For some families, the rising cost of putting food on the table, paying rent, keeping the lights on and the water running means there’s little left over for presents under the Christmas tree.
Behind the scenes, behind the sparkle and shine of holiday festivities, there are South Florida volunteers, nonprofits and other organizations working to help. But they can’t do it alone.
They need donations of new gifts for all ages to fulfill wish lists and take some of the financial stress out of the holidays for parents trying to make ends meet.
Here’s how you can support our neighbors in need this year.
BROWARD COUNTY
Craig Zinn Automotive Group Toy Drive
Craig Zinn Automotive Group dealerships are collecting toys for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital through Dec. 15. Drop off new, unwrapped toys during business hours at these locations:
- Toyota of Hollywood, 1841 N. State Road 7
- Lexus of Pembroke Pines, 16150 Pines Blvd.
- Acura of Pembroke Pines, 15601 Pines Blvd.
- Subaru of Pembroke Pines, 16100 Pines Blvd.
- Lexus of North Miami, 14100 Biscayne Blvd.
Can’t make it to the dealership? Toys may also be purchased from the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital registry on Amazon. Visit Amazon.com/registries (enter “Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital” and “Gift List” in the search tool).
Coral Springs Holiday Toy Drive
The Coral Springs Police Department is need of new sports items, action figures, Legos, dolls, Play-Doh, toy cars and board games for its annual toy drive through Dec. 15. Drop off items at the following locations:
- Police Department Lobby, 2801 Coral Springs Drive
- City Hall, 9500 W. Sample Road
- Gyroville, 1750 N. University Drive, Suite 110
- Wings Plus, 9880 W. Sample Road
- Vicky Bakery, 2528 N. University Drive
Visit coralsprings.gov.
Town of Davie Holiday Drive
New, unwrapped toys are being collected for 300 children in local youth groups and clubs through Dec. 15 at various city facilities. Consider items for children up through age 18 such as arts and crafts, jewelry making and science kits, building blocks, remote-control cars, action figures, dolls, dinosaurs, sensory toys, sports equipment, earbuds, board games and bluetooth speakers. Visit davie-fl.gov for a list of drop-off locations and hours.
CIL Broward Holiday Toy Drive
Collect new toys for the Center for Independent Living of Broward and drop them off from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at its headquarters, 4800 N. State Road 7, Suite 102, in Lauderdale Lakes. Register by Dec. 15 by emailing cilb@cilbroward.org.
Rick Case Bikes for Kids
The Rick Case Bikes for Kids program is collecting bicycles from the community for the holiday season through Dec. 20. The program, in its 41st year, has provided thousands of bikes to children during the holidays. This year, the bikes will be distributed to Boys & Girls Clubs and other charities, churches and schools. Supporters can drop off gently used bikes they no longer need at any of the Rick Case South Florida-area dealerships:
- Fort Lauderdale — Rick Case Acura, 875 N. State Road 7; and
- Plantation — Rick Case Hyundai, 925 N. State Road 7
- Davie — Rick Case Honda, 15700 Rick Case Honda Way; Rick Case Hyundai, 3550 Weston Road; Rick Case Honda Cycles, 15701 Rick Case Honda Way; Rick Case Fiat, Alfa Romeo & Maserati, 3500 Weston Road; and Rick Case Volkswagen, 3520 Weston Road
- Sunrise — Rick Case Kia, 14500 W Sunrise Blvd.
Visit facebook.com/RickCaseAutoGroup.
Miramar Toy Drive
Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers is presenting the fifth annual event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 16 at Miramar Regional Park, 16801 Miramar Parkway, to collect new, unwrapped toys while also offering a festive family day with music, food trucks, a bounce house and other activities. Free admission. Visit eventbrite.com.
Carey Family Foundation Teddy Bears and Books Drive
Next time you visit Hooters of Sunrise, 3805 N. University Drive, bring along a new teddy bear and a book for the Carey Family Foundation. A $10 monetary donation also will be accepted. Deadline is Dec. 20. Former Miami Dolphins player Vernon Carey and Sunrise Hooters representatives and the Hooters Girls will deliver the books and bears to children for the holidays. Visit vernoncarey72foundation.org.
Miramar Fire-Rescue Toy Drive
Drop off new, unwrapped toys for children up to age 12 to support the annual drive organized by Miramar Fire-Rescue and Vice Mayor Alexandra P. Davis through Dec. 22. Locations, open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., include:
- Station 19, 6700 Miramar Parkway
- Station 70, 9001 Miramar Parkway
- Station 107, 11811 Miramar Parkway
- Station 100, 2800 SW 184th Ave.
- Station 84, 14801 SW 27th Ave.
- Fire Life Safety Bureau, 3133 Commerce Parkway
For more details, call 954-602-4836.
