Where to Donate Used Toys in Toronto

Places That Accept Used Toy Donations in Toronto

Toronto has several options for donating reusable children’s toys, from scheduled pickup to child and family centres, community programs and thrift-store donation locations.

The best option depends on how many toys you have, their condition, whether important pieces are still together and whether you want pickup or prefer to take them somewhere yourself.

This guide covers practical Toronto used toy donation options and what to check before donating toys that another child may use.

Toronto Used Toy Donation Options

#1 DonateYourStuff.ca

DonateYourStuff.ca provides free scheduled donation pickup for qualifying used children’s toys throughout Toronto.

Donation method: Free scheduled pickup.

Accepts: Qualifying dolls, action figures, building toys, playsets, educational toys, toy vehicles, pretend-play toys, stuffed animals, electronic toys, small outdoor toys and other reusable children’s toys.

Locations and hours:

• Toronto: Pickup is available throughout Toronto rather than through a public drop-off location. Pickup dates and arrival windows are arranged for qualifying requests.

Important details: Toys must be clean, safe, functional and suitable for continued use. Sets should include the important pieces needed to use them, and electronic or remote-control toys must work and include essential controllers, chargers or power cords where required.

Pickup is intended for donations that reasonably justify sending a vehicle. A few small toys will usually not qualify on their own. Several boxes or bags, multiple larger toys, a playroom cleanout or toys combined with other accepted donations are more likely to qualify.

Submit your location, approximate number of boxes, bags and larger toys and a general description of what you have. Your request is reviewed before pickup availability is confirmed by email.

Official Information:

Toy Donation Pickup

Request a Donation Pickup

#2 South Riverdale Child-Parent Centre

South Riverdale Child-Parent Centre operates a toy library for local families and welcomes toy donations.

Donation method: Drop-off. Contact the centre before bringing larger or unusual donations.

Accepts: Reusable children’s toys suitable for its toy library and family programs. Its current website specifically states that suggestions for new resources and donations of toys are always welcome.

Location:

• 765 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON M4M 1H3

Important details: The centre serves families with young children and operates a toy library where developmentally appropriate toys can be borrowed. For donations outside its usual needs or for larger items, contact staff before arriving.

Official Information:

South Riverdale Child-Parent Centre

Donation Information

Contact and Hours

#3 East End Children’s Centre

East End Children’s Centre accepts selected toy donations for use in its children’s programs when the items match its current needs.

Donation method: Contact first before drop-off.

Accepts: Its current toy donation page requests specific toys rather than general toy donations. Current priorities include selected dolls and puppets and toy garbage and recycling trucks.

Location:

• 200 Wolverleigh Boulevard, Toronto, ON M4C 1S2

Important details: East End Children’s Centre has limited storage and does not accept every type of toy at all times. Check its current list or contact the centre before bringing donations.

Official Information:

East End Children’s Centre Toy Donation Information

East End Children’s Centre Contact Information

#4 The Pegasus Shoppe

The Pegasus Shoppe accepts pre-loved toys and games for resale in support of Pegasus Community Project programs.

Donation method: In-store drop-off.

Accepts: Clean, reusable children’s toys and games that remain suitable for continued use.

Location:

• 931 Kingston Road, Toronto, ON M4E 1S6

Important details: Pegasus accepts a range of pre-loved goods through its shop, but children’s equipment such as car seats, strollers, playpens and high chairs is excluded. Keep those separate from ordinary toy donations.

Official Information:

Pegasus Shoppe Donation Information

Pegasus Shoppe Contact and Hours

#5 The Salvation Army Thrift Store

Salvation Army Donor Welcome Centres provide a broad Toronto drop-off option for new and gently used children’s toys and games.

Donation method: Drop-off at Donor Welcome Centres.

Accepts: New and gently used games and toys along with other accepted household donations.

Toronto locations include:

• 665 St. Clair Avenue West
• 1219 Bloor Street West
• 1447 Queen Street West
• 3711 Keele Street
• 20 Leslie Street, Unit 101
• 60 Overlea Boulevard
• 2291 Kipling Avenue
• 1921 Eglinton Avenue East, Unit 7
• 1225 Kennedy Road, Unit D1

Important details: Donation hours vary by location. Check the current Toronto location information before making a special trip.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store states that it does not provide residential donation pickup.

Official Information:

Salvation Army Accepted Donations

Salvation Army Toronto Donation Locations

#6 Value Village

Value Village Community Donation Centres in Toronto accept reusable games and toys.

Donation method: Drop-off at participating Community Donation Centres.

Accepts: Games and toys are included among the current accepted donation categories at participating Toronto locations.

