How to Help Needy Children in Atlanta Area With Christmas Gifts
Whether it is to provide a monetary donation, give a toy, volunteer services or host an event, you can help spread holiday cheer to a family in need. Over the years, more than 150 million needy children have received presents for the holidays. In the Atlanta region, there are several opportunities through which to help children in need.
One way to help is through Atlanta Toys for Tots, an organization sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps. Originally founded by the wife of a Marine who handmade a Raggedy Ann doll to give to a needy child at Christmastime, Toys for Tots celebrated its 60th year of service in 2007.
Another way to help is through Buckhead Christian Ministry, a nonprofit that provides emergency financial assistance to 15 different zip codes around Atlanta. During the holidays, they offer families in need a voucher for the "Joyous Toys" program, where they can "shop" for holiday gifts for their children, free of charge, at a local church on a designated weekend in December. In previous drives more than 1,000 children received toys annually.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Money or toy (for gift-givers)
- 501(c)(3) charitable organization information (for authorized toy distributors)
Instructions
-
Make a Donation to Toys for Tots
-
1
Visit the Atlanta Toys for Tots secure donations website below to make an online donation. You can choose amounts ranging from $25 to $1,000, or indicate a different amount. You can make a onetime gift or a recurring gift, and choose the end date for your recurring donation. Simply enter your billing address and credit card information for one-click processing.
-
2
If you prefer to make a monetary donation by mail, send your check or money order to:
Atlanta Toys for Tots
1280 Field Parkway
Marietta, GA 30066 -
-
3
Drop off a new toy at any Atlanta-area Publix Super Market or UPS Store retail location.
Volunteer With Toys for Tots
-
4
Collect Toys for Tots donations at your business by organizing a drop site for your company's customers or employees. Visit the Atlanta Toys for Tots website and click on the tab "Toy Drop Sites."
Complete the form with your contact person's name, organization name, mailing address, email address, and phone and fax numbers. Note the start date of your toy collection and your requested pickup date. Indicate the quantity of boxes you'll need on the form. You have the option of visiting a warehouse pickup location for boxes (the current year's pickup site will be noted on the form), or you can have them shipped to you free of charge.
-
5
Volunteer to assist the Marines. Visit the Atlanta Toys for Tots website and click on the tab "Volunteer."
Complete the form with your name, email address, phone number, ZIP code and the county you wish to volunteer in. You can select from warehouse, meals and transportation volunteer assignments. A comment form is available if you wish to indicate other ways you'd like to help.
-
6
Partner your next party or event with a Toys for Tots toy drive or fund-raiser. You can request a Marine to attend using the online form. Visit the Atlanta Toys for Tots website and click on the tab "Events."
Complete the form as indicated. Include your contact person and alternate contact person's names and phone numbers. There is a space to indicate whether your event is open to the public or with an expected attendance of 100 or more.
-
7
Become an authorized distributor of Toys for Tots gifts for needy children. You must be a nonprofit company or group to do so. Individuals and for-profit companies can't distribute gifts. Visit the Atlanta Toys for Tots website and click on the tab "Toy Request."
Check the box to agree to the Toys for Tots terms and certify your 501(c)(3) status. Complete the form with your EIN (Employer Identification Number), contact person's name, organization name, mailing address, email address, and phone and fax numbers. Complete the form indicating how many toys your group is requesting. You can indicate quantities for boys and girls separately in the age ranges 0-2 years, 3-5 years, 6-9 years and 10-12 years.
Contribute to the Joyous Toys Program
-
8
Purchase a new toy to donate to the store. If you would like to purchase a toy that was requested, or need guidance with your shopping, contact Lacy Kerkhof of BCM via email at lacykerkhof@bcmatlanta.org or (404) 239-0058 x 111 for a shopping list to get you started.
-
9
Give a monetary donation by mailing your check or money order, attention Lacy Kerkhof, to:
Buckhead Christian Ministry
2847 Piedmont Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30305Be sure to write "Joyous Toys Donation" in the subject line if you want to ensure that it will be specifically earmarked for the Joyous Toys program.
-
10
Volunteer to collect toys at your business or work at the toy store distributing gifts on the designated days. Contact Lacy Kerkhof of BCM (see Step 1) to make arrangements for your collection kit, sign up or get more details about volunteering.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Kelly/Wikimedia Commons.
