Portland OR
Frequently Asked Questions

Local Marine Toys for Tots Campaign FAQ
Q. My company is going to have a Toys For Tots collection drive or event. What support is available for us?
Q : Are particular types of toys more in need than others?
Q : How can my business get involved with Toys for Tots?
Q : Where can I send a financial donation?
Q : Is my donation tax-deductible?
Q : What kinds of toys are not allowed?
Q : How can I become a volunteer?
Q : What kind of toys can I donate?
Q : What ages of children are eligible to receive toys?
Q : What is the criteria to qualify to receive toys from this program?
Q : How long does the Toys For Tots program last?
Q : How does the Toys For Tots program work?
Q : What is the program’s goal?
Q : Why is this program necessary?
Q : How did this program start?

Q: Q. My company is going to have a Toys For Tots collection drive or event. What support is available for us?
The Marines of 6th Engineer Support Battalion thank you for your interest in supporting our charity!   We can provide you with collection bins, posters, window stickers, etc… We can also provide a Marine to attend your event, but remember, our resources are very limited, so please get your request in early.   Please refer to the Support Toys for Tots page to apply (click here).
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Q: Q : Are particular types of toys more in need than others?
A :   The age groups that are in need of donations are the children from ages 0 to 2 and 12 to 15 years old.
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Q: Q : How can my business get involved with Toys for Tots?
A: In the following ways:
  1. Provide volunteer assistance at distribution event
  2. Provide logistical support for the pickup and distribution of toys
  3. Provide fuel for pickup and distribution of toys
  4. Hold a toy collection drive at your business
  5. Make a monetary donation to Toys For Tots
  6. Organize a Toys for Tots promotional event in coordination with the Toys For Tots coordinators
  7. Refer us to other companies
  8. Or please contact us if you have any other suggestions or ideas(click here).
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Q: Q : Where can I send a financial donation?
A : Donations can be mailed to:
 

Toys For Tots

6735 N. Basin Ave.

Portland, OR 97217

Please make checks payable to "Toys For Tots of Portland OR".   All donations made through this Toys for Tots Organization will be sent to the Toys for Tots foundation in Quantico, Virginia for accounting purposes, and will be deposited to our account for use right here in local county.

To Donate Online directly to your Local Toys For Tots Campaign by clicking here or go to our Donate Online page for other ways to donate.

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Q: Q : Is my donation tax-deductible?
A :   A donor does not need a special letter for tax purposes unless he/she makes a donation of money, toys, or services valued at $250.00 or more.   For donations less than $250.00 a canceled check or store/business receipt is acceptable for IRS purposes.   For donations of $250.00 or more that are address of the donor, a receipt will be mailed upon request.

Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity. Donations are tax deductible.
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Q: Q : What kinds of toys are not allowed?
A :   Toys for Tots prefers not to accept realistic looking weapons and gifts with food.  If donated, such items will NOT be distributed.
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Q: Q : How can I become a volunteer?
A :   Toys For Tots could not be done without volunteers!   Please contact us by clicking here and informing us of your availability, skills, and intent.
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Q: Q : What kind of toys can I donate?
A :   New, unwrapped toys preferably around the $10 or above price range.   It is unsafe to distribute dangerous or dirty toys that could cause injury or illness to a child.
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Q: Q : What ages of children are eligible to receive toys?
A :   National rules and guidelines permit distribution of toys to children from 0 up to 13 years of age.  However, Marine Corps Reserve units are authorized to place further limitations on this depending on conditions in their areas.  Locally, the decision has been made to distribute toys to children from infant up to 15 years of age only.
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Q: Q : What is the criteria to qualify to receive toys from this program?
A :   Local social service agencies and other legitimate organizations are used to identify needy children and help coordinators distribute toys in the local community.  This reduces the possibility of one family receiving multiple gifts.   For the benefit of the Toys For Tots program, Marines, to the extent feasible, distribute some toys directly to needy children (e.g. hospitals, hospices, shelters, special children’s event etc.).

To request toys and for a list of approved organizations please click here and please scroll through the page to find the organization that best fits your location and needs.  Or go to the Request Toys selection at the top of this page.
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Q: Q : How long does the Toys For Tots program last?
A :   The Toys For Tots season locally starts on October 2nd and lasts until December 22nd. However, we accept sponsorship all year long to get started for the next season.
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Q: Q : How does the Toys For Tots program work?
A :   There two aspects associated with the program nationally:
  1. Those activities undertaken by Marines, often with the support of the local community
  2. Those activities of the Toys For Tots foundation in Quantico, Virginia , which support the Marine Corps program.