Toronto donation locations include:

• 772 Dovercourt Road, Unit 100
• 18 Edward Street, Units 3 and 5
• 2119 Danforth Avenue
• 3701 Lawrence Avenue East, Unit 1
• 1525 Victoria Park Avenue
• 1030 Wilson Avenue
• 2549 Weston Road
• 45 Woodbine Downs Boulevard

Important details: Not every Value Village location accepts donations. Use the official store directory and look for a Community Donation Centre before going.

Value Village is a for-profit thrift retailer. Donations accepted at its Community Donation Centres support nonprofit partners that are paid for donated goods.

Official Information:

Value Village Toronto Locations

How to Choose Where to Donate Used Toys

You do not need to compare every organization again after reading the directory above. The main decision comes down to quantity, condition and whether you want pickup or drop-off.

Pickup or Drop-Off?

If you have several boxes or bags, larger toys or toys combined with other qualifying donations, scheduled pickup may be easier than transporting everything yourself.

If you only have a few toys, a nearby child and family centre or donation location may be more practical.

General or Specialized Donation?

A broad collection of dolls, vehicles, building toys, playsets and other children’s toys may fit a general toy donation program.

If you have a specific developmental or educational toy, a child and family centre may be worth checking because its program needs can be more specific.

Check Condition Before You Leave

The main question is whether another child can reasonably and safely use the toy.

Do not use a donation location as a disposal option for toys that are broken, heavily contaminated or missing the parts required for normal use.

What Condition Should Donated Toys Be In?

Used toys do not need to look new, but they should remain safe, functional and practical for another child to use.

Hard Toys Should Be Intact

Check plastic, wooden and metal toys for:

• Major cracks
• Sharp edges
• Broken corners
• Splintered wood
• Exposed screws
• Loose structural pieces
• Damage that could pinch or cut

Light scratches and cosmetic wear are different from damage that affects safe use.

Sets Should Still Be Usable

A toy does not necessarily need every small decorative accessory it originally came with.

It should still include the main pieces needed to use it properly.

Examples include:

• Controllers for remote-control toys
• Main tracks for train sets
• Key pieces of playsets
• Required accessories for activities
• Important educational pieces

If missing pieces prevent the toy from working as intended, the set may be too incomplete to donate.

Electronic Toys Should Work

Test electronic learning toys, musical toys, remote-control vehicles and other battery-operated toys.

Check:

• Buttons
• Switches
• Screens
• Speakers
• Battery compartments
• Battery covers
• Chargers
• Power cords
• Controllers and remotes

Do not donate toys with leaking batteries, severe corrosion or exposed wiring.

Soft Toys Should Be Clean and Dry

Stuffed and fabric toys should be completely dry and free from:

• Mould
• Mildew
• Pest exposure
• Strong persistent odours
• Large stains
• Major tears
• Loose stuffing

Wheeled Toys Should Be Stable

Small ride-on toys, push toys and children’s scooters should have secure wheels, stable handles and no serious structural damage.

Check that steering and other moving parts work normally.

How to Prepare Used Toys for Donation

Clean Hard-Surface Toys

Wipe down plastic, wooden and metal toys.

Remove:

• Food residue
• Dirt
• Dust
• Sticky surfaces
• Pet hair
• Washable marks where practical

Make sure everything is completely dry before packing.

Keep Sets Together

Keep pieces from the same toy together.

Use sealable bags or smaller containers for:

• Building pieces
• Doll accessories
• Toy food
• Train parts
• Playset accessories
• Game pieces

Place the smaller bag inside the correct toy box or storage container.

Test Electronic Toys

Turn electronic toys on and confirm their main functions work.

Keep required controllers, remotes, chargers, power cords and other accessories with the toy.

Remove Damaged Batteries

Remove leaking, corroded or swollen batteries.

If an electronic toy will be stored for a while before donation, removing disposable batteries can also help prevent future leakage.

Protect Fragile Toys

Wrap delicate figures, dollhouses, electronic toys and toys with breakable pieces before placing them into a larger container.

Do not pack heavy toys on top of fragile items.

Use Manageable Boxes

Several manageable boxes are easier and safer to move than one container packed so heavily that it may split.

For complete packing and pickup staging information, review How to Prepare Your Donations.

Toronto Used Toy Donation Questions

Do toys need their original boxes to be donated?

Usually not.

Most toy donation programs care more about whether the toy is clean, safe and usable than whether the original retail box is still available.

For toys with many pieces, the original box can still be useful because it helps keep the set together.

Can I donate toys with my child’s name written on them?

Usually.

A small first name or initials normally do not affect whether a toy can still be used.

Remove full names, phone numbers, addresses, school information or other personal details whenever possible.

Can I donate a toy if I no longer have the instructions?

Often, yes.

Simple toys usually do not need instructions.

