Where to Donate Used Toys Charities – If you have kids at home you must know how quickly your house can become overrun with games and toys. Children lose interest or outgrow the toys almost as fast as you purchase for them. You must not feel overwhelmed if your home is looking like a toy holder’s paradise since there are several places where you can donate your children’s gentle toys and declutter your home.
By donating your children’s gently used toys and games you not only declutter your living space and organize your home but also take the charitable contribution tax deduction and get financial benefits. This guide will throw light on a list of organizations and charities that are always on the lookout for game and toy donations including other options that you can access within your community.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- Donating gently used toys helps declutter your home, supports low-income families, promotes environmental responsibility, and offers potential financial benefits through charitable tax deductions.
- Leading organizations such as Toys for Tots, Ronald McDonald House, Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are prominent recipients of toy donations.
- Toys for Tots accepts both new and used toys and offers easy online coordination for donations.
- Goodwill and The Salvation Army resell donated toys in their thrift stores, funding programs that aid employment training and rehabilitation.
- Specific toy donations, including stuffed animals and board games, can significantly impact children experiencing crises, facilitated by organizations like Stuffed Animals for Emergencies (SAFE).
Why Should You Donate Your Gently Used Toys?
A lot of times children outgrow toys, books, games and other stuff even though they have plenty of life left in them to be used for someone else. Few items like books, stuffed animals, play kitchens, and board games are left to collect dust in storage. There are many benefits of donating gently used toys such as the following
- You can declutter your home and make more space
- You can help low-income families with children who are unable to buy new toys
- You can become more environmentally responsible
- You can get financial benefits through charitable contribution tax deduction
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What Are The Best Charities And Organizations That Accept Toy Donation?
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Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is one such charity that accepts all kinds of toys, both used and new. This organization, run by the U.S. Marine Corps, has been distributing toys to underprivileged children since 1947. As of 2023, Toys for Tots has distributed over 600 million toys to children in need. You should visit the charity’s website to learn how to make a toy donation. You must give details of your state and a pick-up location. Besides toys you can also give donations in the form of money.
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Ronald McDonald House
Ronald McDonald House provides for families so that they can stay close to the hospitals where their children are admitted or are getting care. With the help of Ronald McDonald’s house, the people who are staying far away can live close to their kids.
The organization needs toys so that little ones can stay engaged in playing during their stay in the house. So, you can donate them with the toys and contact the local chapter.
One of the most popular nonprofit organizations where people can donate all types of household items such as children’s clothing, toys, CDs and books is Goodwill. It is one of the best places where you can donate your children’s toys and declutter your home. In 2022 alone, Goodwill helped place over 200,000 people in jobs.
The organization sells donated household items in its brick-and-mortar thrift stores and with the profits gained they fund programs that focus on job placement and employment training for those with employment barriers.
Goodwill accepts donations of sporting equipment, toys and games for children of all ages. Gently used children’s toys are one of the most sought-after items that are available at Goodwill thrift stores. To donate your toys at the local Goodwill donation center visit the official website.
Similar to Goodwill, another nonprofit organization that resells all types of household goods including books and toys in their nationwide thrift stores is the Salvation Army. The organization accepts gently used toys of different types including sporting equipment, games, bicycles and electronics. In 2023, The Salvation Army reported that it served more than 23 million Americans through various community programs.
You can drop off your gently used toys at a local donation center by searching the Salvation Army thrift store website. You can also schedule a home pickup by entering your zip code on the official website, listing the donation items for pick up and scheduling a pickup date.
The proceeds from the sale of your donation will help to fund their charitable programs and support adult rehabilitation centers. The gently used toys will help low-income families to shop for toys for their children to play with.
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One of the biggest community-based advocacy organizations in America is The Arc which works for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The Arc has local chapters that accept physical item donations such as toys and clothing that they can resell in their thrift stores. The Arc has over 600 state and local chapters across the U.S., providing support and services to over a million individuals and their families.
The proceeds from the sale of donation items fund their charity programs. The accepted items may vary by local chapter however they usually accept games and toys in good condition.
A less common toy donation organization called Stuffed Animals for Emergencies solicits donations of gently used or new stuffed animals. The donated items are distributed among children who are experiencing an emotional or traumatic situation for instance a fire, neglect, accident, homelessness, abuse, illness or natural disaster.
With chapters in several states, the organization has distributed over 1 million stuffed animals since its inception. SAFE accepts donations of gently used or new stuffed animals and distributes them to emergency personnel, hospitals, and other organizations that work with children in crisis situations.
The SAFE organization has active chapters in only four states: Michigan, Ohio, Florida and Missouri. You can also donate your toys to an emergency need area without having an active chapter. If you’re donating your stuffed toys to an urgent need area then you need to wash your used stuffed animals as per their cleaning guidelines.
