Toy Drives and Donations to Spread the Cheer

Raising kind, considerate children is at the tops of every parent’s Christmas wish list. These toy drives and donation events can help your family spread goodwill onto others this holiday season! Throughout the west and southwest suburbs there are organizations collecting new toys, monetary donations, and even gently used toys to give children and families in need. By participating in toy drives or making donations, kids focus on the true meaning of the season and helping those in need. Join us at Kidlist in supporting these local drives and collections to help our local families this holiday season!

Toy Drives and Places to Donate in the West and Southwest Suburbs

Where to Donate New Toys

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

Lurie Children’s Hospital

Lurie Children’s Hospital directly accepts new toy donations year-round. See the current wish list and giving tips here. Gift certificates are also greatly appreciated. E-mail donations@luriechildrens.org to arrange a donation drop-off or with any questions. If you would like to mail your gift, please address the package to:
Donations, Box 31
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
225 E. Chicago Avenue, Box 31
Chicago, IL 60611-2605

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

This local moms’ group will be collecting new, unwrapped toys and delivering them to Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The toy drive runs from November 3rd – December 15th. They have multiple drop-off locations in the suburbs and a shop-from-home option to buy off the Amazon wish list for Lurie and have your gifts shipped directly. The Amazon Wish List and Target Wish List are linked here. Contact westernburbsmoms@gmail.com with questions or for more information.

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, that go directly to children in DuPage County.

Sharing Connections

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

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 20, 2019, 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 provides more than 800 DuPage families in financial stress with toys, books, hats and mittens. You can also give a monetary donation online to help the center purchase gifts and gift cards for families. This year’s toy drive collections will take place 9:00 am – 4:00 pm on Friday, December 6, 2019 at PRC Southeast, 104 Chestnut, Westmont and 9 am – 3 pm on Monday, December 9, 2019 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton.

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

Salvation Army Angel Tree Program

The Salvation Army toy drive collects toys and cloths for children. During the holiday season, you can sign up and buy gifts for children in the Chicagoland area. You can request a printed tree tag with gift suggestions and clothing sizes to deliver to your nearest location. You can request one tag for your family to buy for one child, or request multiple tags for your business or groups to participate. 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 this way.

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 begins November 18.

Where to Donate Gently Used Toys

The following agencies will distribute gently used toys to local families.

Toy Box Connection Children’s Charity
159th & LaGrange Road
Orland Park, IL
(708) 691-2715

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

Family Tree Resale
310 E. Geneva Rd.
Wheaton, IL
(630) 469-4576

Family Tree Resale runs a free voucher program for the local community, partnering with area schools and organizations. Local families in need utilize vouchers to shop for free in the store.

The Gingham Tree Resale Shop
On the campus of Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
900 W. 39th St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515

Gently used clothing, Christmas trees and toys among other items are accepted at this resale shop. Check their website for more items they need.

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