Instructions matter more for complicated building sets, electronic toys or products requiring assembly. If replacement instructions are available from the manufacturer, including them can make the toy easier to reuse.

Can very old or vintage toys be donated?

Sometimes.

Age alone does not make a toy unusable, but older toys should be checked more carefully for recalls, brittle plastic, peeling finishes, damaged electrical parts and loose pieces.

Vintage toys intended as collectibles are also different from toys intended for active children’s play.

Can opened craft kits be donated?

Possibly, if enough clean and usable materials remain to make the kit worthwhile.

Remove dried markers, hardened clay, empty containers, leaking glue and other unusable supplies.

Keep the remaining materials and instructions together.

Can I donate toy storage bins too?

Usually, if the bins are clean, intact and practical to reuse.

A storage bin can be especially useful when it already contains building blocks, trains, dolls or another toy collection.

Check that lids and handles are not badly cracked and that the container is not excessively heavy when packed.

Donation Pickup Available Throughout Toronto

DonateYourStuff.ca used toy donation pickup is available throughout Toronto, including downtown Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York, York and neighbourhoods across the east and west ends of the city.

A–D

Agincourt North, Agincourt South-Malvern West, Alderwood, Annex, Avondale, Banbury-Don Mills, Bathurst Manor, Bay-Cloverhill, Bayview Village, Bayview Woods-Steeles, Bedford Park-Nortown, Beechborough-Greenbrook, Bendale South, Bendale-Glen Andrew, Birchcliffe-Cliffside, Black Creek, Blake-Jones, Briar Hill-Belgravia, Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills, Broadview North, Brookhaven-Amesbury, Cabbagetown-South St. James Town, Caledonia-Fairbank, Casa Loma, Centennial Scarborough, Church-Wellesley, Clairlea-Birchmount, Clanton Park, Cliffcrest, Corso Italia-Davenport, Danforth, Danforth-East York, Don Valley Village, Dorset Park, Dovercourt Village, Downsview, Downtown Yonge East and Dufferin Grove.

E–H

East End Danforth, East L’Amoreaux, East Willowdale, Edenbridge-Humber Valley, Eglinton East, Elms-Old Rexdale, Englemount-Lawrence, Eringate-Centennial-West Deane, Etobicoke City Centre, Etobicoke West Mall, Fenside-Parkwoods, Flemingdon Park, Forest Hill North, Forest Hill South, Fort York-Liberty Village, Glenfield-Jane Heights, Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn, Greenwood-Coxwell, Guildwood, Harbourfront-CityPlace, Henry Farm, High Park North, High Park-Swansea, Highland Creek, Hillcrest Village, Humber Bay Shores, Humber Heights-Westmount, Humber Summit, Humbermede and Humewood-Cedarvale.

I–L

Ionview, Islington, Junction Area, Junction-Wallace Emerson, Keelesdale-Eglinton West, Kennedy Park, Kensington-Chinatown, Kingsview Village-The Westway, Kingsway South, L’Amoreaux West, Lambton Baby Point, Lansing-Westgate, Lawrence Park North, Lawrence Park South, Leaside-Bennington, Little Portugal and Long Branch.

M–P

Malvern East, Malvern West, Maple Leaf, Markland Wood, Milliken, Mimico-Queensway, Morningside, Morningside Heights, Moss Park, Mount Dennis, Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, Mount Pleasant East, New Toronto, Newtonbrook East, Newtonbrook West, North Riverdale, North St. James Town, North Toronto, O’Connor-Parkview, Oakdale-Beverley Heights, Oakridge, Oakwood Village, Old East York, Palmerston-Little Italy, Parkwoods-O’Connor Hills, Pelmo Park-Humberlea, Playter Estates-Danforth, Pleasant View and Princess-Rosethorn.

R–T

Regent Park, Rexdale-Kipling, Rockcliffe-Smythe, Roncesvalles, Rosedale-Moore Park, Runnymede-Bloor West Village, Rustic, Scarborough Village, South Eglinton-Davisville, South Parkdale, South Riverdale, St. Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands, St. Andrew-Windfields, Steeles, Stonegate-Queensway, Tam O’Shanter-Sullivan, Taylor-Massey, The Beaches, Thistletown-Beaumond Heights, Thorncliffe Park and Trinity-Bellwoods.

U–Y

University, Victoria Village, Wellington Place, West Hill, West Humber-Clairville, West Queen West, West Rouge, Westminster-Branson, Weston, Weston-Pelham Park, Wexford/Maryvale, Willowdale West, Willowridge-Martingrove-Richview, Woburn North, Woodbine Corridor, Woodbine-Lumsden, Wychwood, Yonge-Bay Corridor, Yonge-Doris, Yonge-Eglinton, Yonge-St. Clair, York University Heights and Yorkdale-Glen Park.