Reviewed by: Callie Morrison
7 toy drives in Birmingham to give back to this holiday season
The holidays can be a difficult time for families who aren’t able to provide gifts for their children. If you’re looking to give back this season, read on for six toy drives in Birmingham bringing holiday magic to local children.
1. Birmingham Police Department’s Christmas Toy Drive
The Birmingham Police Department is accepting new and unwrapped toys through December 20. The toys will be distributed by police to children throughout the city later this month via a sleigh ride through several communities around town.
Toys can be dropped off at the following locations:
- North Precinct: 2600 31st Ave. North
- South Precinct: 1320 19th Street South
- East Precinct: 600 Red Lane Road
- West Precinct: 2236 47th Street Ensley
- Birmingham Police Headquarters: 1710 First Ave. North
2. Gift a Jit Drive
The Kickback is a creative collective group in Birmingham celebrating the holidays with a toy drive to make sure that every child in the Magic City has a magical Christmas Day. Drop-offs are welcome now through December 12.
Drop-off locations:
- Seasick Records: 4420 4th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222
- Magic City Mercantile: 1314 20th St S Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35205
- Memory Lane Birmingham: 2320 1st Ave N Ste 110, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Vibestreet Studios: 1203 16th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205
3. Eastern Toys’ Christmas Event
Eastern Toys’ mission is to assist underprivileged families in the Metro Birmingham area during the Christmas season by providing the gift of love and presents. This year, they’ll be assisting 42 kids within a total of 20 families.
With donations from the community, they provide local families with a fun Christmas event full of good food, games, arts and crafts and more. While the children are enjoying the event, parents will grab toys and put them in their car discreetly so that the kids do not see the exchange.
4. The Sugar Plum Shop
The Sugar Plum Shop at Children’s of Alabama is a heartwarming program that brings the magic of the holiday season to in-patients and their families who find themselves spending the holidays at the hospital. Toy Donations will be accepted Monday-Friday from December 4-14.
- Shop online at their registry.
- Make a monetary donation.
- To schedule a drop-off time, email sugarplumshop@childrensal.org.
5. Santa Shoppe
Every year, The Lovelady Center collects new and unwrapped toys for the women in their program to give to their children for Christmas. This year, they’ll be serving over 1,000 children.
- Order items from their Amazon Wishlist.
- Drop off items at their center: 7916 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35206.
6. UAB’s Annual Toy Drive
For 30 years, the UAB Toy Drive has collected new toys for children in need throughout the Birmingham Metro area. Toys are donated to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign and are being collected now through December 12.
This year, you can drop off toys at collection boxes around campus, or purchase a toy from one of their wish lists:
7. ELI Thrive Christmas Shop
Every year, ELI Thrive’s Christmas shop provides brand-new gifts at 10% of the price for families in within their program. There are volunteer opportunities to set up the shop, wrap presents, check-out, entertain kiddos or shop with parents.
- When: November 1-December 10 | 8AM-4PM
- Where: 6523 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35206
- Volunteer
- Donate toys
Want more? Here’s how to give back in Huntsville this holiday season.
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