GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — The Marines' Toys of Tots campaign is back for the 2024 holiday season! KARE 11 is proud to partner with the Marines as we collect toy donations at our studios in Golden Valley.
Below, find out more information about where to donate, what to donate, how to appear on television, and how to receive a toy for your child.
Where can I make a toy donation?
The KARE 11 Toys for Tots tent will be open from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. starting Dec. 2 through Dec. 18 at our studios in Golden Valley.
There are also many drop-off locations around the metro. You can also drop off a new unwrapped toy at Kowalski's Markets, as well as St. Paul Federal Credit Union locations, and Twin Cities Honda dealers.
Can I donate money?
Yes! You can make a monetary donation through KARE 11's Give 11 page, or using the form below. Give 11 is a website that makes it easy to donate whatever you can afford. You can also donate directly to the Marines.
How can my group sign up to share our donation story on a KARE 11 newscast?
You can still sign-up for an on-air appearance on KARE 11 using this form. We're especially looking for organizations or groups who can stop by in the morning for recorded appearances that will air during our noon and 4 p.m. newscasts.
What kind of items can be donated?
The Marines accept monetary donations and new, unwrapped toys. Some examples are games, action figures, dolls, baby toys, puzzles, and non-realistic-looking weapons. They do accept homemade toys but ask that they are safe and free of sharp edges and small items that could be swallowed or otherwise injure the children that receive these donations.
Toys are distributed to kids from 0 - 15 years old. Typically, there is a shortage of toys for infants and teenagers.
Gift cards are accepted but are not distributed as gifts. The Marines take donated gift cards and purchase gifts for the program.
When is the last day you are accepting toys?
The Marines are asking for toys and financial donations to be donated by Dec. 18 to allow time for them to be distributed.
How can my child receive a toy?
Families need to contact a distribution agency working with Toys for Tots. For a list of agencies, click here.
Only toy requests by family members with custodial responsibility are normally approved; other requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. The age limit is 15 years old.
A child may only be registered through one charity organization. Multiple registrations by different family members, at different locations, are not allowed.
How do I get a receipt for my donation?
A receipt/combination letter will be provided to the donor that appears on the donation check ONLY. This will be issued sometime in January/February of the following calendar year, by the corporate office in Virginia, NOT by the local office. We are not legally allowed to provide any receipt to anyone.
The above applies if you host a charity fundraiser event and collect donations in the form of checks addressed to Toys for Tots/Marine Toys for Tots Foundation that are turned into the local office(s).
If you have donations made out to a person/company who then processes those donations into a check made payable to Toys for Tots/Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, a receipt will be issued to the name on the check only.
How do I become a Toy Distribution Agency?
To become a Distributor (agency) you must complete the form on www.toysfortots.org. Agencies are required to have a 501(c)3 Tax ID number and must be located in counties that are covered (which include Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties). Visit www.toysfortots.org for full details and a full list of counties served.
Does the Twin Cities Toys for Tots have a Facebook page?
The Marines' Twin Cities Toys for Tots page is located here: http://www.facebook.com/t4ttwincities. Please like and share this page.
More information about Twin Cities Toys for Tots program can be found on the local Toys for Tots website.
