Seeking Advice on Where to Send All of the Old Toys

Updated on February 19, 2007
J.S. asks from Tulsa, OK
36 answers

My daughter is 2 and just got an unbelievable amount of toys for her birthday which was the 13th of December, and now Christmas. So many in fact that I've had to clean out her room and re-arrange it. Where should I take her old toys? I want to make sure they go to a good home, to kids that really don't have much and would appreciate them. She's too young to understand now but I want to teach her that when we get new things that we need to send our old things to good homes. Any good advice would be appreciated.

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R.T.

answers from Tulsa on

many fire departmants or even the red cross will except gently used items. The great thing about donating to a place like that is you know the items are going to someone that is really in need.

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T.S.

answers from St. Louis on

I found myself doing the exact same thing this weekend due to Christmas and my son's birthday being in January. I was discussing this very issue with family members and I think I am goin to take some of the clothes and toys to a shelter and some to the Salvation Army. Good Luck and Best Wishes.

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C.O.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I always take anything extra that we have to the Domestic Violence shelter. Those women that they help are in great need and I know that all my donations are going directly to help someone in true need. The women that they help most of the time have to leave their situation with no more than the cloth's on their back's and their children.

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A.H.

answers from Springfield on

Some places to send old toys and clothes are the following:

Salvation Army

American Red Cross

Safe Houses for Domestic Violence (many have to leave with just the clothes on their backs and some have children who leave their toys behind)

Churches

Shops that specialize in used clothes and toys

Ronald McDonald House

Counseling places

These are just a few of the places that could take these items and find families in need.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Columbia on

Theres a really cool thing on the internet called freecycle where you can give things away for free you can also recieve things for free. You should check it out freecycle.com

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M.H.

answers from Tulsa on

I would try some womens shelters in your area. Contact your local police department for contacts. Usually locations of womens shelters are kept secret, but their are contacts that can get them there. They almost always have kids with them and don't really have much. The kids go through so much it would be huge for them to get toys.

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N.R.

answers from St. Louis on

you could take it to good will or to a children's hospital. what a nice gesture!!

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A.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi there J.. I'm A., also a 22 yr. old mom of a soon-to-be four yr. old girl. Every Christmas and Birthday we gather up old toys that she doesn't play with anymore and donate them to Feed My People or a local CHurch or Stuff N More in High Ridge. All of these places accept drop offs. Also there is a Drop box where you can drop off pretty much anything you don't want anymroe on High Ridge Blvd. If you turn onto High Ridge Blvd. at the first light going westbound on 30 its the first right in front of a church and Dollar General. Its a little yellow and white barn that you can drop things into anytime. Hope this helps.
A. Miller

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J.S.

answers from Laredo on

You can check the phone book for charitable donation places, like Goodwill or the Christian Foundation, and lots of them will even schedule a home pick-up. We usually do this twice a year, and donate outgrown clothes, toys, even furniture and kitchen stuff. (Plus, it's tax-deductible.)

J.

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M.M.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I bet you could take them to a pregnancy center...or check with your local churches to see if they know of any needy kids. I'm the type of person that has to save everything...so i always box up her toys and put them in the garage...but i put some of her toys in a box in her closest and then rotate toys every month...this way she always feels like she has something new to play with.

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C.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi J.. Maybe see if your church's nursery is in need of new toys. I know ours seems like they can ALWAYS use NEW toys...you can also donate to Goodwill, the Salvation Army & ARC, the local women's shelter....the possiblities are endless! :)

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J.B.

answers from Kansas City on

You might even try taking them to a consignment shop, like Once Upon A Child, and getting a bit of money in return. You could put the money in her college fund or savings.

Good luck, J.!

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K.K.

answers from Springfield on

If you're in the Quincy area, Quanada is a wonderful place to take toys and most other things. It is a shelter for women and children who have been abused. Quanada helps women get on their feet and start houses, apartments on their own. They use what is donated for the people in the shelter and for setting them up in their own homes. I donate toys, clothes, shoes, bedding and household items. They are very appreciative. Located on Maine between 27th & 28th. Thanks for thinking of donating!!

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A.S.

answers from Kansas City on

I know that where I live there are many churches that will accept old toys for their childcare programs, as well as for families in their congragation (sp?) that are in need. You may want to try that. Some of the catholic churches here also have thrift stores that would be glad to have the donations. Another place that you may want to check is the Council for the Blind. In our area they will pick up things like that.

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J.T.

answers from Kansas City on

Check Salvation Army. Also, you could try to find a local women's shelter or something along those lines.

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T.R.

answers from Tulsa on

There is Union klothes Kloset which is availbable to the entire school system to use. for families in need the counselors use their discreet to help out so many families and it is hard to help them all and our group is also helping Owasso and BA to start one for them........I would not give to goodwill because it really does not go back totthe community.
I would think about the foster system the group homes the don't have enough toys to go around. There are so many useful areas please take the time to go over your decision carefully. I know there are so many families that need them why not put the word out there. Like I said I know some kids that were in foster group homes and most all the toys were torn up and not taken care of they areally could use them.

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B.R.

answers from Joplin on

Goodwill, Salvation Army, Schools, Hospitals. Stuffed animals take to the Police Depts. Even in a small town they give these to children to help them feel better. Especially the smaller towns because not as many people gave to them. My husband worked in one town that we actually gave some of our toys becuase they didn't have any and they weren't getting any. You can also take them to you rlocal fire dept. Sometimes they will even fix broken toys and then give them to children.

