Toy Donation After Christmas

Hello. My name is S. and I work at Womens Homeless Shelter in Eagan MN. The name of the Shelter is Dakota Woodlands. They use new toy donations for kids birthdays (since moms cant afford to bye their children a birthday present). Also throughout the year they get various gifts for various reasons. This is just one option, I am sure there are many places that would be more then willing to accept a donation of any kind. It is people like you, with such generosity, that really make places like these (shleters) continue to help people in need. If you would like more information the phone number is ###-###-####. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi R. - I work for Volunteers of America of Minnesota, a nonprofit social service agency, and would be happy to accept the toys on give them to foster kids in our programs. Our corporate offices are in Golden Valley and you could drop them off next week if you'd like. If you (or anyone else) are interested, let me know and I will send you my full contact information. Thank you! - V.

1 mom found this helpful

R.-

I have not tried this place yet, but my friend has used it frequently, and she says they just love any little thing she brings in. It is for teenage mothers. I recommend calling to check it out before going over, as I am not sure of their policies :-)

Face to Face
1165 Arcade Street
St. Paul, MN
###-###-####

Good luck, and if you have the time to tell me about your experience, I'd love to hear!
T.

the best place i found is the minneapolis greater crisis nurrsery center. you can find them online. they have a location in golden valley

I take excess toys to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee or you could go to a local church. They would have some good ideas.

Good luck!!

Hi R.,
I am a member of The Giving Club at River Valley Church in Apple Valley. We're pooling our money and resources and seeking out families in need by word of mouth and also random acts of kindness. If you would be interested in this, please let me know. We do not sell or make any profit from this, we seek families or individuals in need and give straight to them. We're looking for more members and resources, if anyone is interested. You do not have to be a member of the church to participate.
Thank you!
M.

I work for Christian Cupboard it is a local foodshelf and we service washington county. We always need stuff like that. We make up birthday bags for the children of the clients that come here to see us. People always forget about things as simple as that after Christmas. Food is also at an all time low too.

Definitely, your local child care center. Yes, some people will resale!!??

If they are new toys and still in the box donate them to the pediatric dept at the local hospitals.

Try your local Freecycle board. Sometimes there are people looking for specific things and others that has lost things due to fire or moving. Sometimes people are just down on their luck and are looking for things to help with birthday presents, etc.

DH and I have gone through a tough spot for the past year and things were really bad right before Christmas. People on my Freecycle board helped us out a lot.

My thought is to call the Sal Army. Also, look up toys for Tots/twincitiesd and call a Sgt named Alfonzo...he was really helpful to me in the past. Hope this helps.

Hi R.
Do you have a caring house in your area? That's always a great place to donate items because mom and kids go there with nothing but the clothes on their back sometimes.

You could donate them to like a shelter for women with kids like the Bacon House or sometihng like that. I use to stay at the Baco House and they are great there. And the toys will be giving to kids and not sold.

I am not sure where you live, but I recently found out about a family that lost their house and everything in it to a fire over the weekend. I have a neighbor gathering together donations for them--they have 2 boys and a girl I believe. Let me know if you want more info.

C.
____@____.com

You could donate them to a childrens hospital. I'm sure they could use some toys. D.

Hi R.,
I have donated to a place in Duluth, MN called the Domiono Center. They are located on about 4th Street in the West Central Area. They don't sell anything they give it away. People go there and get what they want. I donated clothes, I don't know if they take toys. I think that they would. They seem to me to be a great way to donate to the people that can't afford the essentials. This is a great way to give to the people who really need it. Thanks for helping out without trying to make a profit out of it on yourself. It is a great way to teach your children how they can really help.

Battered Woman's Shelter

You could try crisis nurseries or homeless shelters? I guess another option could be hold on to them until next christmas and donate to toy's for tots.

I think a really good place is Once Upon A Child, they are located all over the twin citys. Hope that helps.

What about donating them to your local school or church? I know our school is always looking for toys for the class rooms.

L.

What about crisis centers or nurseries? I bet they would take them there is one in minneapolis I know. I will try to see if I can find it I used to know the website and I cannot remember it now. Childrens hospital takes them I did just find that online.
M.

What about a hospital for sick children? They may be able to put them to good use. I know when My daughter was in childrens they had given her a toy after having to recieve an IV in the "treatment room". Im sure a place like ronald Mc donald house or another non profit could use them.
B.

We donate all of our stuff (clothing, toys, etc.) to Joseph's Coat, which is a Christian organization that is located in St. Paul off of West 7th Street. It is a wonderful organization, and the people have to be referred from some sort of agency, and they can go once a week and fill up a grocery bag. I've been driving by on the days they can go, and it is sad and nice at the same time to see these people walking with their one bag of stuff. They only have certain days you can drop off. You can pull your car up and they will help you take it out. The line usually forms around the block on the days they can "shop".

I use freecycle. It is an internet and what you do is post what you have to give away and people respond. You can use this also to get some free stuff. It is completly free. You give the item away and you can also respond to people who want are giving their things away. Try it it is a good idea.
H.

I don't know where you live, but in Olmsted county there is a Crisis Nursery that helps families. Every other month they have 'giveaways' where families can come in and get things they need for their family. They take used and new toys, books, clothes and new diapers, wipes, cleaning supplies and toiletries. The items are not sold, they are given for free.

If this is not an option for you donating to places like Salvation Army or Savers still benefits families. The items may be sold, but Salvation army uses the money to fund their programs, such as homeless shelter. Savers uses the money for the Epilepsy Foundation.

I hope this helps!
J.

I joined a yahoo group - freecycle.org - it's where you post things that you want to give away to others in your area, and they respond. you decide who you want to give it to, they come to your door and pick up (or you could make other arrangements). I've gotten a lot of things that I needed (even a nursing pillow for my twins!), and have given away things to other families. I always respond to the lower income families in need first.
Or, why don't you just ebay it? then spend the money on things that you do need, spring is coming and all the $$ I'm making on ebay I'm respending on spring & summer clothes for my kids.