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Phillyist likes shopping for toys. We don’t know why. Perhaps biology is rearing its ugly head, reminding us that even savvy (read: nerdy) urbanites can and indeed should procreate. In any event, when this Phillyist used to be a good Catholic, we’d love the week after Thanksgiving when the Christmas tree would go up in the back of the church, decorated with cardboard stars on which the details of a child in need of some toys to open for the holiday would be writ. We’d happily take two or three, and satisfy our bizarre Toys R Us fixation for the year.
Alas, we’re not really good Catholics anymore, and we’re fearful of what might happen if we get near even the vestibule of a church. Luckily there are plenty of other opportunities to let us get the toy-giving bug out of our system. The most well known is probably Toys for Tots, an organization comprised of Marines who collect toys every season and distribute them to local children and charities. Their site has a list of local drop-off locations where you can leave new, unwrapped toys, age appropriate for 0-13 years of age. If you think your workplace or school could be whipped up into a toy-giving frenzy, you can also become a drop off location yourself. If you hold an event, you may even get a Marine (sounds like a good present to us!).
If you can get some serious shopping done this weekend, you could sponsor a child for AchieveAbility’s holiday party on December 8. Sponsors are asked to purchase two gifts, totaling around $50. The agency will match you with a child and let you know his or her interests and wishes. This page contains all the contact info; they’ll even come pick up the presents for you if you can’t make it to their place. The deadline to donate is December 5 (next Wednesday for those of you playing along at home), so hop on this one quick.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is always grateful for toy and book donations, and they’ll accept them during the holidays, too. Donations of toys must be new and non-toxic, and books that are to be distributed within the hospital must be new as well. Their Reach Out and Read program is able to accept gently used books. You can sponsor a collection drive to maximize your gift-giving—and the best part is you could do it any time of the year. CHOP is also registered on Child's Play; you can go to their Amazon wish list to see requested video games and other games, toys, and media.
Salvation Army made our searching-lives a little easier: their site has a listing of various drop-off locations where you can donate (you guessed it) new unwrapped toys. We’ve seen collection bins in New Jersey PATCO stations as well; we don’t take the regional rail, but if anybody knows if some of those stations are participating, let us know.
We must now say a word about toy safety and choice. Due to the recent toy recalls, it is no longer a given that toys are non-toxic even if they are labeled as such. Lead in particular can be extremely harmful to young ones. Charities are now having to check every donation against recall lists before releasing them to children. The sooner you can get your toys into those bins, the better the chance that they will make it under a tree this year. And speaking of safety, it’s best to steer clear of weapons (most places won't accept them anyway), particularly toy guns. Unfortunately, our kids see way too much of the real stuff as it is.
Let us know of any other opportunities you know of in the comments.
Image Credit: Flickr user tillwe
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