Make this holiday season even merrier by brightening the lives of Bay Area Children with donations of toys, clothing, food, and other needed items. Dozens of nonprofits are waiting for people like you to drop by a new, unwrapped Gift, or to make an online donation.

Below is an extensive list of San Francisco Bay Area holiday toy drives, their drop-off locations, needs, and deadlines, organized by area. Click on the links to visit organizations’ websites.

Can’t drop off a donation? Many are taking online donations, or will provide an address for checks.

Know of a toy drive we missed? Tell us below in the comments. We’ll update the list with new information as it comes in.

All Over the Bay Area

CHiPs For Kids  

What it is: Annual toy drive for kids in need conducted by the California Highway Patrol.

Needs: New, Unwrapped Toys; also accepting canned goods.

Deadline: Dec. 16

Drop-off Locations: Any Golden Gate Division CHP office, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Family Giving Tree

What it is: Every year The Family Giving Tree fulfills the holiday wishes of more than 70,000 low income children and seniors in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Needs: See the website for how to donate to an online drive.

Deadline: Ongoing

Phone: 408-946-3111

Also see under South Bay below.

Sleep Train Foster Kids Secret Santa Toy Drive

What it is: Collecting new toys and other gifts for foster children in the Bay Area.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, books, and games.

Deadline: Dec. 15

Drop-off Locations: See the website for a complete list of store locations.

Toys for Tots

What it is: One of the biggest, oldest toy drives in the country conducted by members of the United States Marine Corps.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, or monetary donations.

Deadline: Varies by area.

Drop-off Locations: See the website for information by area.

East Bay

Building Futures

What it is: Provides shelter and support to women and children who are homeless and victims of family violence.

Needs: Toys and other gifts from wish list on the website.

Deadline: Dec. 16

Drop-off Location: The Building Futures office, 1395 Bancroft Avenue, San Leandro.

Oakland Mayor’s Community Toy Drive 2014

What it is: Bringing smiles to Oakland’s children in need.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, or online donations. No toys of violent nature, please.

Deadline: Dec. 23

Drop-off Locations: see the website. 

Richmond/El Cerrito Fire and Police Holiday Toy Program

What it is: Providing new toys for children in need in the western Contra Costa County area.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, or online donations.

Deadline: Contact the organization.

Drop-off Locations: Any fire station in west county.

Marin

Santa Cop Toy Drive

What it is: Annual toy drive for children in need, co-sponsored by the police and fire departments of San Rafael, the police and fire associations of San Rafael, and the International Footprinter Association, Chapter #15.

Needs: Unwrapped, new toys and games.

Deadline: Contact the organization.

Drop-off Locations: All over San Rafael; see the website for list.

Novato Human Needs Center

What it is: Serving low-income families.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys and games for babies, children, and teens.

Deadline: Dec. 1 – Dec. 17, open 2-6 p.m.

Drop-off Location: Novato Human Needs Center, 1907 Novato Blvd., Novato.

See the website for more info.

Peninsula

The Children’s Fund of San Mateo County

What it is: Making sure that children in the juvenile justice system, low income children and foster children receive a gift at the holidays.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, board games, books, clothing, Gift Cards of $25, and sports equipment, such as basketballs or soccer balls.

Deadline and Drop-off Locations: Contact the organization for more info.

Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos

What it is: Community agency helping those in need.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, pajamas, gifts for teens, healthy food donations.

Deadline and Drop-off Locations: See the CSA website for more info.

Ecumenical Hunger Program

What it is: Helping those in need in East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park.

Needs: Grocery store gift cards, gifts for teens, turkeys, hams, chickens, monetary donations, volunteers.

Deadline and Drop-off Locations: See the EHP website for more info.

The Edgewood Center

What it is: Helping children, teens, and families who have suffered abuse, neglect, and mental illness.

Needs: New, unwrapped gifts, gift cards, monetary donations. Note: They will not accept used stuffed animals or any war-themed or weapon-type toys.

Deadline: Dec. 19

Drop-off Location: 957 Industrial Rd., Suite B, San Mateo.

See The Edgewood Center’s website for more info.

Redwood City Toy Drive – Need to check 

What it is: A collaboration of police and fire groups in Redwood City collecting toys and books for local children in need.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys and books, monetary donations.

Deadline: Contact the organization.

Drop-off Locations: A complete list is available on the website, but you might want to call ahead first.

Samaritan House

What it is: Serving low-income families in the San Mateo area.

