Havre de Grace Toys For Tots: Here Are 10 Collection Spots

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — With the season of giving fast approaching, the Marine Toys for Tots campaigns are set to begin across the country. The mission of the foundation is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to less fortunate children at Christmas. The nonprofit public charity was founded at the behest of the Marine Corps in 1991, and it is still run exclusively by veteran Marines.

Today, there are hundreds of local campaigns across the United States in which residents can donate toys, apply for toys and even host a Marine Toys for Tots fundraising event.

Craig Reeling is the Toys for Tots Coordinator for Harford County, where he said there are 208 drop sites.

People can drop off new, unwrapped toys until mid December.

There are multiple drop-off sites in Havre de Grace:

• American Legion Post 47, 501 Saint John Street
• APGFCU, 1045 West Pulaski Highway
• Edward Jones Toy Drop, 1039A Pulaski Highway
• Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, 1601 Level Road. The ambulance corps is also accepting nonperishable food and hygiene items for the Havre de Grace Housing Authority.

• Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, 100 Lafayette Street

• Joseph's Department Store, 122 North Washington Street

• Susquehanna Workforce Network, 2021-D Pulaski Highway
• Swan Creek Veterinary Clinic, 2015 Pulaski Highway, Suite A
• VFW Post 8126, 300 N Lodge Lane
• Weis Market, 943 Pulaski Highway

Overall in 2018, there were 25,289 toys distributed locally and 4,018 children were supported through the campaign in Harford County.

Children selected to receive toys through the program will be notified of the pickup point after their application has been accepted.

The local 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. In the past year alone, the foundation collected and distributed 18 millions toys to 7 million less fortunate 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 10 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 and supporting through the Native American Program.