RePlay for Kids Toy Drive

RePlay for Kids Toy Donation Program

RePlay for Kids takes new or ‘gently-used’ battery-operated toys and has volunteers adapt these toys so that children with disabilities can use a switch to activate the toys. These toys are given at no charge to children with disabilities in Northeast Ohio.

• Do you have new or ‘gently-used’ toys that you would like to donate to a good cause? Donate them to RePlay for Kids and we’ll adapt the toys and give them to children with disabilities. See the “Toy Donation Suggestions” below.
• Do you want to help RePlay for Kids but can’t attend a workshop? Host a RePlay for Kids Toy Drive to collect toys for RePlay for Kids to adapt. See the “RePlay for Kids Toy Drive Tips” below.

RePlay for Kids Toy Drive Tips

1. RePlay for Kids will provide you with boxes and signs to place at your toy collection sites.
2. RePlay for Kids will also provide you with flyers that describe the appropriate types of toys to donate.
3. RePlay for Kids will arrange to pickup the collect toys, arrange a place for you to drop off the toys, or discuss shipping arrangements with you if the first two options are not feasible.

Suggested Toy Drive Dates/Occasions:

• Around the Christmas holidays, when people are in toy shopping mode.
• In January, when parents are getting rid of older, ‘gently-used’ toys to make room for the just received Christmas gifts, or have duplicate toys that are not needed.
• Springtime, when families are doing spring cleaning.
• A charitable activity for scout troops, school clubs, etc.
• As part of an employee volunteer day.
• As an alternative to birthday, wedding or baby shower gifts, suggest donating a toy to RePlay for Kids.

Toy Donation Suggestions

Here are some suggestions for types of toys to donate to RePlay for Kids, including features to look for, and ones to avoid.
First of all, the toy needs to be BATTERY-OPERATED or else we will not be able to adapt it.
There are four broad categories of toys that we often adapt:

Plush Toy Examples:   

Tickle-Me-Elmo, Care Bears, dolls that talk or sing.
What to look for: One or two switches (such as an on/off switch, or a switch in the hand, foot or belly that you need to squeeze)
What to avoid: Multiple switches or buttons to activate, since we can adapt only one or two switches.

Action Figures Examples:

Spiderman, Power Rangers, Robots, Spiderman
What to look for: One or two switches (such as an on/off switch or a pushbutton)
What to avoid: Multiple switches or buttons to activate, since we can adapt only one or two switches.

Motor Vehicle Examples:

Remote Control (R/C) Race Cars, Matchbox trucks, Airplanes/helicopters
What to look for: If remote controlled, ones with only forward/reverse controls, not left/right too.Wiggles car
What to avoid: Four-directional controls or multiple switches to activate, since we can adapt only one or two switches.     If not remote controlled, then ones that move too fast (since there will be a cable attached).

Musical Toys Examples:

Crib toys, Sesame Street musical toys, Mickey guitar, Musical turtle
What to look for: One or two switches (such as an on/off switch or a pushbutton)
What to avoid: Multiple switches or buttons to activate, since we can adapt only one or two switches. Also, keyboards, guitars and other multi-key instruments (unless they have one button that will play a song)

Download our Toy Donation Program flyer here.