where to donate puzzles and games

by Freeda Hagenes Jr. 3 min read

If you do donate a game or puzzle with missing pieces, please mark on the outside of the box that pieces are missing. Sell the remaining pieces on places like eBay, Craigslist or Etsy. Thrift stores, children’s stores and even sometimes music and used book stores take puzzles and games for resale.

Donating tabletop hobbyist board games
  • Local libraries. My local library has a regular board games evening. ...
  • After school clubs. Give your local schools a call and see if they have a board game club. ...
  • University and college societies. ...
  • Friendly local game stores. ...
  • Board game bars and cafes.

Full Answer

Who can I donate jigsaw puzzles to?

If you do donate a game or puzzle with missing pieces, please mark on the outside of the box that pieces are missing. Sell the remaining pieces on places like eBay, Craigslist or Etsy. Thrift stores, children’s stores and even sometimes music and used …

Where to donate your craft supplies?

Feb 23, 2009 · Update: Where to donate old puzzles, games. By Naomi Seldin on February 23, 2009 at 4:34 PM. A reader asked this question last week:

Where your donations actually go?

Where to donate old boardgames and puzzles? I'm helping my dad clean out his house, and he's got a pig pile of old boardgames and puzzles that we're getting rid of. I'd like to donate them somewhere that might use them, rather than just to a church rummage sale or into the trash.

Where can I Donate my items?

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What can I do with my old puzzles?

Donating used puzzlesDonate them to charity. You may have a charity that's close to your own heart, or simply a nearby charity shop that you can donate to. ... Old people's homes or nurseries. Most old people's homes are happy to accept pre-loved jigsaws that the residents can do. ... Re-purpose them.Oct 15, 2021

How do you get rid of puzzles?

The box can be broken down and recycled. There are other options for getting rid of a puzzle in pieces. If you are sure all the pieces are there, it can be donated to any of the area thrift/resale shops, senior centers, or after-school programs. Children's puzzles can be donated to child care centers.Dec 3, 2011

What can you do with used jigsaw puzzles?

Donating used jigsaw puzzles to charity is one way to give them new life. Many large charities operate stores that resell donated items at a fraction of the price of what they cost new. Other charities give donated items to those in need.Dec 12, 2019

Should I donate puzzles with missing pieces?

If you aren't in need of them for crafts, check with a pre-school or elementary school teacher or art teacher. If you do donate a game or puzzle with missing pieces, please mark on the outside of the box that pieces are missing. Sell the remaining pieces on places like eBay, Craigslist or Etsy.

How do I delete jigsaw puzzles from my IPAD?

Delete Puzzles in ProgressGo to your Puzzles in Progress section. ( Located next to the Free Daily Puzzle)Tap the Trash can icon in the top right corner to reveal which puzzle packs can be deleted.Select the small red "X" button to remove that puzzle pack from your game.

How do I get rid of puzzle dust?

How Do I Get Rid Of Puzzle Dust? Simple Tips And Tricks To Get Rid Of Puzzle Dust.Use A Collander. ... Shake Puzzle Dust Out Of The Bag. ... Use A Sorting Tray With Mesh Holes. ... Gather Each Piece Separately From The Box. ... Use A Mesh Laundry Bag. ... Use The World's Smallest Dust Buster. ... Buy Puzzles That Don't Have Dust.

Are old jigsaw puzzles worth money?

The most valuable vintage puzzles are those containing all of their pieces. They are iconic limited editions in excellent condition. They do not need to be particularly old to be higher in value. New-in-box vintage puzzles are typically more valuable than those that are used.

Does goodwill have jigsaw puzzles?

NEW! 6 Jigsaw Puzzles - All 500 pcs - shopgoodwill.com.

Can you recycle jigsaw puzzles?

Probably – as long as it's just paper and not plastic laminate. Most (but not all) paper recycling bins take light card & glossy paper but best to check the advice in your area.Aug 9, 2010

Who founded Puzzles to Remember?

Puzzles To Remember was founded in 2008 by Max Wallack, who recognized the calming effect of puzzles and many other benefits on people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Max graduated from Boston University, Summa Cum Laude, in 2015, and from Harvard Medical School in 2020.

Who is Max Wallack?

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Posted by Max Wallack at 5:13 PM.

What is donation town?

Donation Town is basically a donation pickup search engine. You’re able to easily discover nearby charities that can pick up your toy donation. With that said, the site is not perfect as they possibly miss some charities that do offer free pickup.

What is a give back box?

Give Back Box is a vendor that partners with online retailers to reuse cardboard boxes for shipping donations. You simply use any boxes you have at home to pack your old items that you want to donate (i.e. children toys) then apply the free shipping labels they provide you. The donation will be mailed to one of the charities participating in their program.

What is Toys for Tots?

Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to needy children. You’re probably familiar with the toy drives they do during the holiday season, which they’re famous for. The program accept toy donations year round at many locations throughout the US.

Who is Hassan Alnassir?

Hassan Alnassir is the founder and owner of Premium Joy. He created this toy business after being inspired by his little child who loved playing with foam puzzles. Hassan enjoys doing meditation, traveling by plane, and relaxing in nature. You can get in touch with him through Twitter at @HassanRelaxed.

Can you donate toys to shelters?

Shelters may be one of the last places you would think of when wanting to donate toys, but it shouldn’t be. Many orphaned, underprivileged and abused children do end up in shelters (e.g. homeless shelters), which typically depend on public support. Your toy giveaway will help in alleviating the hardships those children go through and putting a smile on their faces.

What is the mission of the Christian charity?

This is a Christian charity whose mission is to meet human needs without discrimination in every way possible. They offer various programs that benefit the community including disaster relief, homeless shelters, adult rehabilitation and summer camps for kids. The organization also provides Christmas gifts to needy families and children during the holiday season.

What is Habitat for Humanity?

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home. They aid families in buying decent and affordable housing including working with volunteers and receiving financial education.

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.

Can you donate toys to a charity?

As an extra incentive, you can donate toys to a qualifying charity or nonprofit group and deduct the items on your taxes. 2. Hospitals. Many medical facilities accept gently used toys for their young patients to play with while they are hospitalized.

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.

Do daycares need more toys?

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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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…
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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…
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Toy Donation Options

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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 …
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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…
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