how to donate your kids toys

Where is the best place to donate toys?

Mar 28, 2022 · Donating your old toys to your local toy library will bring joy to many children in your community. Religious groups and Social Services Local religious facilities frequently provide childcare services to a range of youngsters during prayers and other activities, ranging from newborns to school-aged children.

Where to donate your used toys?

Oct 02, 2020 · If you’d like to make the process of sorting easier on your local GreenDrop donation center, organizing your child’s old toys by category can be very helpful. Organizing by toy type, board games, and playsets can make a difference in …

Where can you donate used toys?

Nov 07, 2013 · Here are five steps for getting kids to willingly donate toys: 1. Get the book Too Many Toys by David Shannon. Reserve the book Too Many Toys from your local library or order it on Amazon right now. This book is a great ice-breaker to help your children understand why you want to donate some of their toys. Shannon’s stories are always humorous, the watercolor …

How to donate old toys?

Aug 12, 2020 · The Marine Toys for Tots is a program that gives children free Christmas toys. By donating, you put presents under the tree of a less fortunate child on Christmas morning. You can donate a toy to one of the program’s toy drop locations or host a Toys for Tots event at your home or workplace and collect toys for the program. 2. Goodwill

How do you give away 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

What do you do with toys that are no longer needed?

Toy Donation OptionsResell 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. ... Local Shelters and Children's Centers. ... Preschools and Nurseries. ... Church Charities. ... Freecycle.

What do you do with all the toys?

Go through your play room and sort unused toys into piles by age. If you will not be having other children, donate the younger ages to another family or charity. If you do think you may have more kids, then simply store the toys from each age group separately and out of reach.

Where can I donate children's 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

How many toys end up in landfills?

80 percentAccording to ecoBirdy's website, 80 percent of toys end up in a landfill, incinerators or the ocean while 90 percent are made of plastic and are used for just six months on average.

Should I keep old toys?

“Don't put them in storage because once it's in storage it's as good as gone,” she notes. For bigger toys, she said parents tend to keep ones that cost a lot of money or that their child played with often, such as Hess trucks and Barbie dolls.May 9, 2019

What should I do with my old toys?

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

How many toys should a kid have?

While this supports the 20-toy-rule that the maximum number of toys for a child should be 20, the results also suggest many kids will probably need fewer toys (at least 70% of children). The survey answers by parents in the US indicate children play with an average of 15 toys out of all the toys they have.Dec 16, 2021

How do you get rid of toys before Christmas?

Clearing Out Toy Clutter Before ChristmasHave a conversation with your child about giving away toys. ... Ask your child what his or her favorite 3 or 4 toys are? ... Separate items into like categories, then declutter. ... Give your child choices and set limits. ... Use the “Half-Way Home” for toys.More items...

What can I do with unwanted toys UK?

Charities And luckily, there are many great organisations in the UK that accept used toys! For example, The Toy Project collects unwanted toys year-round and redistributes them to children in need. Around Christmastime, many local groups and councils also run toy drives to collect and distribute toys to children.

How do I dispose of old toys UK?

How to recycle toys and gamesToys are not collected as part of household collections so should not be put in your home recycling.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.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.

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:

What to do before you donate something?

Before you donate something, it pays to check it over and make sure that it still works and that all the pieces are still present. As toys age, especially without maintenance, they can break down. To avoid your kind donation having to be recycled for parts, give everything an inspection before you donate.

What is the first step in the donation process?

Normally, the first step to any donation process is deciding exactly what needs to be donated and what you’re going to keep. This is a tough enough process already, but it becomes even more important when it’s your kids’ things you want to donate.

Why do you wash stuffed animals?

Just to ensure maximum cleanliness, washing your stuffed animals or baby blankets is appreciated and helps the donation process go smoother. Not only is this good for hygiene purposes, but it also helps the stuffed animal or blanket look and feel newer. Keep in mind that not everything can be thrown into your washer.

