Money is tight for just about everyone. With rising heating and electrical costs and food insecurity, how will families be able to provide presents under the tree for their children?
The Marine Corps Toys For Tots, Material Girls Boutique Yale Toy Closet Collection drives are known locally and this week, the Orange Police are starting a holiday toy drive at the department headquarters. But, what, you may ask are good toys to donate to these drives?
Material Girls always asks that stuffed animals NOT be donated since the toys will be going to sick children and these items could carry potentially dangerous germs to the hospital. So, good intentioned shoppers are left puzzled as to what a good, useful gift would be.
In most of these collection drives your thoughts immediately go to small children, but there often are tweens and teens that are in the households where the toys items will be distributed so thinking beyond the My Little Pony or Ghostbuster action figure phase may be helpful when you shop.
Helpful Hints From Toys For Tots:
Gifts that encourage creative pretend play, like clothes for playing dress-up or a restaurant play set, are perennially popular with young kids. Channel your inner child and wander the toy section until you see something that you would have loved as a kid.
- Sports equipment
- Art supplies
- Backpacks or purses
- Age-appropriate board games or handheld games (don’t forget the batteries)
- Perfume and makeup or other beauty supplies/accessories for older girls.
According to the organization’s rules, there are only two types of unacceptable toys that you shouldn’t donate to Toys for Tots: realistic-looking weapons and any gifts that contain food.
There are many other kinds of toys that aren’t ideal for Toys for Tots. Avoid donating anything that requires additional supplies or resources to use. For example, an Easy Bake Oven might come with just a few cake mixes. After the child uses those, the family might not be able to afford refills. If you’re donating something that requires batteries, tape at least one package of new batteries to the toy.
- Any games or toys that require internet access aren’t ideal for some low-income families.
- Don’t give DVDs, video games or other gifts that only work if you own a certain kind of player or gaming console to play them on or with.
- Avoid donating any toys that are overtly religious since Toys for Tots serves families from all backgrounds.