Kaleidoscope Toys is the eleventh Chaffee’s Got Heart Community Spotlight recipient. The board spoke with owner Donna Cole on how the pandemic changed operations at the shop which is full of toys, games, books, arts and crafts, jewelry, candy and novelties.
When asked how COVID-19 caused Cole’s business to innovate she explained “When all non-essential businesses were shut down last March, we pivoted to doing phone and online orders for curbside pick-up and delivery. We focused on the safety of our employees and customers with extra cleaning, we focused on stay-at-home activities to help parents who we’re having to work from home and teach their kids.”
She continued “During our busy Christmas season, we had two teams that worked different days so if anyone tested positive, the other team would not have had contact and could keep the store open. And during the summer, we had a chain across the doorway to let people know we were serious about limiting the number of people allowed inside to meet regulations.”
Image courtesy of Chaffee’s Got Heart.
When asked why the store decided to go above and beyond to contribute to the community she said “My staff and I have been passionate about keeping our community safe – including kids, teachers, pregnant moms, grandparents, health care workers and customers with health issues. We wanted the kids to be able to go to school in person, if they felt comfortable to do so.”
Cole went on to explain where she sees examples of the idea that Chaffee’s Got Heart. “Chaffee’s Got Heart is a great campaign to remind everyone to keep doing the things that have helped mitigate the spread of the virus in our county. I see Chaffee’s Got Heart signs in most businesses that are enforcing compliance. I think so many people in our community have big hearts and have helped support each other and local businesses throughout this past year.”
Cole’s biggest takeaway from 2020 is that “I’ve learned that we have a very resilient team that can adapt to changing circumstances and that we have a very supportive customer base that stepped up to help us through a crazy year. I’m reminded every day of how grateful I am to live in this wonderful community. Keep up the good work. We’ll get through this together.”
Kaleidoscope Toys delivered 100 Easter baskets to various community members to bring a ray of sunshine to the beginning of the pandemic. They ask community members to follow the same rules as last year:
- Everyone 3-years-old and up must wear a mask
- Hand sanitizer must be used before coming inside
- We limit our small space to no more than 8 people at a time, so you may have to wait outside for a few minutes
Kaleidoscope Toys still offers curbside pickup and delivery of toys in the Salida area. From 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. they also offer private shopping. Community members can use their Discovery Pass to get five dollars off a 30-dollar purchase.
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