A Home for Used Toys

Last fall I wrote about ideas for what to do with gently used toys that your family no longer needs or wants. In the past I’ve been frustrated to find that many organizations only accept donations of unopened toys when I know that there are many years of use left in the toys we have to donate.  Last week I learned about another organization that works to find homes for unwanted toys, and I wanted to share this resource with Resourceful Mommy readers as the holiday season quickly approaches.

Second Chance Toys was started by Sasha Lipton, who at the time was a high school student sick of seeing perfectly fine plastic toys next to trash cans on trash collection day.  Along with her mom, Sasha collected these toys one by one, cleaned them, and donated them to local churches, food pantries, and children’s organizations.  Now a college graduate, Sasha has continued to grow Second Chance Toys, which now partners with the Kohl’s employee volunteer program as well as 1-800-Got-Junk, who transports toys for Second Chance Toys.

To learn more or support Second Chance Toys, please visit www.secondchancetoys.org.

I did not receive any compensation for this post, nor do I have any affiliation with this organization.

UPDATE – a message from Second Chance Toys:

In addition to finding out ways to donate your children’s gently used toys, if you think you could mobilize your church, school or a local company (like your bank, workplace, library, or gym) to become a toy drop off point in December and April when we hold drives, please contact us at:http://www.secondchancetoys.org/contact-us

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4 Comments

  • Thank you. When I was a kid the fire department would collect used and even broken (!) toys throughout the year, repairing, repainting and repackaging them in their down time and donated them to needy families at Christmas.

    I don’t try to donate anything broken, but my son has so many toys that he just outgrows but they’re still in such good condition it’s wrong to just throw them out.

    • Terri thanks to your comment we have started to reach out to firehouse to ask them to be collection points for our holiday drives! Many thanks for the inspiration!!!

  • Janet

    Thank you for letting me know about this option. I’m going to check out their site now.

  • Hope you join us!!