In the past couple of years Henry Bear’s Park has been making a deliberate effort to reduce waste in all operations:  plastic bags are gone, the lights are kept off in our back offices and stock rooms when they’re not in use, both sides of office paper are used for printing, bags and wrapping paper are made from recycled paper, and a terrific reusable Henry Bear bag is available.  But there is more to be done.

This Earth Day we began a promotion in hopes that our customers would join us as we green up the Park –  until May 18th, all purchases packed in a reusable Henry Bear bag, instead of a paper shopping bag, will be 10% off!  That goes for a Henry Bear bag that you bring in, or one that you purchase on the spot.  The bags are only $1 (free with any purchase $75 or more) and so far the response has been wonderful!  Yes, the savings are great, but the support in helping us become more eco-friendly has been even better.  One shopper, looking for a “green” toy for a two-year old, selected the Green Toys Tea Set, perfect for a child whose grandparents are pastry chefs.  To add to the “greenness” of the gift, we packed the tea set in a Henry Bear reusable bag instead of wrapping paper.  The gift and presentation were a hit with the whole family, and our customer returned to get another bag for herself.

Even after May 18, when our 10% promotion is over, we will continue our conservation efforts, and we invite you to join us. Many of you will have our bag, so leave it in your car or stroller and remember to bring it in for your purchase.  Our reusable bags will still be available (after May 18, the price will return to $1.50, but still free with a $75 purchase), and our paper handle bags will be available for $.50 each (one free with a purchase of $35 or more.)  And, of course, we’ll still provide free gift wrapping.

We’re very grateful to you for joining us as we reduce, reuse, and recycle!

If you have been a regular at Henry Bear’s Park in Cambridge at any point in the last 15 years, you’ve undoubtedly had the pleasure of meeting JoAnn Moynihan. Having held positions ranging from Assistant Manager, Community Outreach Coordinator, and Customer Service Manager, JoAnn has been involved in nearly every aspect of the store. None of these titles begins to cover her importance to all of us and to our pal Henry Bear. She’s brought humor and joy to story time, compassion and sensitivity to her new mom’s group, and a wholly generous spirit to our work with a large group of community partners and performers. So many customers, young and old, have become acquainted with Henry Bear through JoAnn; no one could make a better introduction to what we hope is a magical place. She knows her toys, and she loves kids, and she’s so much fun to work with.

JoAnn will be retiring on April 30, and we invite you to come to honor and celebrate her work at Henry Bear’s Park. We’ll have a special story time at 11:00 with her favorite books and refreshments for everyone. If you can’t make it for stories, please come anyway before 4:00 to wish her well.

It has been a great privilege to work alongside JoAnn for all these years; her friendship and warmth will continue long after we say good-bye at the Park.

Sally Lesser, Owner

Whenever school vacations are approaching we find ourselves suggesting lots of ‘travel-friendly’ items to parents & grandparents. Something that will keep them busy, keep them happy, keep them quiet, won’t make a mess. While we usually encourage kids to get messy (as Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus always said, “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!”), we also understand how stressful travelling can be for kids & adults alike.

Some of our favorites, not just for travel, are from Orb Factory, especially their Sticky Mosaic line. Kits include anything from decorating small pictures with the sticky, foamy pieces, to making Pirate Chests or Twinkly Tiaras. But, hands down, the Magnetic Mosaics are the BEST for travel – no little pieces of paper, fairly strong magnets so they don’t get lost as easily. Who could ask for more?

The Kingdom of Chima. Once a Utopia, it now serves as an arena for the fight for CHI, the life source of the animals that inhabit the kingdom, but also a catalyst for mass destruction if used incorrectly. Sounds like fun, huh?

‘Legends of Chima’ is the new line from LEGO. While LEGO is famous for it’s primary color blocks and little yellow figurines, it has recently become known for its sets portraying some of pop cultures biggest icons – Harry Potter, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings. More recently, the company has forayed into imagined worlds of its own with great success. For the last few years we’ve had a hard time keeping LEGO Ninjago sets on the shelves! We imagine that the same will soon be said for Chima, and we are so excited to introduce the line to you!

