where can i donate toys for christmas 2020

by Mrs. Theresia Cremin 3 min read

Donating old toys is another great way to provide for children this Christmas. Your local Salvation Army and Goodwill are great places to consider. They take your used toys and sell them at very affordable prices.

Here are our picks for charities that help children to support during the holidays.
  • 01 of 10. St. Jude. ...
  • 02 of 10. Pay Away the Layaway. ...
  • 03 of 10. Project Linus. ...
  • 04 of 10. One Simple Wish. ...
  • 05 of 10. Toys for Tots. ...
  • 06 of 10. Operation Christmas Child. ...
  • 07 of 10. Make-A-Wish Foundation. ...
  • 08 of 10. Prison Fellowship Angel Tree.
Dec 8, 2021

Full Answer

Where is the best place to donate toys?

Donating old toys is another great way to provide for children this Christmas. Your local Salvation Army and Goodwill are great places to consider. They take your used toys and sell them at very ...

Where to donate gently-used toys?

Dec 02, 2021 · Where to donate second-hand toys for Christmas. If you’re looking to donate second-hand toys ahead of Christmas, these are the charities that are happy to accept them: Scratch, Southampton; The TOY Project, London; Little Village, London; Families in your community via Young Planet; Charity shops in your local area, such as British Heart …

Where can I give toys to charity?

Nov 24, 2020 · Angel Trees have been around for decades and are usually at local locations to pick up a family or child's wishlist. They're partnering with Walmart this year to support 2.6 million children. You can click here to enter your zip code and shop, and then Walmart will ship items directly to the local Salvation Army.

Does Salvation Army accept toys?

You can donate a toy at one of the area toy drop locations, host a Toys for Tots event at your home, office or other venue and collect toys for Toys for Tots, or volunteer at the local warehouse. To locate your nearest Marine Toys for Tots Local Campaign you can either locate a campaign using the interactive map, or select your state from the below drop down menu, followed by …

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Is Toys for Tots going to happen in 2021?

Our Toys for Tots campaign for 2021 is now underway!

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.

How can I help the less fortunate at Christmas?

Perform simple, random acts of kindnessGive a generous tip to a friendly customer service worker like a waiter or barista.Buy a homeless person a sandwich and a hot drink.Help someone who's struggling with their luggage on public transport.Give up your seat to someone on busy public transport.More items...

How can I get free Toys for Christmas 2021?

Santa's Helpers: Where to Find Free Toys for Christmas 2021Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. ... Toys for Tots. ... United Way. ... USPS Operation Santa. ... Amanda Manigault Ministries. ... Catholic Charities. ... Operation Homefront. ... Santa's Little Helper.More items...

What toys are acceptable for Toys for Tots?

Popular toy categories include sporting equipment, books, backpacks, board games, radio control cars/trucks, hand-held electronics, and skateboards/helmets. Do not give toys that look like realistic weapons or food items.Dec 8, 2020

Where can I donate toys for Christmas Minneapolis?

If you want to drop by our warehouse to drop off a donation, our address is 2633 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis MN 55406. Alternatively, you can bring your donations to KARE11 located at 8811 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley MN 55427.

How can I get free Toys for Christmas?

How To Find Free Toys for Kids this Christmas and Holiday Season—Apply Soon!Salvation Army. The Salvation Army offers a variety of services to those in need. ... Wilbert Manigault International Ministries Inc. ... USPS Operation Santa. ... Operation Homefront. ... Catholic Charities. ... United Way.Oct 21, 2021

Can gray hair be donated?

Adults and children can donate hair. You may need to find out if an organization will or will not take hair that's been colored, permed, highlighted, bleached, or dreadlocked. Also, some organizations accept gray hair or hair with a certain percentage of gray in it, while others don't accept it at all.Apr 26, 2018

Is Toys for Tots a good charity?

Did you know that Toys for Tots is a top rated charity? 97% of your donation goes to our mission of providing toys, books and other gifts to less fortunate children. The 3% spent on support principally covers fundraising expenses – not one donated dollar goes to pay for salaries or any other manpower costs.

How many toys should a child get for Christmas?

Three would be the magic number of how many gifts to give kids at Christmas.Oct 3, 2021

How do Toys for Tots get distributed?

Coordinators pick up these toys and store them in central warehouses where the toys are sorted by age and gender. At Christmas, Coordinators, with the assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and other local community agencies, distribute the toys to the less fortunate children of the community.

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 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 an offerup?

Like LetGo, OfferUp is an online marketplace where you can buy stuff and sell stuff to people near you and also ship items. OfferUp does have a section just for free stuff as well. You could list your toys on there and give them away to someone who needs them.

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.

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 5miles?

