Toy Drives In Salem: How To Make The Holidays Merry For Everyone

SALEM, NH — While you’re checking off holiday gifts for family members, don’t forget the kids who aren’t on anyone’s shopping list and pick up some items for toy drives in Salem.

One of the most well-known toy drives is the Toys for Tots campaign, led by the Marine Corps Reserve. Since 1947, Toys for Tots drives across the country have collected 708 million toys that were distributed to 314 million children.

Toys for Tots locations in New Hampshire include:

Amherst Fire Department, 177 Amherst St. in Amherst

Bedford Police Department, 55 Constitution Drive in Bedford

Concord VFW, 6 Court St. in Concord

Derry Police Department, 1 Municipal Drive in Derry

Rochester Salvation Army, 10 Olde Farm Lane in Rochester

Salem Police Department, 9 Veterans Memorial Parkway in Salem

For a full listing, visit this link.

Besides dropping off new, unwrapped toys at several drop-off locations, people who want to support the campaign can also donate online.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS-recognized nonprofit public charity created in 1991, uses 97 percent of every donation to buy toys for children in need.

Tower of Toys is also collecting toys for kids. For dropoffs, visit these locations:

Downdog Flow Yoga & Pilates, 167 South River Road, Suite 4, in Bedford

Red Arrow Diner Corporate Offices, 814 Elm St., Suite 102, in Manchester

Orange Theory, 545 Hooksett Road in Manchester

Angels Sewing & Quilting, 236 N. Broadway, Suite G, Salem

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem is collecting toys as is the Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.

Pinz, at 2454 Lafayette Road in Portsmouth, is hosting a toy drive for newborns to 14.

The Seacoast Area Firefighters Toy Bank, which is partnered with Operation Blessing, is also collecting new, unwrapped toys.

Warrior Elite Athletics at 106 Crosby Road in Dover is accepting toys and donations.

In Concord, the Friends of Forgotten Children is accepting toys at 224 Bog Road in Concord. Concord Hospital is also accepting donations through its Spirit of Giving program to help buy toys for critically ill children.

Editor's note: This post was scripted by another Patch staffer, not New Hampshire's editor, for publication on New Hampshire sites.