how to donate used toys

by Brendon Konopelski 7 min read

10 Places to Donate Gently Used Children's Toys
  1. Charities. Salvation Army and Goodwill are two of the most recognizable charities that take toy donations. ...
  2. Hospitals. ...
  3. Doctors' Offices. ...
  4. Daycare Centers. ...
  5. Shelters. ...
  6. Children's Homes. ...
  7. Military Families. ...
  8. Religious Centers.
Nov 6, 2020

Where is the best place to donate used toys to?

Donate used toys to charity by entering your zip code on the donation pick up scheduling webpage. Perhaps your children have outgrown some of their favorite toys. Maybe there are some toys that were never among their favorites and aren’t likely to be missed.

Where to donate your used toys?

Mar 28, 2022 · Why Donate Toys? Donating toys is a great idea for multiple reasons! Not only will you be able to declutter your house but you will also be doing the environment a big favor! Reduce Environmental Pollution. Plastic is the most common material used in the production of toys. Toy manufacturing is, in reality, the world’s most plastic-intensive ...

Where can I donate gently used toys?

Where can you donate toys?

image

What do you do with old toys?

Here's Where to Donate Toys to Kids Who Need Them MostCharities. There are so many charities that will accept gently used toys and distribute them throughout their networks. ... Buy Nothing Groups. ... Hospitals. ... Children's Homes and Shelters. ... Daycare Centers. ... Police and Fire Departments. ... Churches. ... Recycling Programs.Oct 13, 2020

Where can I donate used toys UK?

Where to donate toys for ChristmasSalvation Army. Every year, the Salvation Army run a Christmas Present Appeal in churches and centres across the UK. ... Giving Tree via Kids Out. ... Action for Children. ... Great Ormond Street Hospital. ... British Heart Foundation. ... The TOY Project. ... The Toy Appeal. ... Little Village.More items...•Dec 2, 2021

Where can I donate toys in Boston?

Top 10 Best Donate Toys in Boston, MARoom To Grow. 0.5 mi. Community Service/Non-Profit. ... Cradles To Crayons. 6.5 mi. ... Donation Center Epilepsy Foundation New England. 4.6 mi. ... Savers. 7.0 mi. ... Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 837. 9.3 mi. ... The Goodwill Store. 7.8 mi. ... Global Thrift Store. 8.6 mi. ... A To Z Childcare & Preschool. 8.6 mi.More items...

Is it too late to donate to Toys for Tots?

Q: What ages are supported by Toys for Tots? Most campaign sites are able to assist children up to age 12, but in many local communities, local support is such that the age limit may be extended. Check with your local campaign for age limits.

What can I do with broken toys UK?

Some Recycling Centres accept toys and games for recycling but it is best to check first. Toys in good working order can be donated to charity shops or a local community group. If your toys and games are beyond repair, it may still be possible to recycle some of the parts.

Where can I donate used toys in Massachusetts?

10 Places to Donate Gently Used Children's ToysCharities. Salvation Army and Goodwill are two of the most recognizable charities that take toy donations. ... Hospitals. ... Doctors' Offices. ... Daycare Centers. ... Shelters. ... Children's Homes. ... Military Families. ... Religious Centers.More items...•Nov 6, 2020

Where can I donate toys for Christmas Boston?

Boston. Kennedy Brothers PT. 45 Franklin Street. ... Cohasset. Kennedy Brothers PT. Tedeschi Plaza. ... Needham. Kennedy Brothers PT. 633 Highland Ave. ... Lexington. Lexington Toyota. 409 Massachusetts Ave. ... Beverly. NE Computer Techs. 180-186 Cabot Street. ... Boston. Seaport Hotel. 2 Seaport Lane. ... Newton. Comella's - West Newton. ... Concord. Comella's.Dec 6, 2021

Does crayon cradle accept toys?

Donate Goods Check your closets and drawers at home for new and like-new clothing, shoes, books, and toys that have been outgrown or replaced.

How to donate used toys?

Before you donate a used toy though, consider the following: 1 Ponder saving and passing used toys down from generation to generation in your family. Classic toys like dollhouses , train sets, wooden toys, and ride-on toys often stand the test of time. 2 Check if the toys you intend to donate are recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a government agency. It's easy to search the site's recall list to check if the toy is recalled due to choking hazards or risk of injuries. 3 Clean and sanitize toys you intend to donate. Remove corroded batteries, wash stuffed animals in special laundry bags, and clean plastic toys with soap, water, or disinfectant wipes.

