On a sidewalk near East Cesar Chavez Avenue in East Los Angeles, a small black-and-white checkered box sits outside a home. Open it, and it reveals a surprise: toy keychains, friendship bracelets, bubble blower, Disney figurines and other colorful knick-knacks.
The trinkets are free, but with one catch: Visitors are encouraged to take an item and swap it with another fun treasure.
It’s one of a series of trinket trade boxes popping up across Los Angeles County, including Rosemead, El Monte and Whittier. The exchanges have also gained traction on TikTok, where videos of similar displays continue to circulate. A Worldwide Sidewalk Joy map on Google details where they are taking place.
East LA resident Tania Zuniga mounted it outside her house a few weeks ago after seeing similar boxes popping up in neighboring cities.
“I didn’t see one in East LA or around Boyle Heights, so I told my husband, ‘I’m going to make one … for the community,’” Zuniga said.
Amid a news cycle of immigration raids and a war in Iran, Zuniga said the trinket box “can bring a little joy.”
“I see kids coming and they’re excited. I can hear them from inside screaming with their parents like, ‘Oh my God, this is so cute!’” she said.
Zuniga also runs the EastLosTrinketBox TikTok, establishing rules and posting updates of the trove’s latest items. Zuniga asks participants to be respectful of her neighborhood and that they not leave inappropriate items in the box.
She has noticed dirty or broken trinkets being left inside.
“I made this for the East LA community … and I just want to be sanitary and fair and considerate and also a trinket box full of integrity,” she told her TikTok followers.
Growing up in the ‘90s, Zuniga said she loves collecting nostalgia items, such as the retro Halloween McNugget buddies. That love is part of what inspired her to start the box in the first place.
“I love finding those and buying them, she said. “ I consider those trinkets, so I was excited to start [this].”
Visit the trinket box:
Address: East Cesar Chavez Avenue and North McDonnell Avenue
Find them on TikTok: @eastlostrinketbox
Rules:
1. Be fair with trades
2. Nothing inappropriate
3. No food, candy or snacks
4. Be safe
5. Box is closed after 11 p.m.
6. Be respectful of neighbors and property
7. Do not park in driveways
8. Respect all rules
