St Johns Swap n Play has been created by the efforts of Andrea Davey, community connector and environmental advocate, in response to growing global warming and the need she sees for a bigger sense of community in our lives and neighborhoods. 

In November 2007 Andrea joined the Sunnyside Swap Shop and Play Space. After spending a year being mentored by the creator of the Sunnyside Swap Shop Andrea has ventured out to build this concept in her own community in the St Johns area.

As part of her efforts to reduce her own foot print she partnered with her home church, The Table Community Church and hosted a swap event and neighborhood cleanup day in April 2008 for the Piedmont Neighborhood where The Table Church is located. The event was a a huge success. Over 1,000 items were swapped and several truckloads of Styrofoam, plastic containers and metal were recycled. This event provided the encouragement Andrea needed to work on such projects in her own neighborhood. 

Andrea has spent the last six months looking at possible locations for Swap n Play and talking with area parents about the need for such a resource here in St Johns. In meeting with area churches Red Sea stood out as a perfect location both because of the ideal space but also because of their consistent community involvement. 

St Johns Swap n Play will open it’s doors with a Open House on January 10th from 9am to 4pm. The following week Swap n Play will begin it’s regular hours of Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8am to 8pm and Thursdays from 8am to 4pm. As our swap community grows Andrea and Red Sea will work together to extend opening days beyond three days a week. 

Currently Andrea is looking for a team of people that would come together as an advisory board. If you love the concept of Swap n Play and would like to be part of the greater vision, please contact Andrea at andreadavey@comcast.net.

The long term vision of the St Johns Swap n Play is to host annual swapping events open to all and provide ongoing places for co-op members to gather, swap, socialize and recreate while leaving a lighter footprint on the planet. In addition we hope St Johns Swap n Play will be a resource to build additional locations in each community here in Portland. As we grow and are able we intend to provide education and funding for others to begin their own local Swap n Play. There are already plans in place for an additional location in the Piedmont neighborhood of N Portland.