As the saying goes, it is better to give than receive. With drop-off sites all throughout the Valley, these toy drives make it easy to give to a local child in need.
Scottsdale Quarter has partnered with Arizona Helping Hands to host a holiday toy drive benefiting children in foster care. New, unwrapped toys and children’s clothing can be dropped off during mall hours at the donation center inside Santa City in The Quad. For more information, visit the event page at scottsdalequarter.com. There is also an opportunity to donate online.
Also set to benefit Arizona Helping Hands is the nonprofit’s 22nd annual Fill Santa’s Sleigh holiday toy drive taking place Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. at its facility in Phoenix. To ensure social distancing, this year’s event will be a festive drive-through for the whole family that includes Santa, lights and holiday entertainment. Guests can bring unwrapped children’s toys to donate and help bring joy to kids in foster care statewide. The event is free and open to the public; RSVP here.
Mr Mesquite Taqueria is using all seven of its locations (including its newest in Gilbert when it opens on Dec. 12!) as safe donation drop-off sites for the Academic Opportunity of Arizona through Dec. 23. Anyone who brings in a toy, clothing item or learning tool to any Mr Mesquite location will also get a free taco to redeem the day of drop-off.
Through Dec. 10, UnitePHX is asking locals to donate new, unwrapped gifts for kiddos ages 2 to 16 (gifts should be around $10). To make it even more convenient to contribute, there are a number of drop-off locations throughout the Valley, including KLG Law Offices, 414 Pizza and Pub, New Wave Tattoo, Renew Health and various others. For a complete list of drop-off locations, click here.
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is partnering with Childhelp for its annual holiday toy and clothing drive. All Grimaldi’s locations in Arizona will be accepting donations of new and unused (nonviolent) toys and clothing on behalf of Childhelp until Dec. 18. If you are unable to donate at your local Grimaldi’s, visit Childhelp’s Amazon Wish List to make a donation.
Angry Crab Shack is hosting its annual toy drive benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children. All Arizona locations are participating with boxes setup inside to collect new, unwrapped toys for kids in need this holiday season.
Now through Dec. 17, if guests bring in a new toy or gift card ($10-plus value) to Crumbl Cookies, they’ll receive a free chocolate chip or sugar cookie with every donation (one cookie per person per donation). The toys and gift cards collected will support Harvest Compassion Center and New Pathways for Youth. The holiday toy drive is only being held at select locations including Scottsdale, Ahwatukee, Signal Butte, Queen Creek and Red Mountain Mesa.