Our family loves to go thrift shopping. At one of these many outings, Barrett saw a little girl with her mom and overheard the girl ask for a particular toy. Mom had to tell her that because they were buying some clothes, they couldn’t also afford to buy the toy. We want all kids to have the opportunity to play, have fun and be creative. But we know tough financial times have only gotten tougher. And thus, Joy Cycle was born.

We pictured a bright and lovely little shop where families donate fun right back into our community instead of giving things to a chain store. We envisioned children learning about sustainability and giving back at a place where people could browse for gifts without worrying about the cost. How lovely to imagine people gathering, chatting, sharing a coffee and an idea; where the cycle of love and play is repeated, multiplied and shared across generations.