Mangaluru: Johnlyn Toy Exchange & Book Bank will be launched on January 27 by Dr. V Ravichandra, Founder-CEO of Diya Systems.
The Johnlyn Toy Exchange & Book Bank is promoted by veteran journalist and writer John B Monteiro at his residential complex, Johnlyn Cottage, Bondel. Dr. Ravichandran, who will launch the project as Chief Guest, will be joined by Guests of Honour Vathika Pai, President, Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Walter Nandalike, founder and head of a media conglomerate that primarily links the west coast of India with the rest of the world.
The Johnlyn Toy Exchange and Book Bank, envisioned and initiated by John Monteiro, with support from a large band of well-wishers, aims to collect toys from households that mothball the toys of their grown-up children. Such hoarded toys present a housekeeping problem in congested flats and yet, for sentimental reasons, they are not consigned to garbage bins. This equally applies to already-read and stored books – both for children and adults.
The Johnlyn Toy Exchange and Book Bank will collect such toys and books and present them to children in orphanages in the city to keep them for good. Books for adults will be loaned out, without any deposit or user fee, for return within a fortnight. The Toy Exchange and Book Bank solicits support in delivering the toys and books at Johnlyn Cottage, Vijaya Bank Lane, Bondel Junction, Mangaluru 575008, during working hours throughout the week, while the Book Bank for borrowers will function between 9 am and 12 pm, and 3 pm and 6 pm on all Sundays and public holidays. Larger quantities and parcels from outstation senders will be collected.
John Monteiro reiterates that the sustained success of the Johnlyn Toy Exchange and Book Bank is critically dependent on volunteers getting involved in the project. He invites prospective volunteers to contact him (M 9886276608) for specifics on how they can help.
John B Monteiro, Titus Noronha and William Pais were among those present at the press meet.