What is second chance toy?

Second Chance Toys aims to keep good toys out of landfills. If there is not a location nearby, for those with over 50 gently used plastic toys, they will help arrange a drop-off location.

How to claim toy donations on taxes?

Then, you must specifically donate to a tax-exempt organization. If you’re not sure if a facility can claim exempt organization status, check the IRS EO Select Check tool. Then, ask the organization for a donation receipt when you drop off the toys – you’ll need it for your tax records.

Can you deduct toys from a church?

Churches are tax-exempt organizations, so you can claim a deduction if you donate old toys to a church nursery. Many religious organizations offer daycares or nurseries to their parishioners, and since the service is often low-cost or free, they’re often in need of toys.

Do shelters accept toys?

If you know of a shelter or children’s charity in your area, there’s a good chance that it accepts toy donations. After all, kids will be kids, and children who visit shelters can feel more at ease when there are toys nearby. You just need to call ahead, as some charities won’t accept toy donations.

Why do parents gather toys for donation?

One mistake parents often make is gathering up toys for donation when the kids aren’t home as a sneaky way to get rid of the clutter. This is problematic for two reasons: First, your kids might be upset when they find out you’ve done away with some of the their stuff. Second, you miss out on a perfect opportunity to teach your kids about charity and the process of donating goods.

How long does it take to wash stuffed animals?

While it may not be necessary – some charities choose to wash new donations anyway – it only takes an hour or two and helps make them look like new.

Can you donate gently used toys?

Charities aren’t the only places you can donate your gently used toys. While the tax break is nice, if you’re not worried about the deduction, you can donate to a number of other beneficiaries. A few options include:

Which charities can I support through my toy donation?

DonationTown.org will help you locate a charity in your community that will accept your new and gently used toy donations. Many local charities have Toys for Tots programs and welcome your new and gently used toy donations year-round.

What kinds of toys can I donate?

Most charities welcome toy donations of all kinds. (Please do not, however, donate broken toys or toys with parts missing.) Donate sporting equipment and beach toys. Donate dolls, donate Barbies, donate stuffed animals in good condition. Donate action figures, donate dress-up costumes, donate puzzles.

I want to donate used toys! What to do?

If you have other items, in addition to used toys, that you would like to donate to charity, DonationTown.org will help you find a charity in your area that will accept your donations AND help you schedule a fast, free pick-up of your items.

How can I schedule a fast, FREE pickup of my toy donation?

It only takes a few minutes of your time. DonationTown.org has made it easier than ever for you to connect to a nearby charity in order to donate used toys. Donating new and used toys is fast, free, and sure to bring big smiles to the faces of little ones in your community.

Where to Donate Toys

Finding a place to donate your children’s old toys isn’t that hard. There are a lot of places that accept and are in great need of toy donations. These includes:

How to Donate Toys to Children in Need

Now that you know where to donate toys to unfortunate children, let’s talk about the do’s and don’ts when donating toys.

About The Author

Judy Ponio is a professional writer and SEO specialist. She works hard to ensure her work uses accurate facts by cross checking reputable sources. She is the lead author for several prominent websites covering a variety of topics including law, health, nutrition, and more.

How to donate stuffed animals?

You can donate gently used stuffed animals to SAFE. However, please be sure that the stuffed animals meet the following guidelines: 1 Only gently used stuffed animals 2 Stuffed animals that have been properly cleaned (the website has a guide) 3 Stuffed animals that were part of a collection, haven’t been played with, and still have tags on are considered “new” even if they’ve been stored cleanly in your home

What is stuffed animal safe?

Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (SAFE for short) is a charity that gives stuffed animals to children in emergency situations. Such as children who are involved in a domestic violence incident, a house fire, car accident, or other traumatic event. You can donate gently used stuffed animals to SAFE.

Who is Laurie Blank?

Laurie Blank is a blogger, freelance writer, and mother of four. She’s psyched about teaching others how to manage their money in a way that aligns with their values and has been quoted in Bankrate.

What is emergency childcare?

Many metropolitan cities have emergency childcare services – often called crisis nurseries – for parents who are in a bind and need occasional child care. For instance, if a parent is trying to get help for addiction, or move, or something similar, they can find childcare for a specified amount of time.

Does Marines Toys For Tots accept used toys?

