Toys For Tots Is In Full Swing In North Jersey: How To Help In Wayne

WAYNE, NJ — 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 the Toys for Tots campaign in Wayne Township.

Sponsored by the Marine Corps Reserves, Toys for Tots is organized in Passaic County and North Jersey this year by 1st Sergeant Stephen Porter, who is based in Morris County. And, there are plenty of drop-off locations in Wayne for those who want to help bring a smile to a local kid's face.

The local Toys for Tots connects with non-profits to distribute toys, and the drive for families in Sussex, Essex, Morris, Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Warren counties will end on Dec. 16. Last year in North Jersey, 230,609 toys were distributed to 187,500 children who might not otherwise have gotten any Christmas gifts.

Nationally, about 625 million toys were handed out to 291 million kids.

Besides dropping off new, unwrapped toys at several drop-off locations, people who want to support the campaign can also donate online. Here’s where you can go to drop off toys in Wayne, the last date to donate, and the name of the local coordinator as listed on the Toys for Tots website:

Anthony Wayne American Legion Post 174
10/01/2023 - 12/16/2023
Daily 10am - 10pm
55 Mountainview Blvd, Wayne, New Jersey, 07470
Contact: Michael Smith at 973-694-9777 or adjutant@americanlegionpost174.org

Buffalo Wild Wings
12/05/2023 - 12/16/2023
Daily 11am to 11pm
1400 Willowbrook Mall, Wayne , New Jersey, 07470
Contact: Matthew Gooley at 609-879-1789 or matthew.gooley@wearetma.agency

Columbia Self Storage
10/16/2023 - 12/16/2023
Monday -Thursday 9 am to 6 pm and Friday 9am to 1 pm
2378 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, New Jersey, 07470
Contact: James Goings at 973-510-0999 or wayne@columbiaselfstorage.com

Excelcare at Wayne
11/20/2023 - 12/16/2023
Daily 8 am- 8 pm
296 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, New Jersey, 07470
Contact: Megan Bertucci at 973-303-8883 or mbertucci@excelcarewayne.com

FedEx Ground
11/06/2023 - 12/16/2023
Daily 8am-8pm
95 Demarest Dr, Wayne, New Jersey, 07470
Contact: Erika Gonzalez at 973-305-3420 or 2928916@fedex.com

ImageCare at Wayne
11/17/2022- 12/16/2023
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 8am-12pm
601 Hamburg Turnpike Suite 201, Wayne, New Jersey, 07470
Contact : Megan at 973-534-0852 or mcassarino@imagecarecenters.com

Open Road Acura of Wayne
11/24/2023 - 12/16/2023
Mon-Sat 8am-6pm
1425 Route 23 South, Wayne, New Jersey, 07470
Contact: Lisa Cesaro at 732-319-4144 or lisa.cesaro@openroad.com

Paul Miller BMW
10/18/2023 - 12/14/2023
Mon-Thurs 7:30am-7 pm, Fri 7:30am-6 pm, Sat 8 am-5 pm
1515 Route 23 South, Wayne, New Jersey, 07470
Contact: Michelle Kinney at 973-696-6060 or mkinney@paulmiller.com

Planet Fitness
11/07/2023 - 12/16/2023
Daily 7am-9pm
797 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne , New Jersey, 07470
Contact: Chris Ernst at 862-221-9261 or wayne.nj@planetfitness.com

Wayne Police Department
11/24/2023 - 12/16/2023
24 hours a day
475 Valley Road, Wayne, New Jersey, 07470
Contact: Sgt. Culic at 973-694-0600 or culicj@waynetownship.com

Toys can also be dropped off in the Toys for Tots collection tents in front of the visitor center's parking lot aboard Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County by Dec. 16; click here for details.

The deadline for families and non-profits to submit toy requests has passed. Anyone with questions may email dover.nj@toysfortots.org or call 973-724-7137.

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