Be Someone’s Santa This Holiday Season
The Halloween decorations are back in storage and the Christmas lights will be up soon. Children all over are finalizing their wish lists. For those families that may have a harder time granting those wishes this year, you can make their season magical. Here are the local organizations hosting toy drives in Anne Arundel County so you can help spread the cheer.
Toys for Tots
The Anne Arundel County chapter of Toys for Tots had a significant impact in 2024. They distributed more than 66,000 toys and supported more than 16,000 children. At this time, they are still working to organize their box distribution sites. To find a donation site, you can download their app from either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
According to their website, some items are not accepted: “Toys for Tots prefers not to accept realistic looking weapons and gifts with food.” These items will not be distributed.
Heads Up: As we’re writing this their app shows a drop box in Cape St. Claire, but the address given is an Advanced Auto Parts in Mount Airy. Maybe call ahead or give them a few more days before heading to a site.
American Legion Riders
The American Legion Post 175 in Severna Park will host a Motorcycle Toy Parade on Saturday, November 22. Registration is $10 plus one new, unwrapped toy if you want to participate. But if you aren’t a rider, you’ll still be able to see the parade led by Santa and a police escort travel from the Post at 832 Manhattan Beach Rd. to Bubba’s 33 at 7305 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie. There will be prizes for best decorated motorcycle and best costume, so it should be a sight to see!
Follow them on Facebook or Instagram for the most up-to-date information. Registration is at 8:30 AM and Kickstands Up (KSU) is at 10 AM.
Operation Christmas Child
International Christian organization, Samaritan’s Purse, provides shoeboxes with toys and evangelism materials to children all over the world. From November 17 to 24, 2025, local churches will collect boxes provided by the community. Visit their website’s interactive map to find drop-off hours for your nearest location. Local churches include:
- Weems Creek Baptist Church, 600 N. Bestgate Road, Annapolis
- Mariners’ Church, 1857 Ritchie Highway, Annapolis
- Chesapeake Christian Fellowship, 377 W Central Avenue, Davidsonville
- Mid Atlantic Community Church, 2485 Davidsonville Road, Gambrills
- Lake Shore Baptist Church, 4613 Mountain Road, Pasadena
- Arundel Christian Church, 710 Aquahart Road, Glen Burnie
- Faith Assembly of God, 250 W Bay Front Road, Lothian
- Linthicum Heights United Methodist Church, 200 School Lane, Linthicum
Samaritan’s Purse suggests taking a box and filling it with one large “wow” toy, plus other toys, school supplies and personal care items. They recommend including a personal note and a photo of you and your family. A donation of $10 is requested to cover the evangelism materials.
Arundel Federal Savings Bank
For the 23rd year, Arundel Federal Savings Bank will support the community by distributing toys to children in need. All five of their locations will accept new, unwrapped toys through Friday, December 5. Everyone is welcome to participate—not only customers or employees. Visit their website to find hours and information for each branch.
- Annapolis: 2661 Riva Road
- Brooklyn (Baltimore): 333 E. Patapsco Avenue
- Glen Burnie: 655 Crain Highway S.
- Pasadena: 4179 Mountain Road
- Severna Park: 50 W. McKinsey Road
USPS Operation Santa
The United States Postal Service (USPS) lets you be Santa for a child this year. To begin, you need to sign up on their website. On November 17, you can read through letters and select one to adopt. There are two ways to send a gift: you can either purchase one online through Santa’s Gift Shoppe or buy a gift and ship it yourself at your nearest post office. Just make sure to include a note from Santa!
School of Rock Annapolis
Working with Toys for Tots, the School of Rock Annapolis will accept new, unwrapped toys through December 16. You can find them at 1460 Ritchie Highway in Arnold from 8 AM to 5 PM. While you’re there, sign up for a free trial of one of their music programs for kids and grown-ups alike.
Operation Home Front
This nonprofit organization supports active-duty and veteran families through a number of programs. During the holiday season, their Holiday Toy Drive brings joy to children of military families all over the country. Thanks to Operation Homefront’s partnership with Dollar Tree, you can donate a gift at a drop-box inside one of their stores. If you want to donate your time, they are looking for volunteers to collect drop-box toys and help distribute them to families. Sign up on their website to learn more about volunteering, and follow them on Facebook for more information about donating toys.
The Sharing Foundation
This local organization gives financial support to Anne Arundel-area working needy and special situation families: those who make too much money to qualify for benefits, but who could still use a helping hand. The organization is still finalizing their collection sites for the 2025 season, but their website has a helpful page with all of the expected locations based on last year. Organizers make a point to call out Franklin’s Toys in Severna Park, encouraging everyone to purchase their toy and drop it off at the box inside the store. Or you can participate from the comfort of your home through their Virtual Toy Drive on Amazon.
Other Organizations
The Light House always accepts new or gently used and clean educational toys for children. You can drop off these donations and others from 9 AM to 6 PM at 10 Hudson Street in Annapolis. See their website for more information under “Urgent Needs.”
The Salvation Army lets you adopt an “angel” for their Angel Tree giving program. Keep an eye on their social media to see if your local Salvation Army will participate this year.
So while you are buying gifts for loved ones on your list, add an extra gift or two (or three!) to support children in our community or around the world. It’s a fun and easy way to get on Santa’s nice list!
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