Your 2016 Holiday Donation Guide For Brownstone Brooklyn

Donny Levit -
Photo via lollisltd

Donation drives for the holidays are in full swing, and there are many ways to help ensure that so many Brooklyn children and other community members have a bright holiday.

Some donation events take place on a particular day, while others last throughout the entire month, and even into 2017.

Photos with Santa at Old Stone House
When: Saturday, December 10, 10am-12pm
Where: Old Stone House, 336 3rd Street (off 5th Avenue)
What: Join us for our 2nd annual photo session with Santa, in partnership with Park Slope Parents and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID.  Photos will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis for $10. Photographer Marc Goldberg will make his professional photos available on his website for purchase, and you’re welcome to snap your own photo as well.
Cost: $10 per family, with all proceeds going to Old Stone House

Holiday Book and Toy Drive
When: Friday, December 16, 12pm-2pm
Where: Emmanuel Baptist Church, 36 St. James Place (between Dekalb and Lafayette Avenues)
What: Bring a new and unwrapped toy for children in Brooklyn hospitals and reside in North and Central Brooklyn. Cal 718-398-0750 for more information.

CHiPS Bend + Bloom Yoga Holiday Coat Drive
When: Friday, December 16, 12pm-2pm
Where: Emmanuel Baptist Church, 36 St. James Place (between Dekalb and Lafayette Avenues)
What: Drop off new and gently used coats at Bend+Bloom at 708 Sackett Street (between 4th and 5th Avenues) through December 18.

Park Slope Center for the Successful Aging Holiday Toy Drive
When: Mondays-Fridays through December 12 between 9:30am-4:30pm
Where: Park Slope Center for Successful Aging, 463A 7th Street at 7th Avenue
What: Their goal is to distribute 25,000 gifts. Especially needed: Action Figures (no guns please), Art Supplies, Basketballs, Footballs, Building Blocks, Cars and Trucks, Craft Sets, puzzles, science sets, Ethnic Dolls, Hard Cover Books, and New Teen Clothing.

Sheltering Arms Toy Drive (online)
When: Through December 9
What: In Brooklyn, Sheltering Arms operates a number of Early Education facilities for families who live below the poverty live, and our high-quality programs offer a safe, supportive environment for children to help them gain the skills they will need to succeed in Kindergarten and beyond. Contribute via their online wish list here. This is a Park Slope Parents sponsored event.

Ongoing throughout month (and of course, you can donate to these organizations all year)

Toy Drive at Council Member Stephen Levin’s office. View all information here.

Lantern Community Services Teen and Young Adult Gift Drive (online)
What: Help homeless teens and young adults, many of whom get forgotten with the focus on toys for younger kids. Your gift will be sent directly to the facility. Contribute via their online wish list here. This is a Park Slope Parents sponsored event.

Little Essentials Toy Drive (Park Slope Parents)
Little Essentials is a community response to a community need.  Drop off new, unwrapped toys through December 18 at the following locations:

  • Goldy & Mac (396 7th Avenue b/w 12th & 13th Streets)
  • Gymboree 365 (4th Avenue b/w 5th and 6th Streets)
  • Investors Bank (314 7th Avenue at 8th Street )
  • South Slope Pediatrics, (501 5th Avenue b/w 11th and 12th Streets)
  • NY Kids Club, (125 5th Avenue b/w Sterling and St. Johns Place)
  • NuNu Chocolates, (179 5th Avenue b/w Berkeley & Lincoln Place)
  • Windsor Shoes Too, (227 Prospect Park West b/w Windsor & 15th Street)
  • Shipwrecked Miniature Golf (621 Court Street b/w Bay & Bryant)

Corkscrew Wines Little Essentials Toy Drive
Corkscrew Wines in Clinton Hill is taking up a collection of new unwrapped or gently used toys to benefit the children Little Essentials serves. All toys must be in working condition, all parts included, no stuffed animals or large toys (e.g. ride on toys or large items like kitchenettes), fresh batteries appreciated. New and unwrapped toys should be dropped off between December 14-28 at 489 Myrtle Avenue (between Hall and Ryerson Streets)

Fig Tree Hanukkah Party
Please join us at the Be the Light Hanukkah party and toy drive hosted by Fig Tree to benefit Little Essentials. Donate your gently used toys for children in need on Sunday, December 18 between 3pm-6pm at the Coop School, 87 Irving Place near Fulton Street.

Monkey Do! Yoga Little Essentials Toy Drive
Donate toys for Little Essentials at Monkey Do! Yoga’s Park Slope location and get 10% off a yoga class. New and unwrapped toys should be dropped off by December 18 at 279 3rd Avenue (between President and Carroll Streets).

Owl And The Pussycat Salon Little Essentials Toy Drive
OPC in Clinton Hill is taking up a collection of new unwrapped or gently used toys to benefit the children Little Essentials serves. All toys must be in working condition, all parts included, no stuffed animals or large toys (e.g. ride on toys or large items like kitchenettes), fresh batteries appreciated. Drop-off by December 19 at 154 Vanderbilt Avenue (at Myrtle Avenue)

CHiPS Paper Goods Drive, through 2017
When: Daily, 9am-8pm
Where:  200 4th Avenyue (at Sackett).
What: The Frances Residency Program is a transitional home for nine prenatal and postpartum homeless women and their infants. All their services are offered free of charge. They have a need for the following items:  keep doing their great work: Sturdy paper plates, Paper towels, Hot cups for coffee, Juice cups for juice, Plastic forks and spoons, 55 gal black garbage bags, Bleach / Ammonia / Pine Sol, Juice, Sugar, Ground Coffee, TO GO containers. For more information, contact: sharon@chipsonline.org or 718-237-2962. (Via Park Slope Parents)

CHiPS Giftcard Drive for Pregnant or New Moms
Can you spare 5 (or more) bucks to a pregnant or new mom at a shelter? CHiPS is also asking for gift cards this year. To send a gift card, got to: http://bit.ly/PSPTargetGifttoCHIPS, select the amount you would like to donate and the email for delivery is Denise4Chips@gmail.com. Pay (they even accept Paypal). (Via Park Slope Parents)

More tips for getting involved:

  • SHOP LOCAL to keep the community strong!
  • If you’re unable to shop local, put an extra gift in your online cart for those in need!
  • Make it a family affair and have your kids help choose the gift and deliver them together.

Would you like us to add a donation event or program to our list? Email us at editor@bklyner.com.