Is it ok to donate toys?

You’ll inevitably accumulate a sizeable portion of cheap toys from fast-food restaurants or arcade games , and these are perfectly valid donations. The only problem is that they are usually of lower quality and break or get ruined much quicker.

Can you put stuffed animals in the washer?

Keep in mind that not everything can be thrown into your washer. If your stuffed animals have battery packs in them, or if they are stuffed with something other than cotton or wool, you could end up making them worse by cleaning them in your washing machine.

Do kids grow up fast?

Kids grow up way too fast; it’s an unfortunate fact of life. Another unfortunate fact is that you also have to deal with everything they grow out of as they age. One of the biggest space eaters in your home is probably your children’s old toys. Whether it’s a huge dollhouse or rails upon rails of track for toy cars, ...

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.

1. Get the book Too Many Toys by David Shannon

Reserve the book Too Many Toys from your local library or order it on Amazon right now. This book is a great ice-breaker to help your children understand why you want to donate some of their toys.

3. Encourage your child to look forward

Ask your kiddo, “Who do you think is going to give you Christmas presents this year?” Let them ramble on for a bit.

4. Shift to empathy

I’d tell my ladies, “That’s a lot of presents for two little girls. You’re pretty lucky. Not all kids get that many gifts.”

5. Give your kids control over their belongings

Resistance to donating items (or even sharing in general) is usually more about feeling a lack of control than actually wanting the item. Try giving your child a sense of power over his belongings.

Why do doctors need toys?

Doctor’s offices need toys to keep children occupied in the waiting room or even as a reward for making it through a checkup. So you could help out by donating toys.

What is Marine Toys for Tots?

The Marine Toys for Tots is a program that gives children free Christmas toys. By donating, you put presents under the tree of a less fortunate child on Christmas morning.

What is second chance toy?

Second Chance Toys is an awesome organization that exists to provide toys to kids in low-income households, particularly the ones living at or below the poverty level. You can donate any plastic toy that has all of its parts and batteries.

What is stuffed animal for emergencies?

Stuffed Animals for Emergencies is a wonderful organization that does just as its name suggests – it provides stuffed animals for children to cuddle in times of emergency. Having a stuffed toy to cuddle can help children to feel safe during times like natural disasters or during an ambulance ride, for example. 9.

What is a military charity?

This is an awesome national 501 (c) (3) nonprofit dedicated to helping military families so they can thrive. They help military families with anything from rent and mortgage to utilities, groceries and foods as well as toys for their kids. Visit their website to contact them to see about donating your kid’s gently used toys (or brand new toys) to military families in your area.

Is LetGo a charity?

LetGo isn’t a charity, but it’s still a place to consider giving away used toys. The site is a marketplace where you can buy and sell stuff locally. Although its focus is on selling stuff, there is actually a section just for free stuff where people can list the stuff they want to give away.

What is Ronald McDonald House?

The Ronald McDonald House is an organization that provides accommodation and facilities to families whose children are getting care in a nearby hospital. Basically, it makes it possible for families who live further away from the hospital to be near their children while they’re being cared for.

Toy Donation Safety Guidelines

In order to maintain a safe environment for our patients and families, all donations must follow these guidelines:

Our Most In Demand Items

Our most needed items are updated quarterly by the child life staff as the needs of our patient population vary throughout the year.

Sewn, Knitted & Crocheted Handmade Items

The health and safety for our patients and families is our top priority. All handmade cloth donations must follow the guidelines below.

Schedule a Donation Drop-Off

Donations must be scheduled prior to drop-off. To schedule an appointment, please click on the link below. If you experience any issues while attempting to schedule an appointment for donation drop-off, please call the Child Life department at 727-767-4323.

Frequently Asked Questions

For infection control reasons, we are unable to accept any used items.

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 …

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Doctors' Offices

Daycare Centers

Shelters

Children's Homes

Military Families

Religious Centers

Social Services

Police and Fire Departments