The Biggest Playdate/Sale/Fundraiser Happens This Weekend: Ree-Play 2016

When you shop the Ree-Play sale, one of the biggest sales of kids clothing and toys in Beacon that is happening this weekend from Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 1 from 9am to 1pm, you are directly donating to the park structures you see around town at Memorial Park, Riverfront Park, and the Green Street Park. This weekend marks the twelfth year for the sale, which in the last three years alone has brought in $30,000. All proceeds go directly to the children of Beacon in the forms of new park structures for Beacon playgrounds, children's programming in Beacon through the Beacon Recreation Department, the Howland Public Library, and the Beacon Art & Education Fund which pays for the third-grade Calico Ball.

Last year, Wee Play used donations raised through the Ree-Play Sale to buy three shade structures, two benches and a new ride-on toy for Memorial Park.

Making this large sale happen takes forty volunteers to help sort donated items, price them, display them, and run the sale itself. Thousands of donated items are delivered daily until the final cutoff hour. During the sale day, while children are playing in the fields of the Settlement Camp and testing all of the prospective toys, high chairs, castles, and clothing that can be purchased, volunteers run a bake sale that has also been provided for by community members donating cupcakes, bread and brownies.

Raquel Verdesi has been working the Ree-Play Sale for ten of the twelve years it has been running, and the project is very special to her. "Part of the magic of the sale," says Verdesi, "is that we take what others no longer want, sell it to raise money for the community, and then give the leftover books to our local school, and the other items to charities." This year, unused clothing, books and toys that are not in the best condition will be saved for the clothing and shoe bin at Sargent Elementary School, one of four elementary schools in the Beacon School District, which will sell the items for "pennies on the pound," keeping the items out of the landfill and raising money for an intended recycling program at that school.

Keep browsing here in our article for items you'll find at the sale, because these will sell fast! Toys that normally go for $25 at a consignment store could be marked as low as $4, so make room in your car.

Some of what you will find has never been used, and may be just what your child wanted - for only $3.

Large and small items are at the Ree-Play Sale, including high chairs, walking toys, kitchens, and workbench tables.

Plan ahead for the big party or wedding. Clothing has been sorted by age group, and designer clothing from Janie and Jack, the Gap, and other coveted brands has been set aside to make it easy to find.

While it may be easier to shop without your kids, this is one venue where kids will most likely know their friends and play outside while you dive into clothing bins to stock up on seasonal clothing, refresh your bookshelf or treat them to new toys.

Have fun! Show us pictures of what you got by posting to our Facebook wall!