Where to Donate Toys Near Me: charity shops, sharing apps, toy drives & baby banks

Donating toys is a brilliant way to help other families while clearing space in your home. Whether you have a bag of outgrown baby toys, a complete LEGO set your kids no longer use, or holiday gifts to contribute, there are organisations near you ready to accept them.

The key is matching your toys to the right donation route and doing a quick safety check first. This guide covers the fastest, most reliable options for donating toys, what charities accept, and how to prepare items properly.

Also see our Free Toys & Games guide if you’re trying to find free toys, not donate them.

Quick Start: Donate Toys Today

Want to donate toys as soon as possible? Here's your fastest route:

1. Check condition: Clean, complete sets only (no broken toys or missing puzzle pieces)
2. Do a safety check: Look for recalls at GOV.UK (UK) or CPSC.gov (US)
3. Choose your route: Local charity shop for general toys, baby bank for baby items, or holiday toy drive for Christmas gifts
4. Drop off or arrange collection: Most charities have drop-off locations or collection services
5. Don't leave items outside donation bins unattended (many organisations specifically ask you not to do this)

Most donations are processed within days of drop-off.

Before You Donate: Quick Checklist

Taking a few minutes to prepare your toys properly means they're more likely to be accepted and helpful to the families who receive them.

Condition matters. Charity shops and donation centres typically only accept toys that are clean, not broken, and safe to use. Items with sharp edges, missing critical parts, or significant damage are commonly refused. This isn't pickiness, it's about ensuring donated items can actually be used by the families who need them.

Complete sets only. Board games missing pieces, puzzles with gaps, or building sets without key components are difficult to redistribute. If a game or puzzle isn't complete, most charities can't accept it. Bag small pieces together and label boxes as "all pieces included" to help donation centres process your items quickly.

Test battery-operated toys. If you're donating electronic toys, make sure they work and include batteries where possible. Non-functioning electronic toys often can't be resold or given away.

Check for recalls. This takes 30 seconds and ensures you're not passing on potentially dangerous items. In the UK, check the Office for Product Safety and Standard product recalls database. In the USA, check the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls database.

Remove personal information. Take off any name labels, school tags, or personalized items before donating.

Charity Shops and Thrift Stores: Year-Round Donation

Charity shops and thrift stores are usually the fastest and most convenient option for donating toys. They accept donations year-round, have multiple locations, and can take a wide variety of items.

Most major charity retailers accept children's toys if they meet basic condition standards. British Heart Foundation lists children's toys among their accepted donation categories, while Oxfam publishes clear toy donation guidelines that emphasize clean, unbroken toys and complete sets. Goodwill locations across the United States commonly accept toys and games, though specific rules can vary by local agency.

These organisations are best for boxed toys, clean soft toys, books, games with all parts, and higher-quality items. You can usually drop items at shop locations during opening hours, and many also offer home collection services for larger donations.

What they typically won't accept: Broken toys, incomplete games or puzzles, items with missing parts, toys that don't meet current safety standards, or anything damaged beyond repair.

Baby Banks: Supporting Families with Young Children

Baby banks are community organisations that provide essential items to families facing financial hardship, including baby and toddler toys. They're an excellent route if you're specifically donating baby items.

The Baby Bank Alliance has a postcode-searchable map showing over 400 baby banks across the UK. Little Village, a major baby bank operating in London, also provides an interactive map showing 300+ locations nationwide. Each baby bank operates independently, so accepted items, drop-off days, and eligibility criteria vary by location.

Baby banks typically accept baby toys and rattles, toddler toys and play equipment, books, and baby equipment alongside clothing and essentials. Before donating, check your local baby bank's specific requirements. Some operate on a referral basis (requiring contact from health visitors or social workers), while others accept direct donations from the public.

Baby banks focus on supporting families who need wider support beyond just toys, so they're particularly appropriate when you're clearing out baby and toddler items that could make a real difference to struggling families.

Sharing Apps: Digital Donation Platforms

Sharing apps offer a modern alternative to traditional donation routes, connecting you directly with families who need toys. These platforms work particularly well when you want items to go quickly or when you have toys that might not meet charity shop standards but are still perfectly usable.