People who are looking for an easy and simple way to connect with charities that accept donation pickup services can connect to Donation Town. You just need to fill in your zip code on the official website of Donation Town and get a list of organizations that will pick up your gently used toys for free.
The organization gives you an option to schedule the pickup directly on the website. The organization links you to organizations and charities that accept a wide array of household items like electronics, clothing, furniture, toys, books etc.
Clothingdonations.org is operated and managed by the Vietnam Veterans of America that accepts toy donations in more than 32 states including Washington DC. Vietnam Veterans of America assists all types of veterans including disabled and homeless vets and helps to finance their hospital care.
The mission is to help minority veterans and women. The organization resells donated household items including donated books and toys to generate funds for national, state and local programs. Donating to this site is super convenient and easy. You just need to visit the official website, enter the postal code and schedule a free pickup.
A great option for those looking to support active or wounded duty military families and veterans is the Operation Homefront. The organization accepts gently used and new game or toy donations to help military families that are relocated. The organization has collaborated with Dollar Tree since 2006 on their annual holiday toy drive.
To find donation locations you can visit the Facebook page of Operation Home Front. Dollar Tree offers in-store collection boxes and encourages shoppers to donate their gently used or new toys to kids belonging to low-income military families.
Situated in Boston Chicago and Philadelphia the Cradles to Crayons help low-income families in providing essential goods completely free of cost. The organization accepts new and gently used toys through corporate donations and grassroots community drives. In 2023, Cradles to Crayons provided essentials to over 2 million children across its three locations.
The volunteers process and pack the donated items and send them to the warehouse of the organization known as The Giving Factory. They design packages comprising essential items and distribute them to local needy families. To learn how to find a drop-off location near you visit the official website.
The nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity assists low-income families to build their homes and improve their living situation. To fulfill their mission they have set Habitat ReStore thrift stores that sell gently used and donated items.
People can donate different types of household items like furniture, appliances, household items, toys and games to local habitat ReStore locations. The proceeds of the sale help to build affordable housing items for local low-income families.
The aim of the nonprofit organization St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to provide utmost care to children who are suffering from serious illnesses.
The organization accepts toy donations throughout the year. You can mail the donation directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or shop their Amazon Wish Lists by need and age group. It is important to keep in mind that there are a few categories of toys such as stuffed animals that the organization does not accept.
Established in 2006 the organization Second Chance Toys rescues plastic toys and then donates the items to nonprofit organizations and centers that serve needy children. The organization has partnered with many drop-off locations throughout the country.
The organization has diverted over 1.5 million pounds of plastic from landfills and provided toys to thousands of children across the United States. They partner with various corporations and community organizations to collect and distribute toys through drop-off locations.
You can navigate the online map and find an accredited location in your local area, registered as a toy donor, and sign up for a scheduled time to drop off your toys or get them picked up. The organization accepts clean and safe plastic toys with no missing or small parts.
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What to Avoid While Donating Toys For Kids?
There are many charities that love to take toy donations. But still, there are certain things that you should avert –
- Never give toys that are soiled or broken. The reason is that many people cannot do the cleaning and repairing. So, your toys may end up in the garbage.
- Never give toys that have certain parts missing. The charities will not be able to replace the missing parts
- Never give toys or items that can go inside the mouth of a baby. Toy donation programs don’t accept bottles and pacifiers as well. Most charities will not accept baby stuff. So if you want to donate baby seats and strollers you must contact the charity first.
- Never leave your stuff and toys unattended. The charities will always have pick-up accessibility and drop off places. So do not leave your toy box or stuff unattended at their door. Make a call and intimate them that you are coming.
- Never give used toys in the children’s hospital. As there are some rules and regulations regarding the hygiene regarding the toys in the room of a patient, so you should follow their protocols. So, it’s always best that you give new toys to the children’s hospital.
- Never wrap your stuff and toys. The donated items should be clearly visible.
- Never give recalled toys and stuff. Such toys should be given back to the manufacturer and you should not donate them.
Can I Claim A Deduction On Taxes By Donating Toys?
Yes, in many cases, you can claim a deduction on your taxes by donating toys. For that, you have to assemble the toys and make a donation to an organization that is tax-exempt.
If you don’t know whether an organization has a status of EO, then you can check with the tool for checking IRS EO select check tool. Plus, you can request the organization for a receipt of your donation as you will need it for your record.
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Additional Places To Donate Your Toys
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Local Shelters/ Children’s Centers
There are many children’s local homes and charity centers that accept old toys for the kids living there. You can donate your toys to local shelters/ children’s centers near you. Other similar options where you can look for donating the toys are –
- Children’s social services office
- Local Boys & Girls Club
- Toy drives pre arranged by department stores, schools, grocery, hospitals, etc.
To find the different kinds of shelters and charities in your area you can also search in the homeless shelter directory.
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Preschools and Nurseries
There are many pre schools and nurseries that accept soft used toys from people. Donating in preschools and nurseries will not enable you to claim a deduction on your taxes.
