Toys Not Tears

A stock of toys is helping children during difficult times in their lives.

The Greenmeadows Rotary Community Group, located on the eastern coast of North Island New Zealand, is collaborating with Napier Police for a pilot program at the local Family Harm Unit (FHU).

The program aims to help de-escalate the collateral stress experienced by tamariki (children) as family harm events are managed, in their homes, by specialist officers.

The toys provide a focus for affected children during tense life events while enhancing children’s views of police as being caring considerate humans.

Two Rotarian police staff identified the problem with their Rotary Club of Upper Hutt and ran a small two to three-year trial leading to Toys Not Tears.

Early in 2024, the Greenmeadows club commenced an expanded program in Napier with the local FHU, which can receive 200 calls a week to family harm events.

The FHU have a stock of toys for five- to 14-year-olds in their Station Wellness room that they can just grab and go as they head out to family
harm incidents.

This is not seasonal giving of wrapped gifts but off-the-shelf toys for use all day every day. It is unconditional giving of gifts to children experiencing emotional distress in a family situation. The gifting has even happened at the station when victims have come for help with their family harm situation. Rotary has no involvement with the stock other than the original donation.

There is complete confidentiality, nothing comes back to Rotary except the good reports and requests for restocks – one to date.

It’s a low profile, no photos, no fixtures way to help unidentified distressed children in the community.

It is an informal relationship between Rotary clubs and the police. No police administration is required – they have more than enough already! GMR’s project lead Mike Owen liaises with the FHU officers, usually over a coffee, as it’s an informal on the ground relationship between the two organisations.

GMR underwrites the pilot for two years ahead as the club seeks wider community support, with the ultimate aim being a self-supporting community program.

Mike is the primary point of contact, with other members assisting with shopping, promotion and seeking dollars to take over from Greenmeadows Rotary’s underwriting.

The FHU officers’ shop with members to choose appropriate toys – the hardest part of the pilot they say!

How can you help?

If your club would like to undertake a similar project, contact Mike Owen for operational details via mpasd@xtra.co.nz or +64 27 449 2630

Donations can be made to:

Rotary Club of Greenmeadows Charitable Trust 03-0698-0976848-01 with reference ToysNotTears.