Toys for Tots: How to apply for Free Christmas Gifts.
Find how and where to apply for Toys for Tots, the application requirements and registration details below. Toys for Tots is the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s long-running holiday campaign that delivers new, unwrapped toys and increasingly books to children whose families are struggling at Christmas. There are a number of local charities and non-profit agencies that accepts applications, and learn more about applying for Toys for Tots Christmas gift distribution near you below.
In a typical year, the Toys for Tots program provides over 15 million free toys to millions of children from struggling families, many of them from single mom or dad run homes The assistance is coordinated by the United States Marine Corps in all 50 states, however the USMC works with local charities, corporations and social services offices to distribute the gifts. There are in fact thousands of local charities, with some mostly like near you, that administer it.
How does Toys for Tots provide help?
At its core, Toys for Tots is local. You don’t apply through a national hotline or call center. Instead, you request help with the USMC reserve campaign that serves your county. The national site maintains a locator (link is below) and once you select your area, you’ll submit a short online application on that local chapter’s website. That page also tells you when registration opens, pickup dates, and any special rules in your community. If you need to check where things stand later, there’s a status page that points you back to your local site’s “Request a Toy/Check Status” section.
In addition to these various local charities as well as non-profits that partner with the Marines to administer the service to children, Toys for Tots relies on donations from corporations, individuals, and the community in general. Many churches and charities both (1) accept donated gifts or money from the public and (2) provide those toys to kids, generally from from age 0 to 12 but that varies by local area. If possible give back or volunteer to help the less fortunate.
While all 50 states are covered, there are thousands of individual sites that operate this service. Of course Toys for Tots has income requirements. The goal is to give each child from a struggling household, that meets the cut off, one or more free gifts to open on Christmas morning, whether it is a toy, clothing, game, book, or whatever.
The Marines and Toys for Tots relies on many different organizations. There are churches, charities, retail stores, companies such as Wal-Mart or Target and groups such as the Salvation Army that take part. Often local businesses assist as well, such as maybe a mall helping collect Christmas gifts or a small business owner allowing the use of a storage unit to hold the toys. Of course, there are donation sites set up as well for people to bring toys too.
- As part of this service, there is a Marine who is assigned to each of the hundreds of non-profit sites that administer it. They coordinate the service, including providing outreach to the community. They create an application process for parents in each community. As businesses often decide to help the Marines by becoming a “drop off site”.
The family also can’t “double dip”, meaning they can’t use this United States Marine corps program as well as other local resources, such as angel Tree. Applications for the Toys for Tots campaign will always be crossed referenced, but there are also referrals to even programs that give money at Christmas to pay for gifts and those are an option too.
If and when approved, usually a voucher or ticket is given to the parent, and they will need to redeem it at a Toy for Tots distribution site in their community. This voucher or ticket will allow the parent to collect free Christmas toys for their kids. They need to do this before all relevant deadlines have been crossed, as Toys for Tots is time sensitive.
Applying for Toys for Tots in your local community
You don’t apply through a national hotline or call center. Instead, you request help with the USMC reserve campaign that serves your county or even individual city. The national site maintains a locator (link is below) and once you select your area, you’ll submit a short online application on that local chapter’s website. That page also tells you when registration opens, pickup dates, and any special rules in your community. If you need to check where things stand later, there’s a status page that points you back to your local site’s “Request a Toy/Check Status” section.
Registration needs to be done as the United States Marine Corps will only allow charities to pass out free Christmas presents to approved clients - lower income households that qualify. As far as the items donated (or passed out to kids), they need to be new; not used. Or in some cases the US Marine Corps Toys for Tots program will give out gift certificates and/or cards to kids.
- In general, the household needs to have a child under the age of 13 however some Toys for Tots programs increase that age. In addition, each parent that is requesting a Christmas gift from the free Toys for Tots program will need to bring Social Security cards for each child that is part of their application, a picture identification as well as bring proof of residency in that town. The application start date will vary by local town or city, but it is often in September or October.
Head to the Toys for Tots “Request a Toy” page, enter your ZIP code, and follow your local Toys for Tots chapter’s instructions. Find more details here. https://www.toysfortots.org/request_toys/ or dial 211 for more details.
- If you can’t find your county or you’re told it’s uncovered, the Foundation that is run by the Marine Corps actively recruits new coordinators to close gaps in coverage and may help you find other places that help with Christmas in your area. So check neighboring counties and ask local agencies which chapter is serving your area this season.
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