What Should You Donate to a Holiday Toy Drive? A Practical Guide

If you want to donate to a holiday toy drive, start with three things: choose a new, unwrapped item, follow the specific drive's guidelines, and think about the range of children and families the organization may be serving.

That sounds simple, but standing in a toy aisle can still leave you wondering what to pick.

Should you buy something for a toddler or a teenager? Is a board game useful? What about books, craft kits, sports equipment, or electronics? Does the organization want gifts wrapped or left open?

The best answer is not to guess. A good toy-drive donation starts by paying attention to what the organization is actually asking for.

Start with the toy drive's rules

Before you shop, check the organization's current donation guidelines.

Many toy drives ask for new, unwrapped gifts. Some publish wish lists, age ranges, preferred categories, deadlines, or items they cannot accept. Those details can vary from one program to another.

If the instructions are not clear, ask.

A quick message like, "Are there any age groups or types of gifts you especially need right now?" can be more useful than trying to choose the perfect item on your own.

For the ValorCares Foundation Holiday Hero Toy Drive, donated toys should be new and unwrapped.

Remember that toy drives may serve a wide range of ages

When people picture a toy drive, they often think first about gifts for younger children.

That is understandable. Toy aisles make it easy to spot dolls, trucks, building sets, games, and preschool toys.

But many holiday programs serve children across a much wider age range. That can make older kids and teenagers worth keeping in mind when you shop.

The right choice will depend on the drive. Instead of assuming which age group needs the most help, check whether the organization has identified current needs.

If you are shopping without a specific wish list, variety can be helpful. Games, creative activities, sports-related items, building sets, books, and other age-appropriate gifts can give organizers different options when they sort donations.

The goal is not to find the single "best" toy. It is to contribute something useful that fits the program's guidelines.

Keep the gift easy to sort and distribute

Toy drives collect many different items from many different people. After the collection ends, volunteers and organizers may need to sort gifts, organize them, and prepare them for distribution.

That is another reason to follow the requested format.

If the drive asks for gifts to remain unwrapped, leave them unwrapped. If original packaging is requested, keep the item in its packaging. If the organization publishes a deadline, donate early enough for the team to include your gift in its distribution plan.

Avoid adding extra steps unless the organization asks for them.

Do not be afraid to choose something simple

A useful donation does not need to be expensive or elaborate.

One new toy is still a donation.

A family can add an item to a shopping trip. A group of friends can collect a few gifts together. A workplace can set out a collection box and give employees clear instructions about what to bring.

What matters is making participation easy and making sure the donation matches the program's needs.

If you are organizing a collection at work, keep the instructions specific:

• What items are being collected?
• Should they be new and unwrapped?
• Where should employees leave them?
• What is the deadline?
• Who is responsible for delivering the collection?

A simple plan makes it easier for more people to participate.

When in doubt, ask what is needed now

Holiday giving works best when it responds to a real need.

An organization may have plenty of gifts for one age group and fewer for another. A category that was needed last year may not be the biggest need this year.

That is why current guidance matters more than a generic list from the internet.

Check the drive's website, social channels, wish list, or donation instructions. If you still are not sure, contact the organization directly.

You do not need to become an expert in holiday giving. You just need enough information to make your donation useful.

Support the ValorCares Holiday Hero Toy Drive

The Holiday Hero Toy Drive brings businesses, donors, volunteers, and community partners together to support children and families during the holiday season.

ValorCares launched its first Holiday Hero Toy Drive in 2025, when the community donated more than 400 toys. This year, there are several ways to take part.

You can donate a new, unwrapped toy, organize a workplace collection, volunteer, make a financial contribution, or help spread the word.

Breakfast with Santa also gives local families an easy opportunity to participate. The event takes place Sunday, November 29, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Inventor's Brewpub in Port Washington, and guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Holiday Hero Toy Drive.

One toy may feel small on its own. Put it together with hundreds of other community donations, and it becomes part of something much bigger.

Learn more about the Holiday Hero Toy Drive and ways to get involved with ValorCares Foundation:

https://www.valorcaresfoundation.org/get-involved