A common question for parents and grandparents during the holiday season is, "Where can I donate toys near me?" With so many organizations that accept toy donations, it can be hard to know where they all are.
Kids grow out of their toys so fast it's hard to keep up, and with relatives buying new toys on birthdays and holidays, we often end up with a huge surplus of used toys, games, and baby items that we don't know what to do with.
Donating toys helps reduce waste and supports children and families in need.
This guide is for parents, grandparents, and anyone looking to donate toys locally. Below, we share a mega list of local charities, groups, and other organizations that are accepting toy donations near you. You'll also learn what types of toys you can donate, and how to prepare them before you hand them over.
Contents
You might be wondering why you should bother donating your used toys to charity in the first place, especially if there are some good alternatives like Craigslist or eBay. Fortunately, there are a number of reasons to donate your used games and toys.
First of all, it's the right thing to do.
Each year, over half a billion new toys are made specifically for children across America, many of which end up in landfills due to a lack of recycling. If you're aiming for a zero waste lifestyle, the last thing you want to do is throw plastic toys in the trash!
Instead of throwing them away, why not donate toys to good causes instead? By handing down your old toys, you can reduce waste and make a real difference to the lives of children from disadvantaged families.
Even the smallest donations can have a profound impact, providing warmth, joy, and essential resources to families in need.
Ready to help change a child's life? Here's the list of where you can donate.
Local toy donations can be made to organizations like Toys for Tots, Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and local children's hospitals or shelters. Here's a full list of places that accept toy donations near you.
The Salvation Army accepts donations of new and used toys, stuffed animals, clothes, shoes, housewares, electronics, and more.
Your donated toys, games, and clothes will be sold in Salvation Army thrift stores, allowing low-income families to purchase them and give their kids toys they might otherwise never get. The proceeds will be used to fund the charity's Adult Rehabilitation Centers in your local community and other good causes.
There are 2,829 drop box locations across the United States for donating gently used items, including toys, to The Salvation Army.
You can find your local Salvation Army location and schedule a free pickup by clicking here.
Goodwill accepts toys that are sold in thrift stores to fund training programs. The proceeds go towards providing training and job placement opportunities in your local area.
Donating toys to Goodwill also has a tax benefit. In some cases, they'll provide you with a receipt that you can use as your tax deduction as well!
Find your local Goodwill Donation Center by clicking here.
Toys for Tots is a non-profit organization that provides toys to poor or at-risk children around Christmas time. Toys for Tots was started in 1947 and became a registered charity at the behest of the US Marine Corps. They now distribute 1an average of 8 million toys to 7 million less fortunate children annually.
For each toy donation, a new, unwrapped toy is given to a child who otherwise might not receive one.
You can find your local Toys For Tots drop-off location and arrange to make a donation by clicking here.
Your local Habitat for Humanity will be happy to accept used games and toys, as well as furniture, household goods, and appliances. Free pickup of large items is available.
Your donated toys are sold at their ReStores, with the proceeds going to build affordable housing for local families.
You can find your closest Habitat ReStore by clicking here.
McDonald's may have a long way to go to be considered eco-friendly, but this charity certainly does a lot of good work.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of children end up spending time at Ronald McDonald House locations because they're undergoing critical medical care.
Ronald McDonald House doesn't accept used toys. But if you have any unwanted toys that are new and unopened, then they would be welcomed. If you live near one of their 100+ locations around the USA, you can drop off your donations in person.
See the latest wish list here.
Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (SAFE) is a nonprofit organization that accepts donations of new and gently used stuffed animals, which are given directly to children in need. If you wish to donate your used plush toys, they usually accept them, no matter how old or worn out.
As well as new and gently used stuffed animals, they also welcome donations of blankets, books, school supplies, kids' clothes, and baby items.
Contact Stuffed Animals for Emergencies via their website.
You can donate toys to help support military members and their families.
Often, military families move around quite a bit, but there isn't always the capacity to move toys and games at the same time. This means that your used games and toys can come in very handy for children in a military family.
They accept all items, no matter how worn they are, so don't be afraid to donate even if the toy looks like it's seen better days!
More information can be found on the Operation Homefront website here.
The Vietnam Veterans of America is committed to helping veterans in need. They have several locations around the country where you can donate used games and toys. These donations go directly towards making someone's holiday better, which is a wonderful way to give back during this time of year!
For your nearest VVA location or to request a free pickup, click here.
You can save yourself a lot of time and choose to donate toys directly to your friends or a family member.
Anyone who has younger children than your own will normally be delighted to receive your gently used toys when your kids have finished with them, so their kids can enjoy them as well.