Trash Nothing is a free sharing network that connects neighbours giving away and looking for items. You can post photos of toys you're offering, respond to requests from local families, and arrange collection times that work for you. Everything is entirely free; there’s no selling, just giving away to people in your community. Trash Nothing works well for bulk toy donations, large play equipment, or when you want to see items go directly to families who need them rather than through a charity retailer.

Freecycle operates similarly, with local groups organized by area. You post what you're offering, and members of your local group can claim items.

Olio (popular in the UK) started as a food-sharing app but now includes toys, books, and household items. The app shows you nearby people offering or requesting items, and you can arrange direct collection. Olio works particularly well in urban areas with active user communities.

Buy Nothing groups operate through Facebook, with neighbourhood-specific groups where members can post items they're giving away. These hyper-local groups often build strong community connections, and you can see exactly which neighbor is collecting your donation. Search Facebook for "Buy Nothing [your area]" to find your local group.

These platforms give you more control over where your toys go and often result in faster collection than waiting for charity shop processing. They're particularly useful when you have specific items like outdoor play equipment, ride-on toys, or bulk quantities that might be difficult to transport to a donation centre yourself.

When to use sharing apps instead of charity shops:

• You want items collected from your home rather than dropping off
• You have large or bulky toys that are hard to transport
• You prefer giving directly to families rather than through retailers
• Your items are usable but might not meet charity shop standards (slightly incomplete sets, minor cosmetic damage)
• You want toys to go quickly without waiting for shop processing times

Most sharing apps let you vet who collects your items and arrange convenient collection times, giving you more flexibility than standard donation drop-offs.

Holiday Toy Drives: Christmas and Seasonal Donations

Many organisations run seasonal toy collection drives, particularly around Christmas. These programmes collect new, unwrapped toys to distribute as holiday gifts to children whose families are facing financial difficulties.

Toys for Tots is one of the largest holiday toy programmes in the United States. The organization operates through local chapters, each managing their own drop-off locations and collection events. Their website includes a "Donate a Toy" page and a local chapter finder to help you locate drop boxes near you. Most Toys for Tots programmes request new, unwrapped toys, though specific requirements can vary by chapter.

Salvation Army Angel Tree operates across the USA, collecting gifts that are distributed through local communities. The organization also offers online donation options in some areas, allowing you to purchase and ship gifts directly to a local Salvation Army location.

In the UK, The Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal asks for new, unwrapped toys and gifts. Their website provides a local finder to help you locate your nearest collection point.

Holiday drives typically run from October through early December, with collection deadlines varying by program. Donations made to these programmes become Christmas gifts, so they follow stricter guidelines about condition and presentation.

Finding Local Toy Drives and Donation Events

If you're searching for "toy drive near me" or "toy donations near me," a good starting point is 211, a free service that connects people with local resources. You can call 211 from any phone in the United States or use the "Your Local 211" finder online to search for toy drives, donation centres, and community resources in your area.

Local schools, community centres, places of worship, and neighbourhood organisations also frequently run toy collection drives, particularly before the holidays or at the start of the school year. Check community bulletin boards, local Facebook groups, or your council website for announcements about upcoming collection events.

Specialist Toy Donation Organisations

Some organisations focus specifically on toy donation and redistribution, offering alternatives to general charity shops.

Second Chance Toys (USA) specializes in collecting gently used plastic toys. The organization runs collections during April (around Earth Week) and November/December (holiday season). Unlike general thrift stores, Second Chance Toys specifically focuses on plastic toys, making them a good option if you have large quantities of plastic play items.

The TOY Project (London area) accepts both new and used toys and welcomes games, puzzles, and popular building toy brands including loose parts. Donors need to arrange a drop-off time, making this a good option for larger donations or specific toy types that other organisations might not accept.

These specialist organisations can be particularly helpful if your local charity shops have refused certain items or if you have specific types of toys that need a dedicated home.

Donating Games and Puzzles

Games and puzzles have specific requirements because incomplete sets can't be redistributed or resold.

Only donate complete sets. Count the pieces before donating. If a puzzle is missing pieces or a board game lacks essential components, most charities will refuse it. This isn't being fussy, it's because incomplete games and puzzles can't be sold or given away to other families.

