Toys For Tots 2021: How To Donate, Apply In Arlington Heights

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — The holiday season is fast approaching, but now is the time to consider donating to a Toys for Tots campaign in Arlington Heights.

The mission of Toys for Tots is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to less fortunate children at Christmas. The original Toys for Tots project was founded in 1947 by Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, and it became a nonprofit public charity at the behest of the Marine Corps in 1991. The organization is still run exclusively by veteran Marines.

This year, there are hundreds of local campaigns either planned or ongoing across the United States. Arlington Heights residents can donate toys, apply for toys and even host a Toys for Tots fundraising event.

The 2021 campaign in Arlington Heights kicked off Nov. 1. Yizet Vargas is the Toys for Tots coordinator for Arlington Heights and Cook County.

In 2020, our local Toys for Tots campaign distributed 78,796 toys to 70,300 children.

Arlington Heights Police Department Toys for Tots

In addition, the Arlington Heights Police Department's Toys for Tots campaign runs through Dec. 4. Bring new, unwrapped toys to the Arlington Heights Police Department at 200 E. Sigwalt St., or Village Hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road, for donation to Toys for Tots Marine Corp Reserve. Email the Police Department with questions.

Fire Department Toys for Tots and Coat Drive

The Arlington Heights Fire Department is participating in Chicagoland Toys for Tots Toy Drive Nov. 15 - Dec. 15. Local firefighters and the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization as well as School District 25 are teaming up to help students and families in the district. Bring new, unopened toys for donation to Toys for Tots Chicagoland.

The Fire Department is also hosting its ninth consecutive coat drive, which has collected nearly 4,000 coats so far. Bring new or gently used coats for donation.

Toys and coats may be donated at any Arlington Heights Fire Station including: -

• Station 1 — 300 East Sigwalt St.
• Station 2 — 1150 N. Arlington Heights Road,
• Station 3 — 2000 South Arlington Heights Road
• Station 4 — 3030 North Arlington Heights Road

For anyone who prefers not to donate in person due to COVID-19 concerns, Toys for Tots has established a virtual “toy box.” Using the virtual toy box allows anyone to donate by purchasing a toy online. Toys will then be distributed across the country and delivered by Toys for Tots.

Local Toys for Tots campaigns are conducted annually in over 800 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to Toys for Tots. Since the program’s inception, the foundation collected and distributed 604 million toys to 272 million children.

The nonprofit also partners with 12 major sponsors that have contributed at least $2 million in toys. The sponsors include Hallmark, the Walt Disney Company, the UPS Store and Kmart.

Toys for Tots allows participants to make a donation in several different ways:

• Donate online
• Donate in memory or in honor
• Donate through the holiday recognition program
• Donate toys
• Donate by mail
• Crowdfunding
• Employer gift matching
• Planned giving
• Supporting through the Native American Program