Gabby Maresca always had an eye for collecting toys and small knick-knacks. That’s why, when she noticed a “trinket trade” box while out in Manhattan with her boyfriend earlier this year, she knew she had to bring the concept to Staten Island.
The box that the 26-year-old West Brighton resident spotted is a part of a national trend, popping up in cities like Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and, of course, New York City.
A community member installs a decorated junction box—waterproof bins typically used to protect wires—on a neighborhood street pole. They then fill it with small objects — think figurines, keychains, and stickers — and encourage others to do the same. Trinket trade boxes operate with a “take one, leave one” mentality, similar to that of a Little Free Library. Anyone is free to unlatch the container, pick a toy of their choosing, and leave one behind for someone else to discover…