There were a few articles that said U.S. Marines Toys For Tots program accepts used toys as well. According to this webpage, that hasn’t been the case since 1980. The Toys For Tots website said that distributing used toys to some children was giving them the wrong message that they weren’t worthy of new toys, while kids who received new toys were more deserving.

image

Hospitals

  • Many medical facilities accept gently used toys for their young patients to play with while they are hospitalized. Your local hospital might have a toy wish list posted on its website that you can check for its exact needs. Always check with the medical facility before you show up with a box …
See more on thespruce.com

Doctors' Offices

  • Visit a children's doctor's office, and you might see toys that people have donated. Large toys can entertain children in the waiting room. And small toys can be used in the doctor's prize bin to reward kids for making it through a checkup. Check with your local doctor's office to see what its needs are. If you have kids, you can have them write short messages of well wishes on certain t…
See more on thespruce.com

Daycare Centers

  • It is rare to find a daycare center that is not in need of more toys. With so many children to entertain, daycare centers run through toys pretty fast. If you don't use a daycare center yourself, check with parents in your area to find one that will take your toy donations. The greatest need will likely be toys for young children.
See more on thespruce.com

Shelters

  • Women's shelters, as well as shelters for homeless people, are often overlooked as toy donation sites. But children end up at these locations too, and they often come with very few possessions. So many of these shelters will gladly take gently used toy donations. At the same time, you might be able to donate other items, including clothing, bedding, and toiletries. Contact a particular she…
See more on thespruce.com

Children's Homes

  • Children's homes are another place where you can donate used toys for kids in need. Groups of kids live together in children's homes, so toys for kids of all ages are usually appreciated. Don't forget about toys for older children, as they're often an overlooked group in favor of cute toys for young kids. Check your local directory to see whether there is a children's home near you, and fin…
See more on thespruce.com

Military Families

  • With military families constantly on the move, some toys might not make the trip to the family's new home. So some gently used toys could be a nice welcoming gesture for a military family with kids that's new to your city. You also can contact a local military family support group to find a home for your toy donations, or contact Operation Homefrontto search for current needs.
See more on thespruce.com

Religious Centers

  • From newborns to school-age kids, local religious centers often provide childcare services to a variety of children during services and other facility events. Contact a local place of worship to find out what its needs are. If it's not accepting toy donations at the moment, there's a good chance it will be able to direct you to a reputable location that will take your donations.
See more on thespruce.com

Social Services

  • Your local social services division likely will be able to connect you with a variety of kids who would love to play with your gently used children's toys. Contact your local department to find out what it needs and where to bring donations. It also might have needs for other children's items, such as clothing and shoes.
See more on thespruce.com

Police and Fire Departments

  • Police officers and firefighters often carry small toys, usually stuffed animals, to comfort scared and injured children on the scene. And local departments generally look to the public for donations to provide this service. So call your local police and fire departments to find out whether they would like some gently used toys. Around the holidays, departments also often ser…
See more on thespruce.com

Toy Donation Options

Image
1. Resell Charities Charity thrift stores such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army accept toys and then put them on the store floor for others to buy. Any proceeds they collect from the sale of the toys is put back into programs that benefit the needy right in your own community. However, you should call your local store prio…
See more on moneycrashers.com

Specific Charities

  • While local charities may or may not need toys, national charities generally always accept donations. Here are several specific national charities that are looking for goods, such as toys and games. 6. Toys for Tots While you may associate Toys for Tots with a call for new, unwrapped toys, the Marine-facilitated charity also takes used toys in great shape. If you have a box to dona…
See more on moneycrashers.com

What to Avoid

  • While most charities are thrilled to receive toy donations, there are several things that you must avoid: 1. Don’t Give Broken or Soiled Toys. Most facilities don’t have the ability to clean and repair items, so they may simply be tossed in the garbage if they can’t be put back together quickly. 2. Don’t Give Items With Pieces Missing.It’s unlikely that a charity has the ability to locate a replace…
See more on moneycrashers.com

Toys and Taxes

  • You can often claim toy donations as a deduction on your taxes, but you have to do a few things first. To start, catalog all of the items you’re donating by type and what shape they are in. Then, you must specifically donate to a tax-exempt organization. If you’re not sure if a facility can claim exempt organization status, check the IRS EO Select Check tool. Then, ask the organization for …
See more on moneycrashers.com

Final Word

  • If none of these option work for you, visit DonationTown.org, a website designed to facilitate free donation pickups for charities in your area. By going to the website, you can schedule a pickup and delivery to a charity of your choice simply by inputting your ZIP code. Wanting to donate old toys is definitely commendable, and there are literally hundreds of deserving charities that coul…
See more on moneycrashers.com