This year, we’re once again teaming up with Play It Forward Pittsburgh to collect, package and deliver toys to local children and families, giving toys a second life and spreading a lot of holiday cheer. There are lots of ways to get involved from donating toys, to forming a Toy Team, to volunteering your time. Let’s make this our biggest and brightest toy drive yet!
About Play It Forward
Play It Forward Pittsburgh is a regional toy donation effort that collects gently used and new toys so that every child in our community can experience the joy of the holiday season, no matter their family’s circumstances. Since its start, this volunteer-driven project has helped thousands of families find holiday gifts, all at no cost.
Aspinwall Neighbors is proud to operate a local collection site for this year’s drive. Beginning November 8, neighbors can drop off gently used or new toys in good condition. We’ll deliver donations to Play It Forward Pittsburgh’s main sorting site in early December, where volunteers organize and prepare them for families across the region to “shop” for their children.
It’s a simple way to give your toys new life and share a little holiday magic with others. ✨
Get Involved
Join The Toy Teams Challenge
New this year! In addition to individual donations, we’re adding a little friendly competition.
How it works:
👥 Form a team of up to 5 people
🏷️ Pick a team name and sign up at drop-off
📦 Earn points for each donation:
• Small box = 5 pts
• Medium box = 10 pts
• Large box or item = 20 pts
We’ll post a leaderboard during the drive, and the top team will win an Aspinwall Basket filled with local goodies — including a pizza gift card! 🍕
Every toy brings a smile, and every point helps make the holidays brighter for local families. ✨days brighter for local families!
Volunteer to Accept + Sort Toys
Help us keep the holiday magic moving!
We need volunteers to accept, sort, and package donations, and to help load the U-Haul for toy delivery day, at key times between November 8 and December 6.
How to Donate Toys
1️⃣ Select Your Toys
Play It Forward is collecting new and gently used toys for children from newborn through age 12 in the following categories:
- Baby Toys (under 1 year)
- Toddler Toys (1–3 years)
- Preschool Toys (3–5 years)
- Educational + STEM Toys
- Dolls + Accessories
- Dress-Up + Imaginary Play
- Arts + Crafts
- Sporting Equipment
- Riding Toys
- Outdoor Play
- Legos + Building Blocks
- Trucks, Trains + Vehicles
- Games
- Puzzles
- DVDs, Electronics + Music
- Action Figures
They also love large items like playhouses, play kitchens, dollhouses, bicycles, wagons, and drones!
(Please note: books, clothing, and stuffed animals cannot be accepted.)
2️⃣ Package Your Toys
To make things easier for our volunteers (and Santa’s Play It Forward helpers!), please pre-package and label your donations according to the categories above.
If any toys have small or loose pieces, pop them into a Ziploc bag and attach it to the main toy. That way, every child will have everything they need to play and enjoy.
3️⃣ Drop Off Your Donations
Bring your toy donations to Aspinwall Presbyterian Church
📍 299 Center Avenue, Aspinwall, PA 15215
Drop-off times:
- Saturday, November 8 — 9–11 AM
- Sunday, November 16 — 1–3 PM
- Thursday, November 20 — 6–8 PM
- Saturday, November 22 — 9–11 AM
- Tuesday, November 25 — 6–8 PM
- Saturday, November 29 — 9–11 AM
- Tuesday, December 2 — 6–8 PM
- Thursday, December 4 — 6–8 PM
- Saturday, December 6 — 9–11 AM
🪄 Drop-off instructions:
Enter through the single side door on the 3rd Street side of the church (3rd Street is one-way — we recommend approaching from Western Ave). Head down the stairs to the basement, where a volunteer will be ready to accept them. If you’re participating in the Toys Team Challenge, make sure to add your points to the leaderboard!
📱 Questions or need assistance at drop-off? Text one of our program leads:
- 412-951-8349 (Karin)
- 412-251-2042 (Jonnett)
How to Donate Packing Supplies
Want to help behind the scenes? We’re also collecting supplies to clean, organize, and package all those donated toys!
We’re currently in need of:
- Sturdy boxes (for sorting + distributing)
- Packing tape
- Sanitizing wipes + cleaning supplies
- Ziploc bags (gallon-size or larger)
Supply donations can be dropped off during any of the toy donation times listed above.