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Church Charities
One of the best parts about churches is that they are tax exempt organizations. So it means that you can get subtraction in your levies if you donate old toys to the nursery of the church.
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Online Sites
You can use online sites to list your toys and donate them to people who need them. You can list the items for free on popular sites like Freecycle, Nextdoor and Facebook marketplace.
You can donate your toys by posting on your Facebook page and helping your family or friends to know that you want to donate the toys for a good cause.
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Thrift Shops
There are charitable groups like St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army and Goodwill that accept donations of second-hand items including toys and games for resale in their thrift shops.
These shops accept donations during their standard hours of working including drop boxes placed in different areas within the communities they serve.
Few local thrift stores are for profit which means you will not be able to take charitable tax deductions for your donated items.
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Foster Care Programs
Foster care homes in your local community will be happy to accept your gently used toys. In today’s turbulent environment toy donations can be significant in the lives of little children placed in foster care.
You can search online for the foster care programs available in your local area, get connected and learn how you can donate. For instance: FosterCares in Roswell, Georgia.
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Daycare Centres
Preschool and daycare centers need new toys. These centers use toys and games to keep children occupied and stimulated with play the entire day.
If your children are attending preschool or daycare then you can ask if they are ready to accept the donation. You can contact your local daycare center for donating gently used toys, especially plastic or wooden toys that are easy to clean and durable.
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Local Libraries
Even though libraries are well stocked with a variety of book items they will not turn down more helpful resources for the community.
If you want to discard used books or toys you can donate the books, toys and games at the library during a community book sale. You can contact your local librarian ahead of time to learn the type of donations that they are accepting.
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After School Programs
After-school programs similar to daycare centers will accept your gently used toys and distribute them to younger children who need play supplies after school. They can be repurposed as robotics projects or art supplies for adult students.
Gently used toys like games, sporting equipment and board games help younger children occupy their time while they are waiting for their guardians to get out of work. You can contact your child’s school to see if they are accepting toy donations.
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Children’s Hospital
Donated toys come in handy in children’s hospitals where kids need distraction. Hospitals and doctors’ offices will gladly accept your donated toys for the little patients to play with in the waiting room or as a means of coping tool in the examination room.
An important thing to keep in mind is that hospitals have stringent hygiene policies and will not accept any used toys. Children’s Hospital will list the guidelines for toy donation so you need to make sure you can meet the specific requirements before donating.
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Animal Shelters
If you are an animal lover then you can donate stuffed animals to your local animal shelters. You need to check in with your local shelter since most of the time they avoid accepting stuffed animals with small parts like electronic packs or button eyes. Avoid donating any materials that can be ingested or ripped off or that can be harmful to animals like plastic or beads.
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Women’s and Homeless Shelters
One of the most overlooked places to donate toys and stuff is shelters for the homeless and women. They are the most vulnerable population and end up sheltering with limited positions.
If you want to declutter your house then you can donate household items like clothing or toiletries, bedding, toys etc. to a local woman and homeless shelter
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Children’s Museum
There are many children’s museums in the United States of America that accept donations to enhance their exhibits and are fond of plastic toys. These museums include play areas with small tactile toys where kids can explore their hands or use them in imaginative play.
A few examples of children’s museums that welcome toy donations are the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry Strong Museum of Play and the North Platte Area Children’s Museum.
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Police And Fire Departments
Small toys or stuffed animals become handy to comfort children at the scene of any traumatic event for first responders like police officers, EMTs or firefighters. Fire departments and local agencies host toy drives during the holiday season so you can reach them and learn if they’ll accept your donation.
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Conclusion
Many organizations and charities accept toy donations from people. While few charitable groups sell the donated toys and games to provide support for a noble cause, others distribute the items to underprivileged youngsters. If your children have outgrown some toys and they are in decent condition then you can give them a new environment by donating to the aforementioned resources. Instead of leaving them in your closets to accumulate dust or throwing them away in bins, consider sharing them with charitable organizations mentioned above so that the toys reach out to the needy youngsters.
Also read about Where To Donate Old or Used Clothes to Charity – Best charities to donate clothes at our Get govt Grants Website.With our blogs you can stay updated about organizations and charities that assist people in times of their need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Do With My Kids’ Old Toys?
You can donate your kids’ old toys to charities, orphanage homes, non profit organizations, churches, and religious organizations. You can give away your old kid’s toys on online platforms like Freecycle and Facebook Marketplace.
Can I Donate Old Toys to An Orphanage Near Me?
Yes, you can donate not only toys, but also clothes, food, bed, books and more useful items that can be useful for the needy children in orphanages.
Can I Get A Free Toy Donation Pickup?
Yes, there are various organizations and charities like the Salvation Army, Toys For Tots etc. that help donors with free toy donation pickup at their locations.
