A Big List of Where to Donate Toys (Near You & Online)

Toy Donation Options

Here are the best places to donate your children’s gently-used playthings.

1. 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.

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

Goodwill accepts toys that it then sells to others. Any money they make from selling the toys is used in programs that benefit those in need in your community. Since Goodwill stores sell a range of toys, make sure that your local store has a need for toys by calling ahead first.

If the store already has a surplus of toys, it might not accept your donation, but just give them a call to ask.

You’ll be giving a family a low-cost toy and you’ll be helping to fund important programs near you that help the needy.

Just visit the site, and search for a Goodwill location near you. You can use the filters to find specific types of Goodwill locations too, like donation centers.

3. The Salvation Army

Like Goodwill, The Salvation Army accepts toy donations and puts them on the store floor for others to buy. It then uses the proceeds to fund local programs for the needy.

You can donate toys to the Salvation Army by visiting the website and finding a location near you.

Just find your local Salvation Army, using the website we linked to above, and then call to find out if they would be willing to accept your toy donation.

Donating toys to the Salvation Army is a great way to provide low-cost toys to children near you and to support the important work that the Salvation Army does.

4. Second Chance Toys

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.

Unfortaunly, the origination only ahs local drop off locations in a few places including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

However, according to their website, “If you have or can collect 50 or more gently used plastic toys, we will arrange for a drop-off at a local organization.” Just got to the “collect toys” section on the site to register and follow the direction from there.

5. Operation Homefront

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.

6. Freecycle

Freecycle is a great website where people can get stuff for free and give stuff away to people in their own towns.

If you’re not bothered about getting the tax deduction you’d get when donating to a charity, you may want to give Freecycle a try.

This non-profit organization gives you a quick way to donate your used toys. Just post the items you want to donate on there. Of course, make sure you are safe when meeting up with the person you’re donating to, so meet in a public place and don’t share your address or any other personal details.

7. 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.

Since the Ronald McDonald House provides facilities for entire families, it’s often in need of toys to keep siblings entertained while they’re staying there.

You can donate toys to your local chapter. Just visit the website to find your local chapter.

8. Stuffed Animals 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. LetGo

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.