CONNECTICUT, USA — The holiday season is here, and with it comes the gift of giving.
Several towns, organizations, and communities are hosting toy drives to help make sure children in the state have a happy and wondrous holiday.
This is not a complete list. If you know of a holiday gift drive happening in your community, email newstips@fox61.com with the details.
Here's how you can donate, and where:
Faith's Annual Toy Drive for Yale New Haven Children's Hospital - Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11, located at What's Cookin' in Madison, this toy drive is looking to collect 3,000 toys for Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 78 Boston Post Rd. It's the fourth year for the drive.
Dunkin' and the Hartford Yard Goats - This holiday season, Dunkin' and the Hartford Yard Goats are teaming up to bring joy to the patients at Connecticut Children's Hospital with a toy drive.
Due to COVID protocols, the hospital was unable to accept any tangible donations this year, and as a result, their toy closet is bare this holiday season. So Dunkin' and the Yard Goats want to help ensure the hospital's closet is filled with care.
From Dec. 6 to Dec. 14, Dunkin' Donuts Park in Hartford and multiple Dunkin' locations across the region will serve as donation drop sites.
Donation sites:
- DD Park: 1214 Main Street, Hartford
- 20 Central Row, Hartford
- 265 Washington Street, Hartford
- 129 Weston Street, Hartford
- 475 Flatbush Ave, Hartford
- 754 Maple Ave, Hartford
- 141 Hebron Ave, Glastonbury
- 3040 Main Street, Glastonbury
- 2601 Berlin Turnpike, Newington
- 348 Colt Highway, Farmington
The first 50 guests who stop by one of the participating Dunkin' locations with a new unwrapped toy will receive a $5 gift card.
CT Lottery - It's the CT Lottery's 8th annual "Give a Child a Toy, Not a Ticket" toy drive. Drop-off locations include all 89 Stop & Shop stores in Connecticut beginning Dec. 1 and all eight Geissler's Supermarkets.
The toy drive is to benefit Connecticut Children's Medical Center.
The drive goes until Dec. 21
Newington High School Boys Swimming and Diving Toy Drive - The Newington Boys Swimming and Diving Team is hosting a toy drive on Saturday, December 11. It will be at the Newington High School from Noon - 4 p.m. and the Newington Fire Department from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
South Windsor Food & Toy drive- The South Windsor Police Department will be holding a food and toy drive on December 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
People can donate at the Stop & Shop located at 1739 Ellington Road and Birdhouse Coffee, located at 765 Sullivan Ave.
All proceeds will go to South Windsor Human Services. They are looking for donations of food items and new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages.
Monetary donations are also appreciated. Please make checks payable to South Windsor Food and Fuel Bank.
Woodbridge PD Stuff a Cruiser - The Woodbridge Police Department will be hosting a Stuff a Cruiser event where you can donate an unwrapped toy.
The event will be held on Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the De'Andrea's (Starbucks) Plaza, 1660 Litchfield Turnpike.
The toy drive will be benefiting Yale New Haven Children's Hospital as well as Toys for Tots.
Priority items include:
LEGO kits
Infant toys like mobiles, rattles, light-up or sound toys, puzzles, cards, and games.
Toddler toys like Fisher-Price, VTech, art supplies like crayons, markers, colored pencils, paint, and sketch pads
Waterbury Police Activity League Toy Drive Event - The Waterbury PAL will be hosting the toy drive event Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Dec. 5 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The toy drive will be at the Barnes and Noble bookstore located at 235 Union Street. Please bring an unwrapped toy!
Vinny DiNatale Toy Drive - The toy drive hosted by Glastonbury Public Schools bus driver Vinny DiNatale is held to help benefit Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters. DiNatale has been a Big Brother (adult mentor) for eleven years.
Vinny's "Cram the Van" toy drive is scheduled for Dec. 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Irving Gas Station, located at 890 Main Street in South Glastonbury. The effort will benefit boys and girls ages six through 18 who are enrolled in the Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Organizers said they hope to collect new, unwrapped toys, games and sporting goods. Gift cards and monetary donations are also welcome!
Westport Police Department toy drive - Westport police officers will accept new, unopened, and unwrapped toys as well as cash donations as part of the drive.
The drive will be held Dec. 4, 5, 11, and 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the ASF Sports & Outdoors parking lot, 1560 Post Road East.
Additionally, there will be a toy collection box in both the police department's lobby, 50 Jesup Road, as well as at Toyota of Westport, 777 Post Road East from now until Dec. 13.
Questions can be directed to Corporal Albert Nowinski via e-mail at ANowinski@WestportCT.gov or (203) 341-6000.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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