Pinelands Library is offering a solution to those parents tired of shelling out money for new kids’ costumes each Halloween.
The branch’s annual costume swap is set for Saturday, Oct. 11 beginning at 10 a.m. at 39 Allen Ave. in Medford.
The costume swap allows those in the area to donate their costume and receive a ticket to pick up another one. All the costume donations are through the library.
“It has been hugely successful, so much so it has become something we do every year,” said Christina Etslow, youth services coordinator at the main branch in Westampton. “So many children grow out of costumes, and it’s sitting in boxes or drawers.”
The idea originated with Danielle Haubrich, the youth services librarian at Pinelands.
“It actually came from an off-hand conversation with a mom at a costume event,” Haubrich said. “She commented the costumes were expensive and wished parents could do a swap at the end of the year. The comment stuck with me to the following Halloween, and it grew from there and continues to grow.”
Participants do not need to be a library cardholder to donate and swap. Residents in the area are encouraged to come to the event with their children.
“We just want to help the community and this is a good way to reach everyone,” Haubrich said.
Gently used and complete costumes will be accepted for the event, according to Etslow.
“We wanted kids to get the full experience of getting a costume for free that they could potentially buy,” Etslow said.
The number of attendees has grown each year since the program began five years ago.
“We’re expecting our biggest turnout yet this year,” Haubrich said. “It’s so exciting to see kids get costumes. They get to make their selection, and the kids are thrilled to pick one out.”
The costumes swapped don’t need to be used strictly for Halloween.
The library is encouraging parents to bring their kids who are in need of dress-up costumes.
“Parents brought their kids in for something to play with as well. Costumes can get expensive,” Etslow said.
No costume from the swap will go to waste. All the donations were sent to the main branch following Pinelands’ swap last year and the remaining costumes after the main branch’s swap were donated to a local church.
This year, all the branches will be donating the excess costumes to Goodwill.
For more information, visit www.bcls.lib.nj.us/pinelands.
