HURON — An old proverb with which we are all familiar states that “Necessity is the mother of invention.” In other words, seeing a need for something often hatches the plan to address that need.

That, in a nutshell, was the driving force that led to the creation of the Toy Lending Library (TLL), which saw its South Dakota roots planted in Sioux Falls, with a recent expansion to Huron.

“What we are learning,” said organizer Rhonda Kludt, “is that little children are forgetting how to play and interact. More children are prone to using a tablet or a phone for entertainment and teachers are sharing that kids don’t understand sharing or self-regulating.”

The solution struck upon was Toy Lending Library, a national association, that puts toys in the hands of young children, encouraging interactive play. First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls is where the South Dakota non-profit membership of Toy Lending Library is centered, with storage for more than 1600 small totes of toys.

The totes are organized by age group and loaned to other TLL sites in and around Sioux Falls, with recent expansions to the communities of Vermillion, Yankton and Madison, all via partnership agreements with Toy Lending Library of South Dakota.

“I learned about it at a state early childhood development meeting,” Kludt said. “One of the groups that supports the program in Sioux Falls is their Kiwanis Club. That clicked with me, as my friend Gayle Kludt is involved with the Huron Kiwanis Club.”

Rhonda contacted Gayle, who pitched the idea to the Kiwanis Club, which got on board as well. But then Gayle Kludt shared information that helped get the program up and running much more quickly.

Gayle Kludt is also the executive director of People’s Transit in Huron. “We are a 501c3 non-profit and as such, we have the ability to partner with other non-profits on projects,” Gayle Kludt said. “And, we are always looking for groups to partner with.”

“On top of that,” she said, “we usually have three busses a week to Sioux Falls, taking clients to non-emergency medical appointments. So, we were already there.”

People’s Transit, in addition to being the non-profit partner of Toy Lending Library, was able to secure grants to fund the program for the first year, while also alleviating the cost of transportation of the totes.

“Right now, they are carrying 20 totes per month,” Rhonda Kludt said. “The totes we want have already been determined, so the drivers simply drop off the ones we are returning, pick up the new ones and bring them back.”

She said the small totes are usually in a large bag, to make moving them easier. When the totes arrive in Huron, they are divided up by where they are headed. “Birth to age 3 toys go to (Bright Start) which is a Department of Health program through the community nurse,” Rhonda Kludt said. “Toys for 4-5 year olds go to Head Start, with the Buchanan K-1 Center receiving toys for 6-7 year olds.” Day cares are able to receive toys for a range of ages.

Families are able to check out totes as well.

“Toys are expensive,” Rhonda Kludt noted. “And then kids either outgrow them or just aren’t interested in them. Working with the Toy Lending Library, if there isn’t anything that interests a child, it is as simple as trying something different with the next exchange. This gets toys into homes and into the hands of the kiddos.”

When the toys are returned to Sioux Falls, each toy box is processed, and toys and boxes are cleaned and sanitized. TLL also checks to make sure that nothing has been recalled and that the contents of the totes are correct.

“That way, you don’t end up with a toy meant for older children - something with perhaps small pieces - mixed in with a tote with toys for a younger child.”

Huron is unique with the other sites in that it is footing the $5,000 cost to participate on its own. “We received grant money for this year and will re-apply going forward,” Gayle Kludt said. “However any individual, group or service organization that would like to donate to continuing this program would be welcome!”

For those wishing to donate, contact Gayle Kludt at People’s Transit.