Here's some places where you can donate toys this holiday season

Cole Behrens, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read

With the holiday season quickly approaching, many in the Columbus area are looking for places to donate gifts to children in need. Here are some of the larger local toy drives happening this year in central Ohio:

Marines Toys for Tots

One of the largest annual toy drives, the Marines Toys for Tots chapter for Central Ohio collected over 80,000 toys last year and benefitted more than 40,000 children throughout the Columbus area. The national organization is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and the local "Lima Company 3d Battalion 25th Marines" remains committed to its mission of providing every child in central Ohio the opportunity to open a present on Christmas morning.

Toy donations can be made at any of the Marines Toys for Tots registered locations throughout the Columbus, with a list available on the organization's website at https://columbus-oh.toysfortots.org/. Toy collections continue through Dec. 15, and financial donations can also be made online.

The Lima Company is also still seeking volunteers to assist in the toy drive campaign. Prospective volunteers can sign up on their website. Distribution continues through Dec. 22.

Nationwide Children's Hospital wish list

Nationwide Children's Hospital accepts monetary donations for the holiday season on their website. The hospital also has an Amazon wish list where purchased toys for children will be sent directly to the hospital.

Nationwide Children's also encourages people to consider making the following items for donation:

  • Comforts, quilts, or fleece blankets: no smaller than 35" x 45"

  • Bead Bags for Heart Center Bead Program: Nationwide Children's has details on how to make these bags on its website. Bags can be sent to: The Heart Center, 700 Children's Dr., Columbus, OH 43205

Franklin County Children Services 'Holiday Wish' program

For more than 55 years, the Franklin County Children Services agency has provided toys to children in agency care thanks to the generosity of the public through its Holiday Wish program.

This year, they are seeking donations through Dec. 23 at Franklin County Children Services, 855 West Mound St., Columbus. Call 614-275-2525 to schedule a toy drop-off, and a list of recommended toys is available on the agency's website. An Amazon wish list is also available.

Franklin County Children Services 'Black Girl Magic' toy drive

While Franklin County Children Services Holiday Wish program has provided toys to children in agency care since 1963, the organization believes that all children should receive gifts that "reflect their culture and celebrate their uniqueness."

Because of this, the agency holds a toy drive that benefits African American girls between the ages ofeight and 11. Last year the agency was able to grant the wishes of more than 6,500 children because of the annual Black Girl Magic event.

The Black Girl Magic Toy Drive drop-off will occur Dec. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Que Studio, 1278 E. Main St., Columbus. Cash donations can also be made online.

Walmart and Salvation Army 'Angel Trees'

For more than 40 years, Walmart and the Salvation Army have partnered to display "Angel Trees," using Christmas trees to pair children in need of gifts with shoppers willing to purchase and donate gifts. The Salvation Army Angel Tree program provides new toys and clothing to more than one-million children in need each year.

A registry based on ZIP code is available on the Salvation Army website that allows donors to select their nearest Salvation Army chapter and contribute directly to a wish list. Gifts can also be hand-delivered to participating Walmart locations or the nearest Salvation Army chapter.

@Colebehr_report

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Five places to donate toys in central Ohio this holiday season