| Local Marine Toys for Tots Campaign FAQ |
| How do I know what toys to donate? |
| What are the dates for turning in toy applications? |
| Who do I make out my check donation to? |
| Where does my donation go? |
| Do you take used toys? Even if they are like new? |
| What ages can receive toys? |
| What if I apply for toys & my child has special needs? |
| How will I know if I am approved, after I apply to receive toys? |
| What happens to USED toys that are donated in Toys for Tots drop boxes? |
| Can I apply for toys if my child lives in DeKalb County but goes to school outside of DeKalb County? |
| If I know a family who needs help and they will not apply, can I apply for them? |
| What if my child is U.S. citizen, but I or my child's other parent has no Social Security card? |
| What if I need the money and decide to take the toys back to the store for a refund? |
| What if my child does not like the toy he or she receives from Toys for Tots? |
| Do you accept clothing? |
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| Q: How do I know what toys to donate? |
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NEEDED TOYS – MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS
Legos Sets
Nerf Guns
My Life Dolls
Baby Alive Dolls
Frozen Dolls
Trolls Dolls
Dora Dolls
Marvel Superheroes
Avenger Superheroes
Beyblades Sets
Robots
Dinosaurs
Sharks
Horse & Pony Sets
WWE Wrestlers
Minecraft Games & Figures
Fortnite Games & Figures
Pokeman Cards & Figures
Barbie & Ken Dolls & Clothes
Monster High Dolls
Etch-A-Sketch
Mickey & Minnie Dolls
PJ Mask Sets
Paw Patrol Sets
Peppa Pig Sets
Baby Shark Toys
Ben 10 Sets & Figures
Fisher Price Little People Sets
Toy Story Dolls
Soccerballs
Footballs
Basketballs
Volleyballs
7” Tablets – Older Kids
7" Tablets - Younger Kids
Wireless Earbuds
Wireless Headphones
Electronic Games
Bluetooth Speakers
MP4 players
Karaoke sets
Remote Control Drones
Electric Train Sets
Alabama & Auburn Gifts
Camouflage Gifts
Bikes – All Ages
Skateboards
Skates
Toddler Push/Ride Toys
Big Wheels Ride Toys
Helmets - All Ages
Wagons
Tricycles
V-Tech Tablets
DVD Cartoons & Movies – All Ages
Board Games – All Ages
Books – All Ages
Baby Blankets, Clothes, Diapers
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| Q: What are the dates for turning in toy applications? |
BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: 9 am CST October 3, 2022 at DeKalb County DHR (Food Stamp Office)
DEADLINE TO TURN IN APPLICATIONS: 4 pm CST October 31, 2022 at DeKalb County DHR
Click on Request a Toy on our home page to view the list of documents which parents / legal guardians must take with them to the DHR Food Stamp Office in order to apply for toys.
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| Q: Who do I make out my check donation to? |
TOYS FOR TOTS |
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| Q: Where does my donation go? |
Toys and money raised in DeKalb County goes to help only DeKalb County children.
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| Q: Do you take used toys? Even if they are like new? |
No, we are directed by the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to accept only new, unwrapped, toys.
We are not allowed to accept food.
We are not allowed to accept toys that look like a real weapon. |
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| Q: What ages can receive toys? |
0-18 years. School age children must be enrolled in school. Homeschooled children are eligible. |
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| Q: What if I apply for toys & my child has special needs? |
Note your child's special mental and/or physical needs on the application, with suggested appropriate toys.
Should you fail to make this notation, your child will be provided toys appropriate for his/her biological age. |
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| Q: How will I know if I am approved, after I apply to receive toys? |
You will be notified by the Department of Human Resources, when you apply there, if you are approved.
Make sure you get a slip of paper with the toy pickup date and location on it, before you leave the DHR (Food Stamp Office).
Bring this slip of paper with you at toy distribution.