Bag small pieces. Put all the small components in a sealed bag and secure it inside the box. This prevents pieces from going missing during handling and makes it easier for donation centres to verify completeness.

Label clearly. A simple note saying "all pieces included" or "complete set" helps donation processors handle your item more efficiently.

Check condition of the box and instructions. The box doesn't need to be pristine, but it should be intact enough to keep pieces together. Instructions should be included or available to download online.

What Not to Donate (And What to Do Instead)

Some items shouldn't be donated, no matter how well-intentioned. Donating inappropriate items creates extra work for charity shops and donation centres, who must sort, refuse, and dispose of unsuitable items.

Don't donate:

• Broken toys or items with sharp edges
• Toys with missing critical parts (wheels on cars, essential game pieces, puzzle pieces)
• Electronic toys that don't work
• Toys with accessible button batteries or loose magnets (serious safety hazard)
• Recalled items
• Heavily soiled or stained soft toys that can't be cleaned
• Incomplete board games or puzzles

What to do instead:

• Recycle where possible. Some plastics can be recycled through local recycling programmes. Check your council website for guidance on toy recycling.
• Repair if feasible. Simple repairs might make a toy donable. Consider local repair cafés or fix-it groups.
• Give away directly. If the item works but doesn't meet donation standards, consider giving it away through free stuff networks rather than via charity shops.
• Dispose responsibly. If none of the above work, dispose of the item properly rather than leaving it at donation bins where it creates extra work for charity workers.

Many organisations specifically ask donors not to leave items outside donation bins when locations are closed, as this can result in items being damaged by weather or vandalism.

If You Want to Give Toys Away (Rather Than Donate)

There's a difference between donating to charity and giving toys away directly to other families. If your goal is to pass toys directly to another family rather than supporting a charity's fundraising, you have several options.

Free stuff networks like Trash Nothing connect local families who are giving away and looking for items. You can list toys, see who's interested, and arrange direct collection. This works particularly well for large items, bulk toys, or items that might not meet charity shop standards but are still perfectly usable.

Toy libraries sometimes accept donations of toys in good condition to add to their lending collection. Contact your local toy library to ask about their donation policies.

Local parent groups on Facebook or other platforms often have members looking for specific toys or happy to take donations. School parent groups, neighbourhood groups, and parenting networks can connect you with families who need what you're offering.

For more information about giving toys away directly, see our Free Toys Near Me guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Where can I donate toys near me?
  Start with a nearby charity shop or thrift store for clean, complete toys. For holiday donations, use Toys for Tots (USA) or Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal (UK). For baby and toddler items in the UK, check the Baby Bank Alliance map to find your nearest baby bank.

• Can I donate used toys, or do they need to be new?
  Charity shops and thrift stores accept used toys if they're clean and safe. Holiday toy drives typically prefer new items, so check the specific requirements of the program you're donating to.

• Can I donate board games and puzzles?
  Yes, but only if they're complete. Games and puzzles missing pieces are commonly refused because they can't be redistributed or sold.

• Where do I donate baby toys?
  In the UK, use the Baby Bank Alliance map to find your nearest baby bank. In the USA, try local thrift stores like Goodwill or charity organisations that support families with young children.

• How do I make sure donated toys are safe?
  Check for recalls using the OPSS database (UK at GOV.UK) or CPSC database (USA at CPSC.gov). Avoid donating broken toys, items with loose button batteries or magnets, or anything with sharp edges.

• Can I get a receipt for my donation for tax purposes?
  Many charities provide donation receipts upon request. In the USA, toy donations to qualified nonprofits may be tax-deductible. Ask the receiving organization about their receipt policy when you drop off your donation.

• What do I do if a charity shop refuses my toys?
  Don't leave them at the door. If the items are in good condition, try another charity shop or donation centre. If they're incomplete or damaged, consider recycling, repairing, giving away through free networks, or disposing of them responsibly.

• When is the best time to donate toys?
  Year-round for charity shops and thrift stores. For holiday toy drives, October through early December is the collection season. Many baby banks have specific drop-off days, so check before visiting.