I posted KinderCycle’s first progress report in June after we had done 4 swaps.  Last week, we had our 8th swap, so, it’s time to do another progress report!

How KinderCycle Helps Our Communities – I honestly can’t tell you how proud I am that I created an organization that benefits our communities.  Let me tell you how.

• KinderCycle collects preemie clothes and delivers them to families who request them, and to the Alta Bates NICU.  As many of you know, my daughter was a preemie and most families who have a preemie are in a state of crisis and don’t have time to go shopping for clothes to fit their new little one.  KinderCycle delivers preemie boxes to families in Alameda County regardless of financial resources.
• Since swap #2, we have had a diaper drive at every swap benefiting Help a Mother Out.  We’ve been able to put diapers on the bottoms of little people who need the help.
• Swap leftovers are plentiful!  When I tell people about KinderCycle, they are stunned that people can take whatever they want and there is no limit.  I’ve found that people are generally way more generous than they are greedy, and through our swaps, we are able to get clothes, books, toys, blankets, bouncy chairs, strollers, bibs, socks and shoes to families in need.

What’s Coming Next for KinderCycle?  – KinderCycle has grown in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I first launched.  Here are some things that are on the near horizon.

• I need to figure out how to reach families with 4-6 year olds, or I need to figure out why KinderCycle isn’t a great option for them.  As the kids of the current KinderCycle swappers age, so too will the stuff that comes to the swap.  But, I’d like to do a lot of outreach to attract families with 4-6 year olds.
• You may have noticed at various swaps that I’ve occasionally had vendors show their products or services.  This last weekend, Urban Sitter came to tell KinderCycle families about their online tool for finding babysitters.  Having vendors allows me to cover my costs (and hopefully someday make a profit!) while not raising the price of admission for my families.
• With more vendors and with more families coming to the swaps, I need to start scoping out bigger spaces.
• I’d like to expand my volunteer pool.
• I’d like to have more charities come to the end of the swap.  Sometimes, my charities get overwhelmed (in a good way!) by all the leftovers.  If I had one more charity come at the end of each swap, each charity would be less overwhelmed.  I’d also like to find a charity to come who will take stuffed animals.  I’ve generally had to take stuffed animals with me after the swaps and then find homes for them.
• I tweet (infrequently) about KinderCycle, being a mom, law librarianship, knitting, and whatever else is passing through my mind.  I’d like to tweet more, and expand my number of Twitter followers @JPesetsky .