If you are uncertain whether you were approved, email the local Toys for Tots campaign coordinator. Provide your name; city of residence; child's name; and the date you applied. |
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| Q: What happens to USED toys that are donated in Toys for Tots drop boxes? |
If they are sanitary & like new, they are donated to another charity which accepts used toys.
If the toys are clearly used and questionable, they are disposed of, and the donated items will not be used. |
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| Q: Can I apply for toys if my child lives in DeKalb County but goes to school outside of DeKalb County? |
| Yes. Eligibility is based on WHERE THE CHILD LIVES; NOT WHERE THE CHILD ATTENDS SCHOOL, HEAD START, OR DAY CARE. |
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| Q: If I know a family who needs help and they will not apply, can I apply for them? |
Contact the local Toys for Tots campaign Coordinator to address this situation.
Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
You must have accurate information concerning the family, and we must be able to verify it..
If there are extentuating circumstances, such as a house fire, theft, job loss, illness, etc. which caused the family to be unable to provide Christmas gifts for their children, we need to have those details.
If approval is given, special arrangements to pick up the toys MUST be made through the Coordinator.
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| Q: What if my child is U.S. citizen, but I or my child's other parent has no Social Security card? |
The DHR (Food Stamp) Office will determine eligibility based on documents you present to them. Below are application guidelines:
INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES APPLY FOR TOYS AT THE DEKALB COUNTY, ALABAMA DEPT. OF HUMAN RESOURCES (FOOD STAMP) OFFICE DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. OFFICE HOURS ARE 8 AM - 4:30 PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY. TAKE THESE DOCUMENTS WITH YOU:
1. Photo ID of parent or guardian
2. Current utility bill with parent or guardian’s name
3. SS cards or birth certificates for each child.
4. Document showing need.
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| Q: What if I need the money and decide to take the toys back to the store for a refund? |
This is a criminal act and will be treated as such.
It is unethical to exchange gifts received from Toys for Tots for money, goods, or services - through word of mouth, personally, or through media.
The local Toys for Tots campaign is overseen by the Toys for Tots Foundation, which takes action against criminal activity.
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| Q: What if my child does not like the toy he or she receives from Toys for Tots? |
If the unlikely situation occurs that your child is given toys which are not age and gender appropriate, contact our coordinator PROMPTLY; and make arrangements to bring ALL BAGGED TOYS in right away.
If toys were bagged for several children in your family, and only one child was affected, ALL CHILDREN'S BAGGED TOYS must be presented for comparison to your application, which is kept on file until distribution is complete.
We cannot GUARANTEE there will be replacement toys available. |
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| Q: Do you accept clothing? |
If new with tags, clothing is donated, and a family has specifically asked for a piece of clothing, we would place that piece of clothing where it is needed.
However, our mission is to provide new toys for children in need at Christmas.
We encourage new, unwrapped toys as donations, or monetary donations to purchase toys. |
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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? |
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| 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. return to top > |
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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. return to top > |
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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. return to top > |
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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. return to top > |
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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. return to top > |
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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. return to top > |
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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. return to top > |
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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. - Click the "Toy Drop-Offs" button at the top of the page
- Select your state
- City or County search options will appear - 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) - 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. - Click the “Request Toys” button at the top of the page
- Select your state
- City or County search options will appear - 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) - 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. - Click the “Toy Drop-Offs” button at the top of the page
- Select your state
- City or County search options will appear - 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. - Click the “Toy Drop-Offs” button at the top of the page
- Select your state
- City and County search options will appear - 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) - 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. - Click on “About Toys for Tots” button at the top of the page
- 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. - Go to “Toy Drop-offs”
- Select you state
- City and County search options will appear - 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) - 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. - Go to "Donate Online
- 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 return to top > |
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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: - Go to “Corporate Partners” on our homepage.
- Click “What I need to know”
- Read information provided.
- Click on Colonel Ted Silvester hypertext, and an e-mail box will appear
- Fill out email message by providing your name, phone number, FAX number and mailing address. Bill will contact you as soon as possible.
- You can also call Colonel Ted Silvester at the number indicated on that page.
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