For The Love of Giving – Monica and Toy Mountain

In her own words, Monica Smith is a little old lady who hangs out in a shop. She is the owner of Aunt Monica’s Attic in the Transcona neighbourhood of northeast Winnipeg. She is a year-round supporter of Toy Mountain.

“I never know really know how to describe the store because I think it’s a craft shop; everybody else thinks it’s a toy store. It really is sort of a blend of a craft store and a toy store, but it is a little neighbourhood shop,” she jokes.

Aunt Monica’s Attic sells items focused on arts and crafts and active play.

“Our whole focus is things to do in real life, in the real world, that get you to use that creative part of your brain,” she explains. “You don’t have to buy batteries for the toys we sell, most of the toys that we sell are things that you have to make or power by yourself, or you have to use your own imagination.”

Monica opened her shop in the fall of 2016, and the neighbourhood response was so positive she relocated to a larger space in early 2017. Monica, who previously worked in the non-profit sector, knew she wanted to leverage the popularity of her business and the community support she received to help a local charity.

“I used to work in the non-profit world, and I kind of miss that community spirit.” Because I work here by myself all the time, I thought I want to get involved with something. I missed that teamwork,” she explains.

Monica wanted to find a charity that serves everyone and one that was in line with her business. A loyal customer and friend who has been a long-time Toy Mountain volunteer, LeeAnn, suggested The Salvation Army in Winnipeg’s annual Christmas toy drive.

“And I said, you know what, that actually sounds great because it’s about sharing your abundance with other people, and everybody can get behind that. We never know when it’s going to be our turn to need that,” she says.

She started by donating some handmade items, and her involvement has grown every year. She now collects toys at her store year-round, whether purchased at her store or elsewhere, offering neighbourhood residents a nearby option to donate.  She’s also connected with local makers to collect hats, mitts, scarves and all manner of handmade items.

“I put out a call to everybody saying we need some warm stuff. So if you’re a maker, we need hats, scarves, mittens, socks, and things to keep people warm. People started showing up with huge bags full of hats and mittens and sweaters they made. It was just incredible because I was expecting that maybe somebody might show up with a hat that they made. Nope, that’s not what it was. It was like garbage bags full of things,” she marvels.

One of her favourite things about working with Toy Mountain has been inspiring the next generation of givers.

“One of my sewing students this year, Glory, made beanbags,” Monica recounts. “We were talking about the gigantic box at the front of the store full of toys, and I explained that it was for Toy Mountain. To help families with kids that are having a hard time this year for Christmas so that they can still have some presents and still have a wonderful Christmas”.

The young crafter decided she wanted to help too and created over two dozen sets of beanbags, beautifully wrapped and packaged in threes. When her mom came to pick her up and asked what she had been working on, she replied:

“Mom, I’m making a difference in the world with my sewing – Did you know that? I’m going to help so many kids.”

Thank you, Monica, for your continued support for Toy Mountain, community spirit, and ability to inspire others!