Toy Drives and Donations to Spread the Holiday Cheer

Toy drives and donations your children in the giving process and help local families and children in need. The conversation I have with my kids this time of year always sets the tone for the season! My kids are so proud of the toys they pick out for others and appreciate that you are never too small to help and give. Hospitals, family shelters, and nationwide collections appreciate every donation, both big and small. Join us at Kidlist in donating what you can this season to spread cheer throughout the Chicago suburbs.

A big thank you to Band & Wire for sponsoring this article about giving back!

Band & Wire Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry is a state-of-the-art specialty dental practice located conveniently on Ogden Avenue in Clarendon Hills. Dr. Ramzi Daibis & Dr. Tamara Oweis are board-certified orthodontists specialized in Invisalign and braces for children, teens and adults. Dr. Kelsey Brar is specialized in pediatric dentistry for children from infancy through adolescence. Call 630.320.8888 or visit bandandwire.com for more details.

Band & Wire Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry
433 E Ogden Avenue
Clarendon Hills, IL 60514
(630) 320-8888

Holiday Toy Drives and Places to Donate in the West Suburbs

Some organizations accept only new, unopened toys. Please refer to their websites for giving guidelines, especially when giving to organizations that help sick children.

St. Cletus Food Pantry’s Giving Tree

Choose individual tags and shop for specific wish list items. Gifts need to be wrapped, labeled and returned December 12-13. Click here to request a tag or visit one of the participating stores in La Grange. Their giving tree program also provides grocery gift cards to each household, ranging from $25-$100, depending on the size of the family. If you would like to make a donation to this effort you can do so here, please write “Giving Tree” in the memo line: https://www.givecentral.org/location/305/event/22074.

Lurie Children’s Hospital

Lurie Children’s Hospital accepts donations only through Amazon, and their hospital teams have put together wish lists of items that are truly needed. See the current wish list on Amazon!

Moms of the WESTERN burbs Toy Drive for Lurie Children’s Hospital

This local moms’ group will be collecting gift cards to distribute to local families in the western suburbs. Gift cards will be donated to Bridges Communities and Family Shelter Services of DuPage County. The gift card drive runs from October – November 30, 2020, and you can email or mail in cards.

I am the point person this year! The gift cards can be sent to me at nicole.m.majewski@gmail.com, or mailed to the address here.

Marine Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots toy drive has hundreds of drop-off locations listed for DuPage County here and Cook County here. With so many drop-off locations nearby, it’s very easy to donate to this charity. Toys for Tots collects new and unwrapped toys, as well as donations to purchase toys.

Sharing Connections

5111 Chase Avenue
Downers Grove, IL
(630) 971-0565
Available for drop-offs weekdays from 9:00am – 3:00pm and Saturdays from 9:00am – 12:00pm.

Sharing Connections accepts donations of all kinds in their Downers Grove location and provides assistance to over 1,000 local DuPage County children. They will begin distributing toys on December 15, 2020, so plan to donate ahead of time. No donation is too small — everything received will go directly to a family that needs help. New toys, clothing and gift certificates are also greatly appreciated. See the current wish list and information here.

People’s Resource Center

201 S. Naperville Road
Wheaton, IL 60187

104 Chestnut Avenue
Westmont, IL 60559

People’s Resource Center’s annual Share the Spirit program will look a little different this year: families will drive through the DuPage County Fairgrounds to pick up their gifts. PRC is collecting books, games, hats, gloves, cocoa, tea, mugs, and gift cards. Click here to find wishlists for Amazon, Target, and Walmart, as well as a link for monetary donations.

Ronald McDonald House

Donations to the Ronald McDonald House help them carry out their mission of caring for families of children with complex medical needs. The wishlist can be found here. There are five houses in the Chicagoland area, and they all have linked their Amazon wishlists to request donations as well:

• Ronald McDonald House near Advocate Children’s Hospital
• Ronald McDonald Family Room in Edward Hospital
• Ronald McDonald House near Loyola University Medical Center
• Ronald McDonald House near Lurie Children’s
• Ronald McDonald House near Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
• Ronald McDonald House near UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital

Salvation Army Angel Tree Program

The Salvation Army runs an Angel Tree Program in which you can sign up and buy gifts for children in the Chicagoland area. New this year, you can register online to buy for a virtual angel tree tag. You can even have the gifts shipped directly to the Salvation Army.

Operation Christmas Child

Work together as a family to pack a shoebox with gifts for a special child in need. Operation Christmas Child is aiming to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach 11 million children around the globe this year, including countries like Peru, the Philippines, Rwanda, and Ukraine.

Visit the website for tips on how to pack your shoebox and where to drop it off. National collection week runs November 16 – 23, 2020.

Toy Express

Toy Express offers drop off locations throughout the Chicagoland area. They are working on the details for 2020, but check their website or Facebook page for updates and drop off locations.

Toy Box Connection Children’s Charity

This not-for-profit agency serves as connection between families and businesses who have new toys and books to donate and the children that need them most. They do accept used video games. They are in need of many items this holiday season. Please see the wish list here.

If you’re interested in more opportunities to volunteer and give back this holiday season, check out our article on volunteer opportunities with families!