Again, 5miles is an online marketplace for selling a range of items locally. But it also has a section just for free stuff where you can list your gently used toys. 13. Craigslist. Another site where you can donate stuff to people nearby is Craigslist. Sure, the site is mostly known as a place to buy and sell stuff.

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 Operation Santa?

The United States Postal Service's Operation Santa initiative brings Christmas miracles to children in need by volunteers reading through letters to Santa from children, shopping for the gifts requested in the letters, wrapping said gifts, and having the gift shipped to the child via the USPS. You can pick as many letters as you'd like either individually, or as a team, per the USPS website.

How does Cradles to Crayons work?

Per the website, Cradles to Crayons has a three-step model to provide kids with essentials they need. Toys and donations are collected through community drives, then the items are processed by volunteers in a warehouse, and finally the packages from "The Giving Factory" are distributed to local children who are in need.

Does Walmart have an angel tree?

Walmart and The Salvation Army are teaming together to ensure all children "feel the joy of Christmas" in 2020. At every Walmart, you'll find an " Angel Tree " and donors can shop for each child's Christmas wishlist by pulling a tag off the tree at the store. You can also shop online via the website.

How to support Toys for Tots?

There are a number of ways to support Toys for Tots' mission, including purchasing a toy and donating it at a local toy drop location, shopping for a toy to donate via the Toys for Tots website, or donating money online.

What is Operation Christmas Child?

A program run by Christian organization Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child that takes a collection of shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, apparel, candy, and a personal note. Select a child's age group and fill the box with items consistent for that age group.

How to teach kids to give to others?

Teach your children the value of giving to others during the holiday season by donating to a charity that provides gifts for needy children. Your kids may enjoy selecting presents for other children who are the same age as them. Choose from a variety of national charities or look for a local organization that's providing Christmas cheer ...

What does Make a Wish Foundation do?

The Make-A-Wish Foundation helps children throughout the year, but it also partners with companies to raise money specifically during the holiday season. If you drop off a letter to Santa at any Macy's location, the store will donate $1 per letter to Make-A-Wish.

What is the Angel Tree in prison?

The Christian charity Prison Fellowship Organization offers an Angel Tree program that help children who have at least one parent in prison. Through the program, volunteers deliver a gift and a message from both the Gospel and the child's incarcerated parent.

Who is Apryl Duncan?

Apryl Duncan is a writer for the Spruce covering lifestyle and family. She has over 20 years experience in freelance writing. Teach your children the value of giving to others during the holiday season by donating to a charity that provides gifts for needy children.

Does Walmart have angel trees?

The Salvation Army also has an Angel Tree program in collaboration with Walmart. The stores have Christmas trees that have tags on them. Each tag has a wishlist of a specific child. Donors pick an angel tag, shop for gifts (not necessarily at Walmart), and drops of the gifts for the Salvation Army to distribute.

What charities take toys?

Salvation Army and Goodwill are two of the most recognizable charities that take toy donations. But call your local branch before you go to confirm that it's accepting toy donations. Such charities often give toys directly to less fortunate children, or they sell the toys and put the proceeds toward the organization's efforts. Either way, the toys will be helping people in your community. As an extra incentive, you can donate toys to a qualifying charity or nonprofit group and deduct the items on your taxes.

What to do if you don't use a daycare?

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.

Can you play with toys in a hospital?

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 of toys.

Do religious centers take donations?

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.

Do police officers carry toys?

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 serve as drop-off locations for toy, coat, and other donations.

Can you donate toys to the military?

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 Homefront to search for current needs.

What charities accept gently used toys?

There are so many charities that will accept gently used toys and distribute them throughout their networks. For example, thrift-store organizations like Goodwill and The Salvation Army will resell toys in their shops and use the profits to support their charitable work. You could also give to Toys for Tots, the United States Marine Corps Reserve-run program that gives donated toys to children in need. Toys for Tots hosts popular toy drives around the holidays, but they also accept gently used toys year-round. Cradles to Crayons is another organization that accepts new and nearly new toys to benefit low-income families.

Can hospitals accept toys?

Hospitals. Many hospitals will accept donated toys for their young patients to play with, or to keep children entertained in the waiting room; the same thing goes for doctor's offices. But keep in mind: If you want to donate toys to your local children's hospital, they must be new.

Do police officers carry stuffed animals?

Police officers and firefighters often carry stuffed animals and other small toys with them to comfort children at the scenes of traumatic events, and their supply of toys sometimes depends on donations. Reach out to your local police and fire departments to see if they're accepting donations right now.

Can daycares go through toys?

If you've ever been to a day-care center, you know that they go through toys quickly. That's why if you have a ton of lightly used toys to donate, you might contact a center in your area to see if they're able to give your items a second life.

