Where to Donate Toys: 15 Places That Accept Toy Donations (and What They Take)

Where to donate toys depends on their condition: new, unwrapped toys go to Toys for Tots, Salvation Army Angel Tree and children’s hospitals, while clean, gently used toys go to thrift donation centers, Second Chance Toys, Buy Nothing groups and local programs.

If you are wondering where to donate toys your kids have outgrown, you have more options than the bin at the back of the closet. The catch is that every charity has different rules, and a box of toys a charity cannot use costs it time and money to throw away.

We checked each program’s official website in October 2026 for what it accepts. Below are 15 places that take toy donations, what they usually refuse, the safety checks to do first, how to clean toys, tax deduction basics and how to get your kids involved.

Where to Donate Toys at a Glance

Acceptance rules below were checked on each program’s official website in October 2026. Rules change, and local chapters and stores set their own, so call or check the local page before you load the car.

National Programs That Take New Toys

Holiday toy drives want new toys because each gift goes straight to a child as a present.

• Toys for Tots: run by Marines and volunteers. Its program overview asks for new, unwrapped toys, books and other gifts, left in collection boxes in your local area, and lists the collection period as October 1 to December 24. Donated gifts are sorted by age and gender before they go to families. Local chapters list drop box locations and set their own deadlines.
• Salvation Army Angel Tree: each paper angel on a tree in a store or public place represents a child in need, with the child’s age, gender and wish list. The Salvation Army says recipients are typically 12 or under, and requests range from a winter coat, shoes and pajamas to books and toys. Bring gifts unwrapped to the drop-off location well before Christmas; the Salvation Army provides wrapping paper.
• Operation Christmas Child: a Samaritan’s Purse project (a Christian ministry) that sends shoebox gifts to children overseas. Its packing list suggests one “wow” item such as a doll, stuffed animal, musical instrument or sports ball, plus small toys, school supplies and hygiene items. As of October 2026 it says not to include used or damaged items, scary or war-related toys such as toy guns or military figures, candy or other food, liquids, or breakable items.

Planning ahead for the holidays with kids? Our Christmas crafts for kids and Christmas games pair well with a family toy drive, and free gifts for Christmas rounds up no-cost ideas.

Where to Donate Used Toys

Gently used toys have plenty of good homes, as long as they are clean, complete and safe. Start here:

• Second Chance Toys: a nonprofit that keeps plastic toys out of landfills by delivering them to children in need. As of October 2026 its FAQ says it accepts plastic toys that are clean, in working order and have no missing or small parts (small meaning anything that fits through a toilet paper roll). Battery toys need working batteries or fresh ones included. It does not take toys that are not completely plastic, so no stuffed animals or books, and it collects only during its April and holiday drives. Find drop-off sites on its locations page.
• Goodwill: Goodwill’s national site says what you can bring depends on the local Goodwill organization. Many local Goodwills accept toys, games and puzzles but refuse items that need repair, recalled items and baby gear such as car seats.
• The Salvation Army thrift stores: the Salvation Army’s donation pickup site lists toys among accepted miscellaneous items, along with books, bicycles and sports equipment. You can schedule a pickup by ZIP code in many areas; acceptance varies by location.
• Buy Nothing groups: the Buy Nothing Project is a community for giving and getting things completely free, organized as local groups in its app or on Facebook.
• Freecycle: a nonprofit network where people give and get things for free in their own towns. Local groups are moderated by volunteers, and membership is free.

If you are on the receiving end right now, our guide to free baby stuff covers giveaways and swaps that work the other way.

Local Places That Accept Toy Donations

Some of the best places to donate toys near you never show up in a national directory. Each one sets its own rules, so always call first and ask what they need right now.

• Ronald McDonald House: families stay here while a child is in the hospital nearby. Each chapter sets its own policy, and many take only new toys. As of October 2026, the Chicago-area chapter accepts new toys in their original packaging and does not accept used toys, games or stuffed toys, while the Oregon chapter asks for new, unwrapped toys, books and games.
• Children’s hospitals: most hospitals have a child life or volunteer office that handles toy donations. Many accept only new toys, and some prefer specific items like craft kits or teen gifts. Ask for the current wish list.
• Family and domestic violence shelters: children often arrive with very little. Shelters may keep their address private, so they may ask you to drop off at a separate office or donate through a partner.
• Foster care agencies: some agencies match donated toys to specific children or keep a closet for kids entering care.
• Daycares, preschools and Head Start programs: teachers often welcome durable toys that are easy to clean, such as blocks, puzzles, play kitchens and wooden or sturdy plastic toys.
• Libraries and schools: libraries may take books, games and puzzles for a book sale, and teachers may want building sets or board games for indoor recess.
• Churches and community groups: many run holiday toy drives, family closets or giving trees. Some serve their own members and others serve the wider community.

