Toys for Tots Campaign Under Way in County

The gym at Prince George’s County Police headquarters is filling up fast with toys, including hundreds of new bikes.

The department is again partnering with the United States Marine Corps Reserves to host the Toys for Tots program in Prince George’s County. Each Christmas season, the program collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to families in need.

Donations are being accepted for this year’s toy drive; toys will be distributed Dec. 19-22.

Visit www.toysfortots.org to find drop-off locations and to register to receive toys. The toys collected by the police and our partners will be distributed in December to those who have pre-registered.

In 2014, community and sponsors donated more than 50,000 toys which were distributed to about 10,000 families. Organizers hope to surpass that number this year.

New, unwrapped toys will be collected through Dec. 9 at drop-off sites located throughout Prince George’s County. If you are unable to drop by the EXIT Landmark Realty office, monetary donations received are used to purchase toys wherever a shortfall exists.

Credit card donations are accepted via the Toys for Tots website and checks made payable to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation can be mailed to 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172.

Residents interested in volunteering to collect, sort, count or distribute toys, books and stocking stuffers for local children can register here.

In the past, there have been shortfalls in donations for the early teen-age group. In light of this, please consider donations of action figures, books, educational toys, jewelry, Legos, makeup kits, sports equipment, skateboards, and small electronics such as mp3 players, cameras and handheld video games.

For families in need of gifts, registration for the 2015 Toys for Tots campaign closes Dec. 4, and can only be completed online. Recipients must be residents of Prince George’s County and provide proof of address.

Toys for Tots Pickup Details

Organizers will distribute to all Prince George’s County approved families from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the Prince George’s County Police Department, 7600 Barlowe Road in Landover.

Recipients must bring a photo ID and approval email; children do not need to be present. The name you have submitted your request under is the photo ID that will need to be presented at time of pick-up. Identification needs to show that you are a Prince George’s County resident.