Marines:   Marines, often with the support of their local community partners, stage toy collection barrels at various locations (for example, at a participating business location).   New, unwrapped, donated toys are placed in these barrels.   The barrels are collected periodically and transported to a central holding location, where the toys are examined and sorted by gender and age group.   These toys are then provided to appropriate agencies (such as local churches, etc.), who identify and distribute these toys to those children in need.

If the Marine Corps Reserve Unit receives unsolicited funds, these funds are forwarded to the Toys for Tots Foundation in Quantico , Virginia for accounting purposes.   The Foundation, in turn, returns 100% of these funds to the respective donating community, in the form of toys purchased at the national or local level.

Foundation:   The focus of the Toys For Tots Foundation in Quantico is predominantly at the national level.   Toys donated in large quantity and funds received by the Foundation, from an individual or corporate sponsor, are used to supplement the effort of the local community programs.   For example, if the Foundation received a donation of 50,000 toys, the foundation would then route those toys to the communities most in need.   These needs are determined by detailed coordination with the local Marine Corps Reserve sponsors in those communities.   In the case of donated funds, the foundation expends 97% of these funds on the purchase of toys and 3% on administrative and promotional needs.

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Q: Q : What is the program’s goal?
A :   We Marines are inherently tenacious and optimistic, striving continuously to surpass the most formidable challenge.   While it may seem overly ambitious, our ultimate goal would be to bring a ray of holiday joy to the heart of each of the estimated 14 million children in need each year.
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Q: Q : Why is this program necessary?
A :   America has over 14 million economically disadvantaged children.   There has never been a greater need, and the Marine Corps is committed to doing its part in helping these children.
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Q: Q : How did this program start?
A :   A Marine Corps reservist, Major Bill Hendricks, started Toys For Tots back in 1947.   His wife Diane had crocheted a doll to give to an organization that donated toys to disadvantaged children during Christmas.   However, there was not an organization in Los Angeles that distributed toys to disadvantaged children.   Major Hendricks decided to gather all the Marines he could to help him collect and distribute toys to disadvantaged children.   Toys for Tots was officially established a year later.   That first year in Los Angeles , the Marines collected, and distributed about five thousand toys.   Since then, we have collected and distributed more than 19 million toys to more than 9 million needy children across the nation.
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Why a Toys for Tots website?
How do I find my local Toys for Tots campaign?
What ages are supported by Toys for Tots?
Is there a list of toys available to guide me with my donation?
Pre-teen/teens are groups for which shopping is especially difficult. Do you have any ideas?
Are there toys/gifts that are not accepted/distributed?
I signed up for assistance/to be a collection site but have not heard anything. What should I do?
Where can I drop off a toy?
How can I obtain toys for my children or for someone else?
How can I become a Toys for Tots volunteer?
How can my business become a Toy Drop Off Location?
I am writing a paper/making a speech about Toys for Tots. Where can I obtain information?
My business is a toy drop off location. I need to have the toys we have collected picked up.
How can I make a cash donation to Toys for Tots?
How can my corporation become a National Corporate Sponsor of Toys for Tots?

 

 
Q: Why a Toys for Tots website?

Toys for Tots created a national website to provide information, education, and an opportunity to donate to Toys for Tots to the American public.  Support of our program via the website has increased every year!  We are grateful to our generous donors for their continuous and loyal support.

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Q: How do I find my local Toys for Tots campaign?

The national website is the starting point to find one of our nearly 800 Toys for Tots campaign sites.  At the top of the Home Page of the Foundation's National Website (www.toysfortots.org), there is a menu option “Donate a Toy”.  From this menu, one may select the state, then the city/county in which they reside.  If the city/county is covered, clicking on that location will take the surfer to a local Toys for Tots website.  At the local website, each visitor may find information about local events, how to become a collection point for the local campaign, how to register for assistance, and how to donate directly to a local campaign.

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Q: What ages are supported by Toys for Tots?

Most campaign sites are able to assist children up to age 12, but in many local communities, local support is such that the age limit may be extended to 14-16.

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Q: Is there a list of toys available to guide me with my donation?

Toys for Tots does not publish a list of appropriate toys to donate.  If such a list were created, most would follow it, resulting in a limited selection of items to distribute in each community.  We would rather our donors consider what might be an appropriate gift for their own child/relative, purchase the item, and donate to Toys for Tots.

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Q: Pre-teen/teens are groups for which shopping is especially difficult.  Do you have any ideas?

