The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) will prominently feature hands-on volunteer activities at the upcoming 2019 ASTRA Marketplace & Academy.
Attendees are invited to participate in a park clean-up and plant restoration project and in filling back-to-school backpacks that will be distributed to several Pittsburgh schools with economically disadvantaged students. In addition, manufacturers will have an opportunity to donate toys at the conclusion of Marketplace & Academy.
“ASTRA’s charitable activities at our national convention are an extension of what our members are doing in their own communities,” says Kimberly Mosley, president of ASTRA. “These businesses have a positive influence on the economy, culture and creativity of the communities they serve, and we want to reflect those same values at Marketplace & Academy. Lending a hand while we are together in Pittsburgh is another way for ASTRA members to live our values and to have fun while we are at it.”
Here are are the Activities Attendees Can Participate In:
- Park Clean–Up. The park clean-up project will take place Saturday afternoon, June 8, at Frick Park, located near the Squirrel Hill neighborhood and the Tree of Life Synagogue. Activities will include willow planting, invasive plant removal and trash removal from the stream. The event is coordinated through the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, which restores and protects its watershed ecosystem, while working regionally to support and implement resilient solutions for a healthy urban environment, and is supported in partnership by Tangle Creations.
- Backpack Stuffing. This activity will take place on Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11 in front of aisles 1700 and 1800 on the exhibit hall floor. This activity is brought to you in partnership with Crayola.
- Toys for Joy. To kick off ASTRA’s Toys for Joy holiday toy drive, manufacturers will be invited to donate toys at the end of Marketplace & Academy.
For more information on community service activities at Marketplace & Academy or to register for the park beautification project, visit http://marketplaceandacademy.org/about-astra/volunteer-program.
ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy will be held June 9-12, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Penn., with pre-conference sessions beginning June 7.