What Charities Usually Accept (and Refuse)

Stuffed animals are the most common question. Some thrift donation centers take them, but many hospitals and family programs accept only new plush toys. Second Chance Toys does not take them at all.

Car seats and cribs are a different topic from toys. The CPSC tells resellers, including thrift stores and charities, not to accept cribs that do not comply with the federal standard, and some local Goodwills refuse car seats and other baby gear because of recall concerns. If you have baby gear to pass on, check with the specific organization rather than leaving it in a toy bin.

Safety Checks Before You Donate Toys

• Check for recalls: search the toy’s name and brand at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall page (cpsc.gov/Recalls), and read reports of harm at SaferProducts.gov. The CPSC’s guide for resellers says it is illegal to sell any recalled product, and the guide applies to thrift stores, charities and people holding yard sales.
• Watch for small parts: the CPSC says products intended for children under 3 are banned if they are, or have, small parts. Loose pieces, cracked toys that shed bits, and button batteries that are not secured behind a screw should not go to a family with a baby or toddler.
• Look for wear: throw away toys with sharp edges, frayed cords or strings, peeling paint or exposed stuffing.
• Make it complete: bag puzzle pieces and game parts, and tape the bag to the box. A puzzle missing three pieces is trash to a charity.
• Check batteries: remove old batteries that might leak, or put in fresh ones if the program asks for working batteries.

How to Clean Toys Before Donating

Clean toys get used. Dirty ones get tossed. A simple routine is enough for most donations:

• Wipe hard plastic and wooden toys with warm, soapy water, rinse with a damp cloth and let them air dry completely before you pack them.
• Wash fabric toys and dress-up clothes according to the label, if the label allows machine washing, and dry them completely.
• Pack everything in a clean bag or box, and label it by age range if you can (for example, “toddler toys”) so volunteers can sort it quickly.

Can You Get a Tax Deduction for Donating Toys?

Sometimes. This is general information, not tax advice, so check with a tax professional for your situation. According to IRS Publication 526:

• The organization must qualify: you can deduct gifts only to qualified organizations. Ask the charity, or search the IRS online tool at IRS.gov/TEOS. Gifts to individuals, including a Buy Nothing neighbor, are not deductible.
• You generally must itemize: the publication says you must itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040) to deduct charitable contributions.
• Condition matters: donated clothing and household items generally must be in good used condition or better.
• Value is fair market value: the deduction for donated property is generally its fair market value at the time of the gift, not what you paid.
• Get a receipt: the IRS says a written acknowledgment from the charity is required for any contribution of $250 or more, with a description (but not the value) of non-cash items.

Decluttering Toys With Kids: Let Them Help Choose

Kids are much more willing to give when they get a real say.

• Use three boxes: keep, donate and recycle. Let your child sort, and only step in for safety items or things you know they love.
• Talk about the next child: “Who do you think will play with this next?” turns letting go into giving.
• Pick the timing: right before a birthday or the holidays, when new toys are coming, is the easiest moment for most kids.
• Try a toy rotation first: if your child is not ready to part with something, store it out of sight for a few weeks. Many toys feel new again, and the rest are easy to let go.

Toddlers and preschoolers often play longer with fewer toys out. Our activities for 2 year olds, toddler activities and indoor activities for kids guides lean on household items, not more stuff. For a nostalgic look at the toys worth keeping, see childhood toys.

Related Betteroo Guides

• Free Baby Stuff
• Activities for 2 Year Olds
• Toddler Activities
• Christmas Crafts for Kids
• Free Gifts for Christmas
• Indoor Activities for Kids

The Bottom Line

Match the toy to the place: new, unwrapped toys to holiday drives, hospitals and Ronald McDonald House chapters; clean, complete used toys to thrift donation centers, Second Chance Toys, Buy Nothing, Freecycle and local programs that say yes first. Check recalls, clean everything and keep a receipt if you plan to deduct it. Most of all, let your kids help choose, so giving becomes part of how your family plays.

Frequently Asked Questions