New product and old favorites are rolling into Henry Bear’s Park on pallets and dollys by the dozens! Soon you’ll be seeing the return of holiday best sellers, like Magnatiles, and new sets from LEGO and Playmobil. Lately it’s been a winter wonderland in the Boston area, but, admittedly, maybe a little too cold for regular snow activities. What perfect way to spend the next couple months playing new games, trying out new adventures, and exploring new worlds all while cozy at home with some hot cocoa and wool socks? Sounds like a great time to us!

Our staff is busy learning about all the new product that will be appearing in our stores, so pop in soon and we’ll be more than happy to tell you all about what’s new and share our excitement with you and your family!

We also want to thank you for supporting our community outreach programs again this year. With your help, we were able to raise over $11,000 for our Community Wrappers in all three stores. Every year more organizations participate in this fund-raising opportunity and we are so grateful for your donations which benefit these essential programs.

Additionally, your generosity allowed us to deliver hundreds of gifts to children in our towns who are served by Cradles to Crayons, the Guidance Center, the Arlington Boys and Girls Club, and the Dimock Health Center. We were also able to donate $450 to On the Rise, a program supporting homeless women in Cambridge, through the Think Local Thank Local Program.

Something that I learned this year really touched me. Staff members gave up their own time to do wrapping for a local organization which wasn’t able to participate in the Community Wrapping program on their own. Our work lives are taken over by a kind of manic drive that builds as the month progresses. So for individual staff members to come in on their day off and donate their time to raise money for a local charity is so much above and beyond the call of duty – it’s real sacrifice. I’m really proud and honored to work alongside these generous individuals.

A very healthy and happy new year to you all!

Sally Lesser, Owner

For many families, the holiday season can be overwhelming. Children and parents are assaulted with holiday messages; wish lists are written and re-written, items crossed off and replaced by the most recent, or recently seen, and now coveted item. Planning parties, food, family visits, home decorating, all of this happens in addition to work and school.

A lot of parents are recognizing the value of setting some time aside with their children to think about those families and children in their communities who are in need.  Whether you decide to serve a holiday meal, participate in a toy drive, or donate to a favorite local service agency, choosing to involve your children in your effort to brighten someone’s life sends a powerful message to your kids.

This year, the Henry Bear’s Toy Drive is benefiting different local family services programs: in Brookline, Cradles to Crayons; in Arlington, the Arlington Boys and Girls Club; and in Cambridge, the Guidance Center.  Any purchase for our Toy Drive will receive a 20% discount and we’ll make sure your donation is delivered on time.

Cradles to Crayons

Founded in 2002, Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need. Learn More

Arlington Boys and Girls Club

Celebrating 75 years of service, The Arlington Boys and Girls Club continues to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens by offering programming year round. Programs include gym, arts, crafts, science & dance classes, swimming lessons and lots more. Learn More

The Guidance Center

The Guidance Center is the leading provider of innovative, family-centered programs for children and families in Cambridge and Somerville, MA. Founded in 1954, The Guidance Center provides an array of integrated services to help children and families cope with developmental, mental health, social and behavioral difficulties, as well as a range of disabilities. The Agency’s integrated continuum of family services supports the goals of all parents: to see their children imagine hopeful futures and grow into healthy, productive members of the community. Learn More

We are very grateful to you for joining us in supporting the important work of these agencies, and we wish you and your family a lovely and memorable holiday.

Best of all, we are introducing a terrific re-usable bag. We love the size of this bag: not only is it large enough to hold or store plenty of toys, it’s the perfect size for lots of everyday items: sports equipment, beach essentials, even laundry! It’s only $2, but through December 31, we’ll give you a re-usable bag* for a purchase of $75 or more.

More and more of us are concerned about the accumulation of bags, both paper and plastic, and the environmental problems associated with their disposal. And more and more of you are opting for no bag at all, something we heartily support! But there are times when a bag is necessary, and we’re proud to offer these good sustainable choices.

*While supplies last