Can you throw old toys in the trash?

While you might consider simply throwing those old toys in the trash, there are plenty of kids who would love to receive them. And at the very least, you can help them avoid the landfill. Here are all the places you can donate gently used toys, including electronics, stuffed animals, dolls and other items.

What is the mission of Operation Christmas Child?

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

What is alternative gift?

Alternative Gifts International is a non-profit organization which inspires support for humanitarian and environmental causes. We offer donors the option to designate charitable gifts through carefully selected agencies in the name of their relatives, friends and associates.#N#Alternative Gifts International website

Why does the Salvation Army help people?

The Salvation Army endeavors to bring spiritual light and love to those it serves at Christmas so that the real meaning of the season is not forgotten. Many families receive aid over a period of months after the Christmas season, as well as people struggling with difficult family, emotional, or employment problems.

What is the red kettle?

The traditional red kettle is an integral part of the Christmas scene, with millions of dollars donated each year to aid needy families, seniors, and the homeless. Donations and financial assistance provide Christmas dinners, clothing, and toys for families in need.

What should children in developed nations be taught during the holiday season?

One thing that all children in developed nations should be taught during the holiday season is that even if their own family is struggling, there are children in other parts of the world that don't even have food to eat. While it’s hard to go with no presents during the holidays, most kids understand that they’re lucky to have a roof over their heads and warm food to eat. When you look at what amazing organizations like the UK based ToyBox do for children across the world – it’s enough to warm your heart four times over.#N#ToyBox website

When do charities have deadlines?

Many charities have deadlines several weeks before Christmas. Before you make Christmas donations, it is always a good idea to check out the charity at websites like Charity Watch . (Where possible, a charity watchdog is listed for each country).

What is the purpose of World Vision?

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people.#N#World Vision website

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Charities

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Salvation Army and Goodwill are two of the most recognizable charitiesthat take toy donations. But call your local branch before you go to confirm that it's accepting toy donations. Such charities often give toys directly to less fortunate children, or they sell the toys and put the proceeds toward the organization's efforts. Either w…
See more on thespruce.com

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 of toys. Some won't accept any items that aren't new due to the risk of spreading illness from seco…
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 sh...
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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.
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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

Charities

Image
There are so many charities that will accept gently used toys and distribute them throughout their networks. For example, thrift-store organizations like Goodwill and The Salvation Army will resell toys in their shops and use the profits to support their charitable work. You could also give to Toys for Tots, the United States Marine Co…
See more on goodhousekeeping.com

Buy Nothing Groups

  • Especially amid the coronavirus pandemic, it can be difficult to find charities and organizations that will accept donations of gently used toys — but that doesn't mean your kid's old things are destined for the dump. If you can't find any places to donate toys, try posting the items on your local Buy Nothing Facebook group. You could also list the toys on Freecycle or Craigslist. Make …
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Hospitals

  • Many hospitals will accept donated toys for their young patients to play with, or to keep children entertained in the waiting room; the same thing goes for doctor's offices. But keep in mind: If you want to donate toys to your local children's hospital, they must be new. Most hospitals have strict hygiene policies, so you'll need to purchase the toy specifically for the purpose of donating (cont…
See more on goodhousekeeping.com

Children's Homes and Shelters

  • Your toys will definitely get played with if you donate them to a local children's or women's shelter. Get in touch with the director of the children's home nearest to you to see where and how your donations can be most useful. Your local social services office might also be able to direct you to children in the foster care system and other children in need who would greatly appreciate gentl…
See more on goodhousekeeping.com

Daycare Centers

  • If you've ever been to a day-care center, you know that they go through toys quickly. That's why if you have a ton of lightly used toys to donate, you might contact a center in your area to see if they're able to give your items a second life.
See more on goodhousekeeping.com

Police and Fire Departments

  • Police officers and firefighters often carry stuffed animals and other small toys with them to comfort children at the scenes of traumatic events, and their supply of toys sometimes depends on donations. Reach out to your local police and fire departments to see if they're accepting donations right now. For an easy way to donate toys to this cause, give your items to Stuffed Ani…
See more on goodhousekeeping.com

Churches

  • The leader of your local church may know of families within the church who could use a few new toys. Otherwise, the church itself may want the toys to keep children occupied during Sunday school, services or other local events. Contact the church's children's ministry coordinator for more information.
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Recycling Programs

  • If the toys you're looking to get rid of are soiled, torn or otherwise not in great shape, recycling them may be the best bet. You can get in contact with your local recycling service and see if they take toys (because they don't always!), or check out TerraCycle. TerraCycle has a partnership with Hasbro specifically for recycling old toys — it's free and easy! You mail in your toys, and they bre…
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