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J.R.

answers from Kansas City on

I know the Rachel House in Blue Springs takes toys and clothes and furniture. You have to call them and set up a time to bring them. I would put them on your local freecycle.com and someone will take them.

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J.P.

answers from St. Louis on

I'm not positive but I think Birthright might take them. I know they offer counseling and assistance for young or needy mothers.

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S.K.

answers from Topeka on

there is a crisis pregnancy center on 21st street by the baskin robbins. they give things to moms who aren't sure they want to have the child they are carrying or don't have enough money. i'm sure they would be glad to take anything you have

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J.G.

answers from Springfield on

J.,

Have you ever heard of Rainbow Network? They are a Christian ministry who works in Nicaragua with some of the poorest people in the world. I worked for them for a while and they are always trying to get toys and clothes to take to the children there. Their number is ###-###-####.

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L.H.

answers from Joplin on

i don't know if you have a place called cross-lines, but i have one in my town. that is where i take all of my son's old toys that he don't want anymore, and stuff that i don't want anymore. i take it there because they give all the stuff away for free to low income families that need assistance, unlike good will, the salvation army, or other thrift stores who put a price tag on them.

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T.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY ADVICE AS I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE SAME THING MYSELF. I WAS THINKING GOODWILL BUT THEY DONT "GIVE" THE TOYS TO ANYONE. AND I STILL HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHERE THE MONEY GOES WHEN THEY SELL STUFF. ANOTHER THOUGHT I HAD WAS ST. LOUIS CRISIS NURSERY. I THINK THAT THAT IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION BUT I HAVENT FOUND OUT IF THEY TAKE USED TOYS OR NOT THOUGH. IF YOU FIGURE SOMETHING OUT WILL YOU TELL ME AND ILL DO THE SAME. THANK YOU.

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T.N.

answers from Tulsa on

I think one of the best places to take them would be deep fork in okmulgee. I think they could make sure they go somewhere good.

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M.B.

answers from St. Joseph on

If they are in good condition you could take them to Once upon a child on the North Belt. They buy used clothes and toys or you could donate them to a daycare or church. The Red Cross might be interested in them as well. I know when I was going through our daughter's toys I contacted the local Marine recruiting office since they do a big toys for tots drive every year.

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M.L.

answers from Rockford on

First if u know any friends that can use the toys give to them. If u don't have any friends with kids or maybe not your daughter's age send them to Goodwill or Salvation Army.

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A.K.

answers from Tulsa on

If you call Children & Family Services, they will pick up any donation at your door. They will also leave a blank tax receipt for you. Just call ###-###-#### for what day they do pick-ups in your area.

A.

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T.P.

answers from Tulsa on

PREGANCY CENTER ON EAST MAIN RIGHT BY THE DOLLAR GENERAL THEY WILL MAKE SURE THE TOYS ARE GIVEN TO CHILDREN THAT CAN REALLY USE THEM. THEY ALSO TAKE GOOD USED CLOTHING AND BABY BEDS, ANY THING THAT IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND CAN HELP A CHILD IN NEED. THANKS AND GOOD LUCK

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L.P.

answers from Wichita on

Have you ever head of freecycle.com? That is a good way to get rid of items for free.

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J.S.

answers from Kansas City on

I would definately check with the local hospitals especially the Childrens Mercy. We have been there several times with our son and they have the Ronald McDonald house they have very few toys for the young to play with and also check with the schools if there are some that take care of disability children then they may need some different items that can help these children learn better.

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N.H.

answers from Springfield on

When both of my children were that age, I started teaching them about how blessed we were to have soooooooo much and that we neede to choose toys to send to other children that did not have as much as us. I actually let them pick out which ones to give (with some guidance). I love Mtn. Homes Project Love and Salvation Army as donation sites.

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M.R.

answers from Kansas City on

TRY DONATING THEM TO THE SALVATION ARMY OR THE RED CROSS.ALSO YOU CAN TRY DONATING THEM IN YOUR DAUGHTERS NAME TO LOCAL CHURCHES OR DAYCARES. ITS WONDERFUL THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO TEACH YOUR DAUGHTER THE ART OF GIVING NOT MANY PARENTS THEMSELVES NO THIS OR HAVE THIS QUALITY.

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K.F.

answers from Joplin on

Contact one of the larger churches there in Tulsa. I'm sure they would know of some families that are in need. Or maybe you could contact one of the homeless shelters in town. Also, the DHS probably has some type of program that distributes toys, household items, etc..... to families.

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N.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I'm with everyone else, childbirth places might take them, you could call the YWCA too...they deal with women and children exclusively who are in need.

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A.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

The infant crisis center is a wonderful place to donate. Also the Children's Center in Bethany is great as well. Both places will accept gently used or new items and clothes as well. The infant crisis center helps out families in need with clothing, toys, diapers, food, etc. The Children's Center is a long term care facility for medically fragile children. Hope this helps!

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R.B.

answers from Tulsa on

You can take stuffed animals and dolls to the local police departments, the officers keep them in their police cars for the children. George Nigh Rehab in Okmulgee has a toy chest for the kids to get something out of after their therapy sessions. The homeless shelter will probly gladly take some and the women's shelter,or even the salvation army store. You could also check with the health department or DHS for some homes of less fortunate that they could go to.

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