Toys For Tots 2022: How To Donate In Martinez

MARTINEZ, CA — The holiday season is here and now is the time to consider donating to the Toys for Tots campaign in Contra Costa County.

The mission of Toys for Tots is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to less fortunate children at Christmas. The original Toys for Tots project was founded in 1947 by Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, and it became a nonprofit public charity at the behest of the Marine Corps in 1991. The organization is still run exclusively by veteran Marines.

The 2022 holiday season marks the 75th anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, and there are hundreds of local campaigns either planned or ongoing across the United States.

In 2021 in Contra Costa County, 32,870 toys were distributed and 29,834 local children were supported through the Toys for Tots program.

Through Dec. 16, Martinez residents can donate new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children of all ages at the following drop-off points:

• Contra Costa County Probation Department, 50 Douglas Dr., Martinez (during business hours)
• John A. Davis Juvenile Hall, 202 Glacier Dr., Martinez (during business hours)
• Security Public Storage, 111 Muir Station Road, Martinez (during business hours)
• Con Fire Station No. 13, 251 Church St., Martinez
• Con Fire Station No. 14, 521 Jones St., Martinez

Additional toy collection sites in Contra Costa County are listed here.

Local Toys for Tots campaigns are conducted annually in over 800 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to Toys for Tots. Since the program’s inception, the foundation collected and distributed 627 million toys to 281 million children.