Needs: See the Samaritan House website.

Deadline and Drop-off: Contact the organization.

San Francisco

The Edgewood Center

What it is: Helping children, teens, and families who have suffered abuse, neglect, and mental illness.

Needs: New, unwrapped gifts, gift cards, monetary donations. Note: They will not accept used stuffed animals or any war-themed or weapon-type toys.

Deadline: Dec. 20

Drop-off Location: 1801 Vicente Street, San Francisco.

The Edgewood Center’s website for more info.

San Francisco Fire Fighters Toy Program

What it is: Providing toys to children in need, from infants through age 12. The organization is year-round, sponsoring many events during the holiday season.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, or online donations.

Deadline: Dec. 1 – Dec. 23

Drop-off Locations: Any San Francisco Fire Station; see the website for a complete list.

South Bay

AACI Asian Women’s Home Holiday Gift Drive 

What it is: The Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) operate the Asian Women’s Home, offering care and shelter for women and children experiencing domestic violence and other serious issues.

Needs: $40 Target gift cards, new toys, arts and crafts supplies, winter clothing, and sporting equipment. Other gift cards and monetary donations also welcome.

Deadline: Dec. 12

Drop-off Location: Call the agency at 408-975-2730, ext. 226 to arrange drop off.

See the website for more information.

Alum Rock Counseling Center

What it is: Counseling and intervention programs for at risk youth and their families. The center is providing a virtual Santa’s Workshop for approximately 200 children and teens.

Needs: New toys, bikes, large rolls of wrapping paper, tape, ribbons and bows, baskets, tinned cookies, candy, nonperishable food, bottled water, financial contributions.

Deadline: Dec. 14

Drop-off Location: Call Stephanie at 408-240-0070.

More information at www.alumrockcc.org.

Bill Wilson Center 

What it is: The center helps youth who are homeless, runaway, in foster care, have aged out of the foster care system, or having family problems.

Needs: Gift cards (Target, grocery stores, etc.) so that the teens and young adults can pick out exactly the items they need and want.

Deadline and Drop-off: Contact the center, 408-243-0222.

Website: www.billwilsoncenter.org.

Campbell Mom Squad Holiday Toy Drive to Benefit EMQ FamiliesFirst

What it is: Every year this group of Campbell moms sponsors a holiday toy drive to benefit EMQ FamiliesFirst, a nonprofit that helps children with mental health issues.

Needs: Infant toys, sporting goods, art supplies, action figures, dolls, board games. They do not accept stuffed toys or books.

Deadline: Dec. 14

Drop-off Locations around Campbell:

Simply Smashing!
Campbell Parents Participation Preschool
Toys Toys Toys
Sonoma Chicken Coop, Campbell
Tessora’s Barra di Vino
Tiny Tots Diaper Service & Baby Boutique
The European Cobblery of Campbell
Los Gatos Orthopedic Sports Therapy, Inc
The Shop at Flywheel Press

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County

What it is: Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County serves 40,000 individuals of all backgrounds and beliefs through more than 50 programs and services each year.

Needs: Toys and games for ages 5-15, jackets and sweatshirts for boys and girls ages 5-15, warm blankets, housewares, bus passes for youth and adults, babies and children’s items, diapers, toiletries, and household goods. New and gently used items accepted.

Deadline: Contact organization at 408-325-5125

Drop-off: 2625 Zanker Rd., San Jose.

Website: www.catholiccharitiesscc.org

The Center for Employment Training

What it is: Skill training and human development.

Needs: Christmas items for older youth ages 12-19 enrolled in day education program.

Deadline and Drop-off: Contact the center at 408-213-0961.

Website: http://cetweb.org

City of Saratoga Holiday Toy and Food Drive

What it is: Every year the city collects new, unwrapped toys, and non-perishable food to distribute to needy families.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, non-perishable food.

Deadline: Toy Drive ends Dec. 17; Food Drive ends Dec. 19.

Drop-off Locations: Both food and toys may be drpped off at the Joan Pisani Community Center, 19655 Allendale Ave., or the City Manager’s Office, 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Food may also be dropped off at the Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave., and the Saratoga Prospect Center, 19848 Prospect Rd. The Saratoga Historical Museum, 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Rd., is also accepting toys.

See the City’s website for more info.

Community Solutions

What it is: A comprehensive nonprofit human services agency serving children, families and individuals in South Santa Clara County. The Holiday Giving program provides gifts and necessities to low-income families.