We all know how expensive it is to purchase toys brand new, so helping out those closest to you will often be much appreciated.
Children's hospitals often accept new, unused toys to keep children comfortable.
If your local children's hospital is looking for used games and toys to donate to families this Christmas, consider bringing them some on your next visit. Many hospitals also require toys for their own waiting room, for kids to play with while they wait for an appointment.
Giving back to the community through your local hospital will make you feel good inside, knowing that your donation can help brighten up someone's day when they need it most.
If you have a doctor's office in your neighborhood, call them up and ask if they accept used games and toys. They may have a family in need who would be grateful for the donation. Or, like hospitals, doctors often have a selection of used toys in their waiting rooms for kids to play with.
If not, you might ask if they'd mind storing it somewhere just in case someone calls to say that they need something for their kids.
Many religious organizations and churches are happy to accept used games, toys and arts & crafts for donation. Call up your local church and ask them if they can help you find a family in need of these items. If not, call the pastor or church secretary to discuss donating them to someone appropriate.
If your local library is having a book sale, consider donating some of your used games and toys! They're often looking for more toys and children's books to help keep the shelves stocked.
Your local daycare center might be a good place to donate used toys. Most daycare centers love to receive used wooden toys in good condition because they are hard-wearing and easy to clean. Some also accept baby items!
Second Chance Toys focuses on donating gently used plastic toys to children in need and helps keep plastic out of landfills. They are based in New Jersey.
Items that are collected are either reused or recycled, helping to save on landfill space and protect the environment. If you have some old games, toys, or consoles that you no longer use, then consider donating them! You can find more information on their website.
Your local children's home is another good place to donate your games and toys. Call up the operators of each of them near you and ask what they do with their donations.
Your local shelters for the homeless or domestic violence survivors may be a great place to donate your used games and toys. Many shelters often house children who have left their homes with very few possessions and require toy donations.
Call up your local shelter and ask if they accept these donations.
If you know of a foster program or shelter in your area, call them up and ask if they accept used games and toys. Oftentimes, these kids need some entertainment during the holiday season. Call around to find out who accepts donations (and where), then drop off your items.
Donating your used games and toys to the local police or fire department may be another good way to give this holiday season.
Local fire and police departments keep stuffed animals on hand to comfort children during emergencies.
These are wonderful organizations that support our communities, so it's important to help them when we can! Call around to find out where donations are accepted in your area.
If you've got too many games and toys to handle, why not donate some to the local museum? Museums often accept donations of all kinds - your donations can be put on display for everyone to enjoy! Call around to find out what museums in your area take game and toy donations.
This volunteer initiative is a great option if you live in or near Los Angeles County, California.
The Toy Loan Program accepts new and gently used toy donations and allows children to borrow toys, similar to borrowing books from a library.
Donations are accepted via a drop-off location in Los Angeles County, and a pick up service is available for local residents.
The program also runs a backpack and school supplies drive between June and August.
If you're interested in helping, visit the Toy Loan Program website for more details.
Resale stores often take used games and toys as a form of philanthropy. Many local organizations have annual drives for their resale stores, so you can donate your items to a good cause, including the Memphis Area Women's Council.
Call around to find out what organizations or resale stores in your area accept toy donations.
If you can't find any of the above organizations that accept toys in your area, or you really need the extra cash, then consider selling your items online.
Use a local Facebook group, or list your items on Craigslist or eBay. Remember to keep the prices low to encourage more interest. The main priority is making sure you find a new home for your used toys, so they don't end up in a landfill!
The organizations listed above are grateful to accept the following items.
Different charities and organizations have their own criteria for what items they can and can't accept. Hospitals and specific charity drives typically require new, unopened toys, but many organizations are happy to accept used items, provided they are still in working condition.
I've given some guidelines on this in the list above, as well as a link to the charity website where applicable. So you can find the right home for your stuffed animal, toy, or game.
Follow these simple steps to prepare your used toys and other items before you donate them.
Now that you know where to donate used toys, you might want to have a clearout of your kids' bedroom or play area and see if there's anything there that they haven't used for a while. While you're purging, consider recycling items in your living room at the same time.
As you can see, there are many places that are accepting donations both locally and nationally, so you have many great opportunities to help out low-income families or help raise money for a good cause.
If you need the money, then selling your items online can help you raise a few bucks towards buying a new toy. But don't expect to get anywhere near the retail price.
If they're broken or unusable, then look for recycling programs in your area instead.
Remember that keeping toys out of landfills is the main priority. Plastic pollution is a major issue for the entire planet, and the last thing we want is to make children's items a part of that. They'll never forgive us if we do.
The good news is that with so many other options available these days, there really is no reason to throw anything away.
