Lincoln Heights — I walk down the aisles of the newly opened Toy Lending Center in Lincoln Heights, passing board books, action figures, Barbies, Legos and more. The shelves are carefully positioned at kids’ eye level—after all, they’re the prime audience here.
Housed in a large room at the L.A. County Department of Public Social Services, the Toy Loan Library has been providing free fun and inspiration for 90 years, says Liliana Ramirez, the operation’s manager. There are 30 locations around the county, and the new Humboldt Street outpost, says Ramirez, provided “an opportunity to bring a service to this community that needs it. Being here also gives us the opportunity to see the children and the community.”
Because, I surmise, if you loan toys to kids, you want to see their happy faces…