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.
I havnt yet but I plan on going to family dollar and buying a bunch of the $5 DOT deluxes and donating them
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
i planned on it since i was going to end up making 50 bucks after selling chocolate but since i've had 34 bars stolen and i'm still not done selling (which i'm having to pay for), i don't know if i'll have the money to do it. hopefully i do though, i really want to try.
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.
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.
Where I come from, we have a huge toy drive each year where we donate a new toy and we get free breakfast.
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.
Considering goingto family dollar picking up a ton of $5 deluxes and donating them as my gratest dead of this year