Last updated October 2026
To donate toys in Los Angeles, you can give money for toys, host a toy drive at your school or office, or buy a new toy and send it after emailing the charity first. Choose a registered charity with a clear destination for the toys, and give new, unwrapped toys matched to a child’s age.
Key takeaways
- There are three ways to give toys: give money for toys, host a drive, or send a new toy after emailing us first.
- Check that a drive is run by a registered charity, says where toys go, and can give you a receipt.
- Give new, unwrapped toys that match a child’s age. Teens are the most often forgotten.
- Give by early December so toys can be sorted and delivered before the holidays.
- Refugee children are often missed by holiday drives because families are new, busy and hard to reach.
Every gift helps a refugee child in Los Angeles. $25 gives school supplies to 2 kids.
DonateEvery holiday season, thousands of people in Los Angeles want to donate toys but are not sure where to start. Should you buy a toy, give money or run a drive? How do you know the toys will reach a child? This guide answers those questions and explains how to donate toys in Los Angeles so your gift does the most good.
Little Smiles Foundation is a Beverly Hills based 501(c)(3), founded in 2019, that supports refugee children of all ages across the Los Angeles area. New toys, chosen for each child’s age, are central to our Moments of Joy program. Everything below applies to any charity you choose, and we explain how to give to ours along the way.
What are the ways to donate toys in Los Angeles?
There are three simple ways to donate toys: give money for toys, host a toy drive, or send a new toy after emailing the charity first. Each one works, and they suit different schedules and budgets.
1. Give money for toys
A gift of money is the fastest and most flexible option. The charity can buy new toys in bulk, fill the age groups that are short, and add things toys alone cannot cover, such as school supplies and healthy food. You can donate to Little Smiles online through PayPal in a couple of minutes.
2. Host a toy drive
A toy drive at your school, office, place of worship or apartment building turns one gift into dozens. It takes a few weeks and a couple of organizers. We send a free drive kit with a poster, a flyer and a box label, and we arrange pickup for larger drives. Our guide on how to start a toy drive walks you through eight easy steps, and you can sign up to host a drive here.
3. Send a toy, after emailing us first
If you would like to give one or two toys yourself, email us at hello@littlesmiles.foundation first. We will tell you which ages need gifts most and how to get the toy to us. We do not have a public drop off location, so please always email before you send anything.
How do the options compare?
Money goes furthest, a drive gives the most toys, and a single toy is the most personal. This table sums up the differences.
| Option | Best for | Time needed | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Give money for toys | Anyone short on time | A few minutes | Lets us buy for the ages that need it most, plus supplies and food |
| Host a toy drive | Schools, offices, groups | Two to four weeks | Collects many new toys at once |
| Send a toy (email first) | Individuals who love to shop | An hour | A personal gift matched to a child’s age |
Not sure which to choose? A mix works well: give money now so we can buy early, then add a toy you pick yourself later in the season.
Here is what a gift of money does at Little Smiles right now:
- $25 gives school supplies to 2 kids.
- $50 gives healthy food to 3 kids for a week.
- $100 gives mental health support to 2 kids.
What will your gift become?
How can you check that a toy drive is legitimate?
Check that the drive is run by a registered charity, that it says clearly where the toys will go, and that it can give you a receipt. These three checks take a few minutes and protect your gift.
Is this toy drive legitimate?
- It names a real organization, not just a person or a social media account.
- The organization is a registered charity. You can look it up in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
- If it raises money in California, it appears in the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charities.
- It says clearly who receives the toys and roughly when.
- It can give you a receipt for a money gift.
- It has a working website, email address and phone number.
- It does not pressure you to give in cash or by gift card only.
The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search lets you check whether an organization is tax exempt and eligible to receive tax deductible gifts. In California, the Attorney General’s office runs the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, where charities that operate in the state register. If a drive cannot answer basic questions about where the toys go, it is fine to choose another one. If you find a drive through a crowdfunding page or a social media post, look for the charity’s own name and website, and give through the charity directly when you can.
Little Smiles Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every gift is tax deductible, and you receive a receipt for every donation.
What toys should you give, by age?
Give new, unwrapped toys matched to the age on the label. Soft toys and board books for babies, blocks and pretend play for preschoolers, art kits and balls for school age kids, and practical gifts for teens.
| Age | Good toys to give |
|---|---|
| 0 to 2 | Soft toys, board books, stacking cups, chunky blocks |
| 3 to 5 | Large blocks, pretend play sets, simple puzzles, crayons |
| 6 to 9 | Art kits, building sets, balls, card and board games |
| 10 to 13 | Craft kits, sports gear, chapter books, strategy games |
| 14 to 18 | Art supplies, journals, headphones, backpacks, sports gear |
Two safety rules matter most. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission bans small parts in toys made for children under 3, and the American Academy of Pediatrics warns about button batteries and high powered magnets, which can cause serious injuries if a child swallows them. Please skip used toys and toy weapons too.
For a full list by age, including toys that need no shared language, read our guide on what toys to donate.
When do donated toys reach children?
Give by early December so toys can be checked, sorted and delivered before the holidays. Toys that arrive later still help, because children need play all year.
- Early to mid November: the best time to start a toy drive.
- Late November: drives are in full swing. Giving Tuesday, on December 1, 2026, is a good moment to give money for toys.
- Early December: the last stretch for collecting and sorting.
- After the holidays: toys and gifts of money are still welcome, because children need play all year. New toys reach children through our Moments of Joy program.
If you are running a drive, agree on a delivery or pickup date with the charity before you announce it, so your end date leaves time for sorting.
Why are refugee children often missed?
Refugee children are often missed by holiday toy drives because their families are new to the area, busy rebuilding their lives and not yet connected to local programs. Many are also still learning English.
Children make up a large share of people forced to flee. According to the UNHCR, children account for 39 percent of refugees. Many have lived through war, persecution or long journeys, and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network notes that these experiences can affect a child’s mental and physical health long after they happen.
A new toy cannot undo that. But play is one of the ways children recover a sense of normal life. A ball to kick with new friends, a set of crayons or a doll to care for can make a new place feel a little more like home. That is why we bring new toys to refugee children across Los Angeles, alongside emotional support, healthy food, sport and play, and education through our six programs.
Want to do more than give a toy? Explore every way to help refugee children, or volunteer with us.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I donate toys near me in Los Angeles?
Many charities collect toys in Los Angeles. To give to refugee children through Little Smiles Foundation, you can give money for toys online, host a drive, or email us first to send a new toy. We do not have a public drop off location.
What is the best charity to donate toys to?
Choose a registered charity that says clearly who receives the toys and can give you a receipt. You can check registration in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and the California Registry of Charities.
Can I donate used toys in Los Angeles?
Most holiday toy drives, including ours, accept only new, unwrapped toys, because used toys are hard to check for safety and missing parts.
Which items are usually rejected for donation?
Used or opened toys, toy weapons, toys with small parts for children under 3, and toys that need apps or accounts are the most commonly rejected.
When is the deadline to donate toys for the holidays?
Give by early December so toys can be sorted and delivered before the holidays. Gifts after that are still welcome, because children need play all year.
Are toy donations tax deductible?
Gifts to a registered 501(c)(3) charity are generally tax deductible. Little Smiles Foundation is a 501(c)(3), and you receive a receipt for every donation.
Is it better to give money or toys?
Both help. Money lets a charity buy for the ages that need it most and add school supplies and food. A toy you choose yourself is a personal gift.
Bring a new toy to a refugee child
This holiday season, help a refugee child in Los Angeles open a gift chosen just for them. Give today, or join our Toy Drive with your school or office.