Where to Donate Stuffed Animals and Toys

Where to Donate Gently Used Stuffed Animals, Action Figures, and Other Toys

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Toys for Tots, run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, only takes new toys during its annual toy drives.
Cradles to Crayons gives low-income children toys and other necessities and has locations in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago.
Many hospitals accept used toy donations to share with young patients, but they may have hygiene restrictions.

If you find yourself overrun by stuffed animals, outgrown toys, never-opened games, and like-new books, it's time to donate items to a charity. And in most cases, it's easy to find a great home for your gently used items.

However, if you've tried donating stuffed animals, you may have been turned away because they are sometimes considered unhygienic. Fortunately, there are still organizations that accept used stuffed animals and other toys in good condition. Here are several places to try.

toys and stuffed animals in donation box — artisteer / Getty Images

National and Local Charities

National and local charities are great options to consider when looking to donate any used toys. These are some of the most common.

Consider categorizing your toys before donating, such as separating stuffed animals, action figures, and books. This approach can help the organizations process your donations more efficiently and ensure they reach the appropriate recipients faster.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is a well-known charity that gives toys and books to children in need and is run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The organization only takes new toys during its annual toy drives (but it's an ideal way to pass along the still-unopened gifts from your kid's last birthday party).

"If you're trying to make ends meet and you're a little down on your luck, buying presents might [be] the last thing you're thinking of when you're trying to cover rent, food, and basic bills—so a toy can be pretty impactful to a child," says Ted Silvester, vice president of marketing development for Toys for Tots.

Donation Town

Donation Town is an online listing of charities that accept donated goods, and it can help you find local or national charities that serve your area, including contact information for the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Vietnam Veterans of America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the SPCA. (Note that animal charities may accept specific items, such as baby blankets.)

Since local outposts of national organizations often have their own rules for items they can accept and process, you should contact individual offices directly.

GreenDrop

GreenDrop is an organization that also works with nonprofit partners to provide donated items to thrift stores.

Bonus: Cradles to Crayons

While Cradles to Crayons previously delivered toys to low-income children, they discontinued accepting toys in 2024 in favor of keeping their priority focused on their core mission: addressing clothing insecurity. Currently, they provide new and like-new clothes and shoes, as well as socks, underwear, diapers, wipes, hygiene items, backpacks, and school supplies for children ages newborn to 17 years in low-income or homeless situations. So if you find any of these items while cleaning out the toy chest, you know what to do.

Children's Homes and Shelters

If you want to make sure your used toys have plenty of children to love them, then local children's homes or homeless shelters are an exceptional option. Ask your local shelters if they're looking for toy donations and give back to the little ones in your community.

Hospitals

Many hospitals accept used toy donations to share with young patients or even visitors, but be sure to ask about donation rules and guidelines before making the trip; they may have hygiene restrictions or other rules around what you can and cannot donate.

Fire Departments and Police Stations

Firefighters and police officers often keep stuffed animals and toys nearby to comfort children in emergencies. If you want to contribute your child's gently used toys to this cause, connect with your local fire or police department.

Consider giving your items to Stuffed Animals for Emergencies (SAFE). This organization accepts gently used stuffed animals, blankets, books, children's clothes, and baby items, and then finds organizations in the area that can use the donations for youngsters who are experiencing distress. New England-based Project Smile also collects new stuffed animals for children in similar situations.

Places of Worship

Churches, synagogues, and mosques all offer ways to connect to families in need in your community, either through donation events or by directly reaching out to specific members; many also have nursery schools or daycares that take donations. If you have a lot of toys to donate, call around to a few different places of worship to ask if and when they're accepting any toy donations.

Recycling Programs

Ultimately, if no one wants your toys or they're in bad shape, you should try to recycle them. Search online to find out whether you have any local recycling non-profits near you. For example, Hasbro has partnered with TerraCycle to accept donated used toys and games, which are taken apart and processed into raw materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I donate items that need repair?

Some organizations can take goods in any condition and repair or clean as needed; others require only items in like-new condition. Repair stuffed animals before donating them, make sure toys and puzzles have all their pieces, and clean plastic toys when possible.
How do I wash stuffed animals before donating them?

Most stuffed animals can be washed in the washing machine; put them in a pillowcase or delicates bag for extra protection. If the label dictates hand washing, remove the stuffing before washing the outside of the stuffed animal.
How do I wash plastic toys?

Most small plastic toys (including loose Legos) can be washed in the washing machine or dishwasher; larger items can be wiped with disinfecting wipes or washed with warm water and a gentle soap.
What’s the best way to donate stuffed animals if I don’t have a local drop-off spot?

If you haven't had any luck contacting local organizations about donations, consider calling 211, a national number dedicated to essential community services. They can connect you with social service organizations to ask about specific donations. This service is run by United Way in most regions, in collaboration with local nonprofits and other public agencies.

Where to Donate Stuffed Animals, Action Figures, and Other Toys