywhere they go. When I go to the toy store or the mall, I can easily spend $50 or more on things we don’t really need. Instead we come here to play in a safe, enclosed area where my kids are easy to supervise and we often go home with a new-to-us toy. We spend less money and it’s more fun for us as parents.