toyWhen you're done stuffing your face with sugar cookies and when you've had a second to pause from the excitement of trying to figure out what you're getting from Santa this year, it's nice to take a moment to remember what this holiday season is all about -- time off from work. No! Wait. I meant giving. The season is all about giving. Opening our hearts, helping others in need, and reflecting on becoming better people is what the holidays are meant for. So! Before you shove brand spanking new toys under a tree, take a look around the house and see if you can't part with a few older ones. It's the right thing to do. And look, I've made it super easy for you. Here are 5 charities that accept toy donations.

Toys for Tots. The venerable charity accepts toy donations (as well as money, cars, and profits from charitable sales you have on eBay) at a wide variety of locations across the nation. Simply go to their website, select your state, then city, and view which donation center is closest to you. Bada bing, bada boom, your old toys will have a new home in no time.
 
Goodwill. Use their handy store locator and stop by with a box or bag of gently used clothes, toys, board games, video games, etc. Money from the sale of your items will help fund community initiatives like job training programs, and employment placement services.
 
Second Chance Toys. This charity aims to keep plastic toys out of landfills and instead puts them in the hands of disadvantaged children. Enter your zip code in the box on the right hand side of the page and find a donation site near you. Those thousands of Legos and toy trucks in your basement just found a new home!
 
Room to Grow. These guys accept all kinds of baby stuff from toys to books to blankets to bouncy seats to bassinets. Your donation of new or gently used items will go to a family in poverty who needs a little help. If you're in the New York or Boston metro areas, there are donation locations there. Otherwise, you can host a baby shower and collect baby gifts, then donate them. Neat idea.
 
Then there's Donation Town. This company has made it super easy -- they've compiled list of all the charities that accept toys, and that will pick them up from your house. Fast, free pick up never sounded so good. Just find your city on their list, pile some toys together, and viola. They're taken and given to kids who'll really appreciate them.
 
Happy holidays, and happy donating!
 
How do you like to contribute during the holidays?
 
 
Photo via rosmary/Flickr