Food For The Poor’s Christmas Gift Catalog
If you’d like to help humanitarian efforts in countries where healthy food, safe water and livable housing is always needed, Food For The Poor is offering a variety of donation options such as $10 for a fruit tree, $27 to feed a family of four for a month, and $150 for a solar-powered light kit for a home. Other gift choices include medical care, goats, pigs, chickens, and rice and beans. The Coconut Creek-based international relief and development organization helps feed people in 17 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Visit foodforthepoor.org/gift-catalog.
Operation Christmas Child
Fill a shoebox online with toys, school supplies and personal care items to be sent to children in hard-to-reach places throughout the world through Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse. Visit samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Grieco Automotive Group Holiday Toy Drive
Grieco Automotive Group in Delray Beach has chosen the Achievement Centers for Children & Families as its toy drive recipient this year. They are in need of toys and other gifts for youths age 1 to 18, including learning toys for toddlers, toy cars and trucks, dolls, LEGOs, building blocks, arts and craft supplies, sports equipment, puzzles, games, watches, wallets, movie tickets, gift cards, throw blankets, makeup, perfume or cologne, purses and toiletries. From Dec. 1 to 15, drop off donations during business hours at the following Delray Beach locations:
- Grieco Mazda, 2001 S. Federal Highway
- Grieco Chevrolet, 2605 S. Federal Highway
- Grieco Ford, 2501 S. Federal Highway
- Grieco Nissan, 2200 S. Federal Highway
Those who make a toy donation will receive free Grieco Automotive Group T-shirts and hats.
The Achievement Centers for Children & Families in Delray Beach provides affordable early childhood education as well as after-school, teen and summer camp programs. Visit facebook.com/GriecoAutomotiveGroup.
Christmas Present Collection
Unity of Delray Beach, 101 NW 22nd St., is collecting unwrapped gifts for distribution to children up to age 19. They are in need of items such as books, puzzles, footballs, soccer balls and batteries. Place the donations in the special boxes in the church’s sanctuary lobby through Dec. 17. Visit unityofdelraybeach.org/events.
Greenacres Holiday Toy Drive
Greenacres Fire Rescue is having a toy drive, benefiting HCA Florida Palms West Hospital Children’s Center, through Dec. 15. Drop off new, unwrapped toys for children at:
- Fire Rescue Station 94, 2995 S. Jog Road
- City Hall, 5800 Melaleuca Lane
- Community Center, 501 Swain Blvd.
For more details, visit facebook.com/cityofgreenacres.
Little Smiles Holiday Toy Drive
The organization that provides yearlong support to children, caregivers and families at hospitals and other facilities is collecting gifts for youths up to age 18 for its 14th annual toy drive. The gifts are distributed through collection centers for families to pick up as well as directly to Little Smiles’ pediatric partners, including hospitals with children fighting life-threatening illnesses, medical daycare centers, hospices, shelters, foster care homes and medical support facilities. Businesses can request a box to become a toy drop-off location or become a sponsor. People can shop and bring new, unwrapped gifts to one of the drop-off locations listed at littlesmilesfl.org/toydrive23. Text LITTLESMILES to 44321, shop from the Amazon Wish List (a.co/fWKUUTq) or donate at littlesmilesfl.org.
Salvation Army Angel Tree
The Angel Tree program provides gifts for children, having them create wish lists that are later picked from a tree by donors to fulfill. There are two ways to participate: Pick up an angel at a designated location and return the items by the due date, or shop online and have the gifts sent directly to one of the Salvation Army offices. To pick an angel from the tree, visit these locations:
- The Gardens Mall, 3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens
- West Palm Beach Lobby, 2100 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
- Lake Worth Beach Office Lobby, 4051 Kirk Road
In Boca Raton, call 561-702-9197. You can also visit the Walmart registry to purchase items. Go to westpalmbeach.salvationarmyflorida.org.
SOUTH FLORIDA
Shot for Tots Toy Drive
Wear holiday attire, bring a new, unwrapped toy to any of Batch’s four locations and receive a free shot. Donations will benefit The Miami Children’s Hospital and Patches PPEC, A Pediatric Day Health Care center that specializes in
caring for medically complex and technologically dependent children.. For the finale, supporters can join the holiday parties planned on the following dates:
- Batch Gastropub in Brickell, 30 SW 12th St. (7 p.m. Dec. 14)
- Batch Gastropub in Delray, 14813 Lyons Road (noon Dec. 17)
- Batch New Southern Kitchen & Tap in Fort Lauderdale, 525 N. Federal Highway (6 p.m. Dec. 15)
- Batch New Southern Kitchen & Tap in West Palm Beach, 223 Clematis St. (noon Dec. 16)
Visit batchhospitalitygroup.com.