The Foundation does purchase supplemental toys/gifts for our campaign sites and focuses on these age groups.  In the past, items purchased for these groups have included, but are not limited to:  sporting equipment/bags/balls; books, backpacks, cosmetics, purses, watch/wallet gift sets, bath gift sets, board games, radio control cars/trucks, hand-held electronics, skateboards/helmets, curling irons, hair straighteners, and hair dryers.

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Q: Are there toys/gifts that are not accepted/distributed?

Toys for Tots prefers not to accept realistic looking weapons and gifts with food.  If donated, such items will NOT be distributed.

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Q: I signed up for assistance/to be a collection site but have not heard anything.  What should I do?

You must contact the local Toys for Tots representative about such particulars.  Contacting the national Foundation can increase the time it takes for such a message to reach the appropriate person.  The Foundation is located in Virginia and is limited to either e-mailing or calling the local contact to inform them of any requests that may have been overlooked.

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Q: Where can I drop off a toy?

Proceed through the following four (4) step process to determine the toy drop off location nearest to you.

  1. Click the "Toy Drop-Offs" button at the top of the page
  2. Select your state
    - City or County search options will appear
  3. Select the city or county nearest your location
    - Contact by phone, FAX, email (Recommend you use email. Click the hypertext email address. An email form will appear)
  4. Fill out the form by providing your name, phone number and address. Ask for the location of the toy drop off point nearest you. The Coordinator will contact you and provide the requested information.

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Q: How can I obtain toys for my children or for someone else?

Proceed through the following four (4) step process and determine the procedure.

  1. Click the “Request Toys” button at the top of the page
  2. Select your state
    - City or County search options will appear
  3. Select the city or county nearest your location
    - Contact by phone, FAX, email (Recommend you use email. Click the hypertext email address. An email form will appear)
  4. Fill out the form by providing your name, phone number and address. Provide the ages and gender of your children and request that Christmas toys be provided for them.
    The Coordinator will contact you.

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Q: How can I become a Toys for Tots volunteer?

Proceed through the following three (3) step process and determine the procedure.

  1. Click the “Toy Drop-Offs” button at the top of the page
  2. Select your state
    - City or County search options will appear
  3. Select the city or county nearest your location
    - Contact by phone, FAX, email (Recommend you use email. Click the hypertext email address. An email form will appear)

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Q: How can my business become a Toy Drop Off Location?

Proceed through the following four (4) step process and determine the procedure.

  1. Click the “Toy Drop-Offs” button at the top of the page
  2. Select your state
    - City and County search options will appear
  3. Select the city or county nearest your location
    - Contact by phone, FAX, email (Recommend you use email. Click the hypertext email address. An email form will appear)
  4. Fill out the form by providing your name, phone number and address plus a description of your business. State that you want to volunteer to be a toy drop off location. Send to coordinator.
    The Coordinator will contact you.

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Q: I am writing a paper/preparing a speech about Toys for Tots. Where can I obtain information?

Proceed through the following two (2) step process and determine the procedure.

  1. Click on  “About Toys for Tots” button at the top of the page
  2. This page provides the index for an array of information about Toys for Tots.

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Q: My business is a toy drop off location. I need to have the toys we have collected picked up.

Proceed through the following four (4) step process.

  1. Go to “Toy Drop-offs”
  2. Select you state
    - City and County search options will appear
  3. Select the city or county nearest your location
    - Contact by phone, FAX, email ((Recommend you use email. Click the hypertext email address. An email form will appear)
  4. Fill out the form by providing your name, phone number and address. Explain that the drop off box at your business is full and request that the donated toys be picked up on/no later than (insert date(s)). Send message to coordinator.
    The Coordinator will contact you.

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Q: How can I make a cash donation to Toys for Tots?

To donate by credit card, proceed through the following two (2) step process.

  1. Go to "Donate Online
  2. Follow instructions

To donate by check, accomplish the following:

Mail your check to:

Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
18251 QuanticoGateway Drive
Triangle, VA  22172

Make check payable to: Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

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Q: How can my corporation become a National Corporate Sponsor of Toys for Tots?

Proceed through the following five (5) steps:

  1. Go to “Corporate Partners” on our homepage.
  2. Click “What I need to know”
  3. Read information provided.
  4. Click on Colonel Ted Silvester hypertext, and an e-mail box will appear
  5. Fill out email message by providing your name, phone number, FAX number and mailing address. Bill will contact you as soon as possible.
  6. You can also call Colonel Ted Silvester at the number indicated on that page.

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Marine Toys for Tots Mobile App