The Orange County Mayor's Toy Drive takes new, unwrapped toys at 40 drop-off sites until Monday, Dec. 7. Online gifts must be bought by Monday, Nov. 30.
Orange County is collecting new, unwrapped toys for children and teens at 40 drop-off sites, from downtown Orlando to Winter Garden. The Orange County Mayor’s Toy Drive takes in-person donations until Monday, Dec. 7, and online gifts until Monday, Nov. 30.
Mayor Jerry L. Demings launched this year’s drive on Nov. 5, the county said in its announcement. It is the drive’s 16th year. Since 2011 it has collected more than 110,000 toys and gifts, the county said.
“Every donation helps bring joy to a child and reminds families that their community is here to support them,” Demings said.
Where the toys go
Every donation stays in Orange County, the county’s toy drive page says. The gifts go to:
- the county’s youth and family agencies and the families they serve
- Wraparound Orange
- Kids’ Closet at Orange County Public Schools
- local nonprofit organizations
The drive serves children from infants to teens.
Three ways to give
| How | Deadline | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Buy a gift online | Monday, Nov. 30 | Pick a toy from the drive’s online toy store; it ships straight to the holiday warehouse. Businesses and groups can start a team drive there. |
| Drop off in person | Monday, Dec. 7 | New, unwrapped toys at any of the 40 sites below |
| Shop and drop | Friday, Dec. 4, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. | A one-day event with FOX 35 at the Walmart Supercenter, 11250 E. Colonial Drive |
The county does not accept cash, gift cards or plush toys. It asks donors to add the extras a gift needs, such as batteries with an electronic toy or crayons with a coloring book.
Drop-off sites in Orlando
The county’s drop-off map lists 40 sites. Three are new this year: the Orange County Administration Center, the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge and the Orange County Regional History Center. These 30 have Orlando addresses:
| Site | Address |
|---|---|
| Downtown | |
| Orange County Administration Center | 201 S. Rosalind Ave. |
| Orange County Regional History Center | 65 E. Central Blvd. |
| Orlando Public Library | 101 E. Central Blvd. |
| Library branches | |
| Alafaya Branch | 12000 E. Colonial Drive |
| Chickasaw Branch | 870 N. Chickasaw Trail |
| Fairview Shores Branch | 902 Lee Road, Suite 26 |
| Hiawassee Branch | 7391 W. Colonial Drive |
| South Creek Branch | 1702 Deerfield Blvd. |
| South Trail Branch | 4600 S. Orange Blossom Trail |
| Southeast Branch | 5575 S. Semoran Blvd. |
| Southwest Branch | 7255 Della Drive |
| Washington Park Branch | 5151 Raleigh St., Suite A |
| Parks and recreation centers | |
| Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge | 10525 Clapp Simms Duda Road |
| Barnett Park Recreation Center | 4801 W. Colonial Drive |
| Bear Creek Recreation Complex | 1600 Bear Crossing Drive |
| Bithlo Community Park | 18501 Washington Ave. |
| Capehart Park | 715 Capehart Drive |
| Fort Gatlin Recreation Complex | 2009 Lake Margaret Drive |
| Meadow Woods Recreation Center | 1751 Rhode Island Woods Circle |
| Renaissance Senior Center | 3800 S. Econlockhatchee Trail |
| Shadow Bay Park and Lake Cane Tennis Center | 5100 Turkey Lake Road |
| Silver Star Recreation Center | 2801 N. Apopka-Vineland Road |
| South Econ Recreation Center | 3850 S. Econlockhatchee Trail |
| Tibet-Butler Preserve | 8777 Winter Garden Vineland Road |
| Orange County Fire Rescue stations | |
| Station 31 | 6116 S. Apopka Vineland Road |
| Station 40 | 5570 Beggs Road |
| Station 51 | 1700 W. Oak Ridge Road |
| Station 67 | 10679 University Blvd. |
| Station 81 | 901 S. Econlockhatchee Trail |
| Station 83 | 11950 Lake Underhill Road |
The other 10 are in Apopka, Christmas, Eatonville, Ocoee, Windermere, Winter Garden and Winter Park. They include the Winter Garden, Windermere and Horizon West library branches, the West Orange and Goldenrod recreation centers, and the Magnolia Park Eco Education Center in Apopka. The map has the full list, phone numbers and directions.
What it means for you
- Buying online? Order by Monday, Nov. 30, so the gift ships to the warehouse in time.
- Dropping off? Bring new, unwrapped toys to any site above by Monday, Dec. 7. Downtown, the History Center and the main library are both on East Central Boulevard.
- Leave out cash, gift cards and stuffed animals; the drive does not take them.
- Running an office or club collection? The online store lets you set up a team drive.
- Questions go to the Office of the Orange County Mayor at Mayor@ocfl.net.
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