How to find a Christmas toy drive near you, and when to give
A Christmas toy drive is one of the simplest ways to put a new toy in a child’s hands, but timing decides whether your gift
Little Smiles Foundation
Welcome to Little Smiles Foundation! We’re a passionate nonprofit helping refugee children overcome the challenges of displacement and build brighter futures. Through programs focused on mental health, nutrition, sports and play, arts and creativity, and education, we create safe, joyful spaces where children can heal, grow, and thrive.
Source: UNHCR Global Trends 2025 (June 2026) and UNHCR Education Report 2026.
About Us
Little Smiles Foundation supports refugee children through the upheaval of displacement. We run programs where children can play, learn and feel safe again.
Many refugee children lose home, school and routine at the same time. Our six programs bring those ordinary things back, with emotional support through play, healthy food, sport, new toys and help with school.
Doctors, nutritionists, counselors, teachers and coaches give their time alongside our volunteers, and everyone completes child safety training before working with children.
Our Mission
Our mission is to create a lasting impact in the lives of refugee children by providing access to toys, educational resources, sports programs, healthcare, and emotional support. By harnessing the power of play, learning, physical activity, and holistic care, we nurture their physical health, emotional resilience, and social integration.
Through consistent, compassionate support, we help these children overcome adversity, build confidence, and discover the strength to dream boldly, shaping brighter futures for themselves and their communities.
The greatest gift we can give a child is somewhere safe to just be one.
Programs
Play based emotional support that helps refugee children name what they feel, practice calm and rebuild trust, through games, art and storytelling in small groups.
Healthy food at every session, health support from volunteer doctors and nutritionists, and help for children finding care, so they can grow, focus and learn.
Soccer, team games and open play that rebuild trust, teach teamwork and let kids simply run, laugh and be kids. Every child gets the gear to join in.
New toys chosen for each child's age, plus art and creative workshops that bring back the ordinary magic of being a kid.
Backpacks and school supplies, tutoring in reading, math and English, and enrichment trips that help children settle into a new school.
The doctors, nutritionists, counselors, teachers, coaches and volunteers who donate their time to every program, trained in child safety and supported by our team.
Our Commitment
Every decision starts with the children we serve. These are the standards we hold ourselves to.
Each program has a clear purpose, from the toys we choose for a child's age to the subjects our tutors cover.
Play, laughter and imagination are part of every program, because a child who can play can begin to feel at home again.
Transparency, consistency, and follow-through define how we operate. We don’t just promise change. We show up, measure it, and stand by our results.
We protect children's privacy, train every volunteer in child safety and send a receipt for every gift.
Get Started
You can give online in about a minute, volunteer two to four hours a month, or host a toy drive at your school or office.
FAQs
Our mission is to bring play, learning, healthy food and emotional support to refugee children, so they can recover the ordinary parts of childhood.
You can volunteer, give, host a toy drive or partner with us through your organization. Our Ways to Help page explains each option.
We support refugee children in areas of high need, both domestically and internationally. Our programs are deployed based on partnerships with local communities, shelters, and humanitarian organizations to reach children wherever they are most vulnerable.
Yes! Little Smiles Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. A donation receipt will be provided for your records.
Gifts fund our six programs for refugee children, covering emotional support, healthy food, sport and play, toys and creativity, and education.
Yes, we gratefully accept donations of new toys, school supplies, and certain essentials during designated drives. Please contact us for specific guidelines on what items are most needed.
We offer a variety of ways to volunteer, including helping at events, supporting play and educational programs, organizing drives, and offering professional skills like counseling, education, or nutrition services. Both individuals and groups are welcome to apply.
To sponsor a program, you can fund a specific initiative such as mental health counseling, sports programs or education support. Visit our Programs page or contact us to arrange it.
Yes. We work with companies and organizations through sponsorships, matching gifts and team volunteer days. Contact us to discuss a partnership.
Blog & News
A Christmas toy drive is one of the simplest ways to put a new toy in a child’s hands, but timing decides whether your gift
Giving Tuesday 2026 is December 1. Here is how your gift helps refugee children, and how to double it with an employer matching gift.
Ways to donate toys this holiday season, how to check that a toy drive is legitimate, and how to help refugee children who are often missed.
How to start a toy drive in 8 simple steps. Set a goal, get permission, promote it and deliver the toys, with a free drive kit and templates to copy.
Not sure which toys to donate? See what refugee children need most at every age, plus what to avoid. A practical guide from Little Smiles Foundation.
Education is more than just learning: it is a gateway to opportunity, empowerment, and a better future. At the Little Smiles Foundation, we believe that
