How to Donate Used Toys to Children in the Northwest Suburbs of Illinois

Every child should have toys to play with. Help make that happen in the northwest suburbs.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that many families cannot afford to purchase toys for their children. While this is heartbreaking enough on a daily basis, it is especially difficult for these families during the holidays when other children are showered with new toys by their families, friends and relatives. Families in the northwest suburbs of Illinois without the ability to purchase toys for their children rely heavily on the kindness of the more fortunate who are willing to donate gently used toys for them to give to their children. What is now an old, used toy to your children may seem like a brand new toy to a child in need.

Instructions

1. Gather your used toys. It is undoubtedly faster and more efficient for you to do this yourself while the kids are out, but encouraging their participation allows them to learn the value of giving and to appreciate all that they have.

2. Clean each toy thoroughly. Used toys are accepted by charities all over the northwestern suburbs, but each toy should be clean and in working order with all of its original pieces.

3. Contact a charity in the northwest suburbs that accepts used toys for children. Some charities include the Catholic Charities (catholiccharities.net/locations/northwest), the Salvation Army (salarmychicago.org/locations), and Goodwill (goodwillchicago.com). The Catholic Charities are headquartered at 1717 Rand Road in Des Plaines, while the Salvation Army and Goodwill have locations throughout the northwest suburbs where donations are accepted.

4. Check each charity's website routinely for information regarding drives that are being conducted in the near future. The Salvation Army and Goodwill accept donations year round at their drop-off locations, while the Catholic Charities accepts used toy donations during the holidays for needy families. Information about holiday donation drives is available on the Catholic Charities website leading up to the holiday season.

5. Drop off your toy donations at the charity of your choice. If you plan on deducting your donation on your income tax return for the upcoming tax year, obtain a tax receipt for the value of your donated toys from the charity.

Tips & Warnings

• If you routinely make it into Chicago, donate to the Children's Memorial Hospital's White Elephant Resale Shop at 2380 N. Lincoln Ave. The shop accepts used toys as donations year-round.

References

• Salvation Army Chicago: Locations
• Catholic Charities: Northwest Region
• Goodwill Chicago: Retail Stores and Donation Centers
• Children's Memorial Hospital: White Elephant Resale Shop