How to Know Where to Get Free Toys for Christmas

Where I can get free toys for Christmas? Many families facing an economic squeeze or financial hard times wonder how to stretch the budget during the holidays so as to meet the needs of their family, without over spending. Receiving free toys for Christmas is one way to ensure traditional holiday gift-giving continues, bringing a sense of normalcy to even the hardest of times.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Christmas gift tree

   Look into church gift trees, where church members and parishioners choose a gift tag from the tree and buy and wrap a gift for the recipient (for example, tags might read "Boy, 5, toy truck" or "Girl, 7, Legos"). Talk to the parish staff or pastor about including your children's wish list gifts on the tree. Churches are one of the best ways to get free toys for Christmas for needy families.

2. 
   Toy vouchers

   Inquire at your local Salvation Army as to whether they have a toy voucher program for qualifying families. If so, they will give you a form to fill out in which you can list your children's names and ages to receive toys for Christmas.

3. 
   Toy drive?

   Find out about national toy drives, such as Toys for Tots. You may need to go through a local charity or point person who distributes that national toy drive items in your community. For Toys for Tots, you would contact the local coordinator and request the free toys for Christmas for your family.

4. 
   Teddy bear

   Look into local charities, such as Catholic Charities, civic organizations and community groups. Find out about their Christmas outreach programs and whether your family qualifies. For many, your statement of need or basic information is all they ask. In addition to free toys for Christmas, many will have food baskets or other assistance available.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to give back when you are able.
• Volunteer to help the less fortunate at Christmas and throughout the year. It is a good idea for children to learn charity from both sides, at a young age.

Resources

• Get Christmas Help for Low-Income Families
• Request a toy from Toys for Tots

[rosalp]

on 10/27/2009 Hello,my name is rosa and im 19 yrs.,and im a single mom who just had a baby girl and i also have a two yr. old boy.i lost my job 8 months ago and im going thru a very hard time and with a new baby,things are getting more complicated.the only one helping me is my mother who also has my four sibling to take care of.its been hard for us because she's the only one working and she doesn't get payed much.so we need help making this chistmas possible for my four siblings and my little ones.i want my newborn to be able to have her first chistmas and be able to put a smile on my family face and let them forget for a moment the hard times we are facing.PLEASE HELP Us make this possible.thank you

[Rosie06]

on 12/13/2008 Don't believe when they say to contact the represenattives of toys for tots foundation. I e-mail to my represenative in my areafor a toy for my son and all I got was a "Ma'am, unfortunately I'm unable to support you.r/s,(real sorry). Thay never asked about my situation nor I received and explanation why they couldn't help!! :( sad for my son.

[Rosie06]

on 12/13/2008 Don't believe when they say to contact the represenattives of toys for tots foundation. I e-mail to my represenative in my area for a toy for my son and all I got was a "Ma'am, unfortunately I'm unable to support you.r/s,(real sorry). Thay never asked about my situation nor I received and explanation why they couldn't help!! :( sad for my son.

[prism]

on 11/27/2008 Great suggestions! Some accept info on behalf of a family in need too. I hear commercials on the radio for Salvation Army saying to call to have a family considered for food/toys for Christmas.

[LEEXY]

on 11/20/2008 hi my name is alexis im a single parnt of 6 children an i have been looking for work like yesterday and everday it is so hard it just seems like all doors all closed i preyed an preyed but still no luck at this time, im woundering is there an angel out there that can help me put a smile on my childrens face for christmas christmas christmas PLEASE HELP US.