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As the holiday season nears, toy drives in southwestern Pennsylvania are ramping up to provide families in need of help with toys and gift cards.

Play It Forward Pittsburgh

Play It Forward Pittsburgh collects gently used toys and is providing them free to families who are in need or having a tough time. Celebrating its 15th year, the initiative will enable families to shop in person or to receive a prepackaged holiday box.

The free box pick-up event will be held on Friday, December 12 between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, located at 100 Ft. Duquesne Boulevard in Pittsburgh. Those interested in shopping for free will be able to do so at the same site from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, December 13.

Families who wish to participate must sign-up on the Play It Forward Pittsburgh page. The link to register opens Monday, November 17.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots will operate toy drives this holiday season in various locations.

• The request for toys for Beaver County & Northwestern Allegheny County is already closed, but families are encouraged to check back to see if the application is reopened.  
• Washington County: Families can register to participate in person at the Washington Crown Center Mall every Saturday in November. See details.
• Greene County will distribute toys on Saturday, December 20. See details.
• Fayette County‘s Toys for Tots registration will take place on Thursday, November 13 from noon to 7 p.m. and on Friday, November 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Uniontown Mall in the BINGO space next to the old Sears.

Salvation Army Centers of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County

The Salvation Army operate toy drives such as the Angel Tree program, which helps families get free holiday toys for children or gift cards for parents. 

For information on The Salvation Army Angel Tree program, contact the Angel Tree coordinator, Leah Cross, at (412) 446-1534 or via email at leah.cross@use.salvationarmy.org. For other assistance, contact your local center.

The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania will host upcoming collection dates for the Salvation Army toy drives from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 4 and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, December 5. This year’s goal is to meet or exceed last year’s donation of more than 700 toys. Those interested in participating can deliver toys to CAWP, located at 800 Cranberry Woods Drive, Suite 110, in Cranberry Township on the two days in December.

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Charlie Batch Annual Holiday Toy Drive

The Batch A Toys drive is organized by the Best of Batch Foundation, a nonprofit founded by former Steelers Quarterback Charlie Batch. The foundation will adopt 400 families, which will provide more than 1,000 children with holiday gifts.

The foundation is still accepting donations, but there is currently no information on how families can participate. Learn more. 

Indiana County’s Tourist Bureau

The bureau will host its Toonz for Tots event on Saturday, November 22 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will include donations of new toys, raffle baskets, monetary contributions, and three hours of music from local bands donating their time and talent to raise money.