Toys for Tots donations

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Lumpy, Nov 9, 2012.

  1. Lumpy

    Lumpy Taylor Swift Action Master Super Mod

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    Has anyone donated to Toys for Tots this year?

    I try to donate at least 13 toys a year, one for each month, plus an extra one for my birthday, because if i can get more toys that month, i can make sure a kid gets one as well.

    I just went to Family Dollar yesterday, and they had DOTM deluxes for $5, plus a buy one, get one 50% off. so it's like 8 bucks for 2 DOTM deluxes. that's definitely going to help me achieve my goal this year, as well as some of the other toys i've picked up over the last year.

    Also, anyone who's tired of seeing shelves full of Prime Bumblebee, pick up one, donate it to Toys for Tots, and if others in your area do the same, new cases will come in eventually, so it's a win-win.

    I also recommend volunteering, if you can, to help out on the days when the toys are actually distributed. I don't know if its the same everywhere, but here the parents were allowed to walk through with a volunteer and "shop" for the toys they wanted for their kids. it's really amazing when you see how excited they get because they know that they can give their kids something new and fun this year on Christmas.

    I really love helping out Toys for Tots, and giving the gift of Transformers. You never know who's life you could effect, maybe you'll give a TF to the next great TF designer.
     
  2. Fuzz

    Fuzz Garbage Pail Kid

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    I work in city hall so there's always a collection every year. I usually buy some TFs to donate.
     
  3. Mutt12

    Mutt12 Starroid Raider

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    I usually do around Christmas time.
     
  4. Orion_Prime48

    Orion_Prime48 Super Sentai Purist

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    I havnt yet but I plan on going to family dollar and buying a bunch of the $5 DOT deluxes and donating them
     
  5. Lumpy

    Lumpy Taylor Swift Action Master Super Mod

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    I'm really glad I found those, I think I'm gonna go get 6 or 8 deluxes to donate, maybe see what else i can find to donate. I know i've got a few older Cybertron scouts that i purchased with customizing in mind, but doubt that'll happen now. so might as well donate them and get rid of stuff.
     
  6. Satomiblood

    Satomiblood City Hunter

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    I'm a little apprehensive about donating to Toys for Tots. It has nothing to do with the program, but I've heard and read stories of people vulturing the donation bins, looking to see if there are any hot Christmas items or collectibles. But I suppose I can bypass the bins and donate them directly? I have to admit that I haven't researched this in full.
     
  7. Lumpy

    Lumpy Taylor Swift Action Master Super Mod

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    I've not heard of that, but big bins in front of TRU are probably subject to that, which is unfortunate and lame. definitely a great program to donate to though, that way the parents can focus on more practical gifts, like clothing.
     
  8. MidnightBliss

    MidnightBliss Well-Known Member

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    Every time I buy cases of Transformers from BBTS the extra ones go into the toys for tots bins. Usually turns to 6-8 figs a year. Our hospital also has a wish tree for local kids. My wife and I do 2 of those a year.


    The bins don't get anything from me. Take them to your local Firehouse. They use them also to console kids of tragic events too.
     
  9. Scantron

    Scantron Well-Known Member

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    Toys for Tots is one of the only charities I like and to which I donate every Christmas. I actually keep my eyes open all year for sales/deals/clearances on TFs, pick stuff up as I see it and then add it to the pile in my storage room to donate when the bins go up. I haven't dropped off my donations yet, but I have something like 4 - 5 Voyagers, 15 Deluxes, 4 - 5 Scouts and a few other random items ready go once I find a good drop-off point. Doesn't compare to the year Hasbro did that "spend $25, get 3 Deluxes, no limit per household" offer; I think I donated about 30 or 40 RotF Deluxes that year alone.

    If I'm donating anything remotely desirable or collectible, I double-bag everything in shopping bags and tie them securely so that people can't see what's inside. While it's not a sure-fire way to prevent people taking good stuff, it makes it more difficult and, hopefully, time-consuming enough that someone would notice the bin being sorted through.
     
  10. Shockwave9227

    Shockwave9227 A real stand-up guy

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    Sadly my dad doesn't support charity yet we needed it at some point and were kinda being supported by it for a brief time.
     
  11. Fallout

    Fallout Banned

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  12. TheIncredibleHulk

    TheIncredibleHulk Bad Luck Incarnate

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    My work usually puts out a bin around this time so I try to put a toy or two in.
     
  13. Dachande

    Dachande MULTI-QUOTE- USE IT. Super Mod

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    Same here. I can trust that one. My daughter's karate school has one as well, so I usually drop a few pieces in there as well.
    This year, the next Vehicons I see at Aldi's will be bought for the bins. Let some young'ins have the chance to play with one of the best figures of the year.
     
  14. Dark Skull

    Dark Skull Well-Known Enabler Moderator

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    In about 6 days.....I'm going to be donating most if not all of my TF movie toys to toys for tots.
     
  15. moreprimeland

    moreprimeland Optimus told me to do it!

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    My local TRU will have T4T bin I'm sure, at least they've had one in the past..so easy to buy a couple of things and drop them in. Usually a local radio station will set up there and you can bring stuff from anywhere as long as it's unopened.
    Also, I always 'adopt' a couple of Angel Tree kids that have asked for TF's on their Xmas wish list...so easy for me to take care of those requests. I usually buy them an Optimus and Bee for the toys, a TF tshirt or pj's too...does help move that inventory for sure.
     
  16. Lazerwave

    Lazerwave My Most Prized Treasure

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    Where I come from, we have a huge toy drive each year where we donate a new toy and we get free breakfast.
     
  17. strangeguy32000

    strangeguy32000 Well-Known Member

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    I've been saying that all summer.
     
  18. Barricade24

    Barricade24 The Decepticop

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    Not yet, but I hope to. Black Friday is probably a great time to do something like that. :) 
     
  19. CodeXCDM

    CodeXCDM Well-Known Member

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    Ebay:
    There's a thrift store near my home that always sells a ton of cheap toys... the Teddy Bears are oftentimes in surprisingly good condition, as are some toys.

    Every time I have a spare buck or two I grab a bag of toys... sift thru the junk bits, and reassemble presumably broken toys up if they look to be in great condition.

    Also been getting some extra TFs to donate if they're on 3-7$ clearance price... minus some weapons at times... Sorry, Roadbuster and Sideswipe have nice MechTech... >_>

    Anyway... I've got a sizable trash bag full of plush toys and other random bits that should be enjoyable by kids... Power Rangers, cars, a TF or two.
     
  20. Grimlock22

    Grimlock22 This is noise

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    Considering goingto family dollar picking up a ton of $5 deluxes and donating them as my gratest dead of this year