Toys for Tots: How the Donation and Pickup Process Works
Learn where to drop off toys, how to donate funds, and how local families apply and pick up gifts.
Toys for Tots is a Christmas gift program that collects new, unwrapped toys and gives them to less-fortunate children in the community where they were collected. Donors drop off a toy or book at a local collection box or give funds for purchases, while families apply through their local campaign and pick up gifts in December. The U.S.
Marine Corps Reserve directs the program, while the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation handles fundraising, leadership and day-to-day operations. Local campaigns operate in over 800 communities, each run by a local coordinator with Marines and volunteers.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 05, 2026.
Who runs the program and where it operates
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation describes the structure on its How the Program Works page, naming the Marine Corps Reserve as director and the Foundation as the fundraising and operations arm based in Quantico, Virginia. The mission is seasonal collection during October, November and December for Christmas distribution. Coverage includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Each place has its own campaign, so rules and timing stay local rather than national.
How do you donate a toy?
Donors place a new, unwrapped toy or book in a marked collection box at a local drop-off site. Sites are found through "Find Your Local Chapter" by state and county. Only new, unwrapped toys and books qualify.
Used, damaged, opened items, clothing, food and realistic toy weapons are refused.
What if you have no toy to drop off?
People without a toy can donate money online through the secure donation system or by mail, as explained on the Foundation's Support Us page. Those funds are used to buy toys and books and to support local campaigns. This option helps when boxes are far away or shelves are empty late in the season.
It still results in new toys for local distribution.
How do families request toys?
Families request help only through their local campaign, not through a national list. The path is to click "Request a Toy" on toysfortots.org, select state then city or county, and complete that campaign's application, as described on the Request a Toy page. Each application belongs to one community.
Applicants should use the campaign that serves where they live.
What happens at pickup?
After applying, the local coordinator contacts approved families or partner agencies with a December pickup or distribution time. Visitors commonly need photo ID, proof of address and a birth certificate or other document per child. Deadlines, age limits and required documents vary by locality and often close in early to mid-December, according to the LA County Fire Department's 2026 Toys for Tots page.
Check the local campaign notice early and bring the listed papers to pickup.