Needs: Grocery cards, gift cards, diapers (especially large sizes), warm blankets, socks of all sizes, baby items, chunky baby books, sweatshirts (especially men’s sizes), and cleaning supplies. All items must be new, unused items.

Deadline and Drop-Off: Contact Paige Day at 408-846-4713.

More info at the Community Solutions website.

The Family Giving Tree

What it is: Every year The Family Giving Tree fulfills the holiday wishes of more than 70,000 low income children and seniors in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.

Needs: Pick up a wish tag at participating Wells Fargo and Comerica Bank locations, or donate online.

Deadline: Ongoing

Phone: 408-946-3111

Gardner Health Services NAVIDAD En La Comunidad Project 

What it is: Each year the project hosts a one-day distribution event to pass out food baskets, toys, coats, and resources to San Jose families in need.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, gently used coats, food staples.

Deadline: In time for the Dec. 20 event; contact organization for details.

Drop-off Location: Contact Rose at 408-938-2172.

Website: www.gardnerfamilyhealth.org.

Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley

What it is: The agency is collecting new, unwrapped toys, gift cards and cash donations to help more than 1,100 families, adults, and seniors.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, gift cards, cash donations.

Deadline: Ongoing

Drop-off Location: 14855 Oak Rd., Suite 202, Los Gatos, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Fridays. You can also donate toys and money online at embraceafamilysv.org.

More info at www.jfssv.org.

Los Bomberos of Northern California Annual Holiday Toy Drive

What it is: Latino Firefighters Association collecting new, unwrapped toys for children in need.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys.

Deadline: Donations accepted starting the week after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day.

Drop-off Locations: San Jose City fire stations.

The Mercury News Gift of Reading

What it is: The San Jose Mercury News partners with RAFT (Resource Area For Teaching) to bring the magic of books to Bay Area children.

Needs: New or like-new children’s books; cash donations.

Deadline: Dec. 15

Drop-off Locations: Throughout the South Bay; see the website for a complete list.

The Portuguese Community Center

What it is: Helping those in need in the Portuguese-speaking community.

Needs: Toys, food, clothing, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, paper towels, socks, gloves, monetary donations.

Deadline: Contact the organization at 408-293-0877.

Drop-off Location: 1115 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays.

Website: www.portuguesecenter.org

Sacred Heart Community Service

What it is: San Jose nonprofit that helps support local families in need, 70,00 people annually.

Needs: New, unwrapped toys, bicycles, frozen turkeys, and pop-topped canned food. They especially need gifts for teenage boys. You can also donate money and items online: sacredheartcs.org/holidays.

Deadline: Contact the organization, 408-278-2160.

Drop-off Location: 1381 S. First St., San Jose; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Fridays, and; 9 a.m.-noon, Saturdays.

SJB Child Development Centers

What it is: Providing educational development services to children ages 0-12 in Santa Clara County.

Needs: New books, new or gently used computers.

Deadline: Contact the organization, Natasha Orozco, 408-414-2700.

Drop-off Location: 1400 Parkmoor Ave., Suite 220, San Jose.

More info at the SJB website.

Sunnyvale Community Services

What it is: Annual toy and gift drive to provide a happy holiday for hundreds of Sunnyvale families.

Needs: New toys and gifts for children ages 7-11, nonperishable food items—especially healthy cereal, canned tuna and chicken, peanut butter, jelly, canned soup, and canned tomato products—new household items, gift cards for families and teens.

Deadline: Dec. 12

Drop-off Location: 725 Kifer Rd., Sunnyvale. Drop off hours through Dec. 1 are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Dec. 2-12.

Website: www.svcommunityservices.org

The Unity Care Group

What it is: Helping foster youth and families in need.

Needs: $25 gift cards to stores such as Target, Old Navy, Macy’s, etc., Christmas trees, holiday decorations, blankets, and monetary donations.

Deadline and Drop-off Location: Call 408-510-3480.

See the Unity Care website for more info.

West Valley Community Services

What it is: Annual toy and gift drive to provide a happy holiday for hundreds of families in Cupertino, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, and West San Jose.

Needs: See the complete list on this PDF. Or make a monetary donation on the website.

Deadline: The agency is accepting toys and gifts Dec. 3-10, for its Holiday Shopping Spree program.

Drop-off Location: 10104 Vista Dr., Cupertino. The office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; Tuesday and Thursday 8am – 8pm; the office is closed everyday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm for lunch.