Climate Action Mobilizer Sasha: How I Hosted My First Event

The YCC Kelowna team.

I’m Sasha Alfonso, a Climate Action Mobilizer with YCCBC Kelowna, and I organized the Holiday Toy Swap that recently happened on December 14^th, 2025.

This swap was an important step for tangible hands-on climate action in our community and complemented the City of Kelowna’s Climate Resilient Strategy, especially Key Driver #7: Reduce Emissions from Waste. By donating gently used toys and children’s items, participants helped keep thousands of items in circulation and out of the landfill. The swap also reduced the need for Kelowna residents to buy new toys for Christmas, which further lowers environmental impact.

As a first-time event organizer, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the turnout and energy on the day were incredible. We counted over 200 participants and estimated that more than 6,000 items were exchanged. Because it was a drop-in event, attendance was difficult to predict, so the response from the community was especially encouraging. I learned a lot through organizing this swap, particularly about promotion and engagement in the planning process.

A table of toys for exchange.

A huge thank you to the rest of the YCCBC team for stepping in wherever support was needed, building on my ideas, and helping make the swap truly impactful. We are also incredibly grateful for our partnership with Mamas for Mamas and the leadership team from Rutland Senior Secondary School, who helped fill a much-needed gap by providing items for teens.

Throughout the planning process and on the day of the swap, I felt very supported by the community through their positive feedback and the steady stream of donations leading up to the event. It was especially meaningful to hear what the swap meant to so many people. While this was designed as a climate action initiative, I didn’t anticipate how meaningful it would also be for support during the holiday season, which can be stressful for families facing financial challenges. We heard from single mothers who shared that, because of this swap, their children would have presents to open on Christmas morning.

Events like this remind me that climate action can also be community care. Thank you to everyone who helped make the Holiday Toy Swap possible, whether you donated items, came to the swap, or shared the event with others. This was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together, and we’re excited to carry this momentum into future YCCBC climate action events in Kelowna. 

Sasha poses at the toy swap.