Toy Drive FAQ
The Toy Drive was set up in 2013 with the support of the local Children & Families Team in order to distribute gifts to families in need at Christmas.
We are extremely proud here at Toy Drive HQ to say that EVERY SINGLE GIFT DONATED in the NE of Fife, STAYS here. It is a considerably large area and we have spent a great deal of time over recent years; building relationships with both statutory & voluntary agencies and working alongside businesses & schools to ensure we understand the needs of our area. Not only to have good links in the community — but for these links to be sustainable. Members of the public, businesses and schools donate a new gift suitable for a child to be opened on Christmas morning. These donations are then organised into age order and suitability before being matched with a child or family. The toys are then made available to the referrer who in turn distributes them to the family they have referred.
How does it work?
The Toy Drive has arranged for locations across North East of Fife to act as COLLECTION POINTS during the event. Simply donate the gift to them and they will store it until the event is finished. Volunteers will then organise the toys and match them with referrals.
What area does the Toy Drive cover?
The Toy Drive covers the North East of Fife (see attached map) and includes Falkland, the Tay Bridge Head, St Andrews, East Neuk, Cupar and everywhere else in-between.
When is the Event running?
The Toy Drive runs from 1st November to the 30th of November. This allows enough time for our volunteers to organise the gifts and redistribute them to the children. Please note that Referrals can still be made out with these dates.
What do the children receive?
Although we are dependent on the donations we receive, we endeavour to ensure that every child receives at least; 1 gift, 1 ‘stocking filler’ gift, a selection box (if over 12 months old) and 1 book.
What can I donate?
The Toy Drive accepts toys and gifts suitable for boys and girls aged 0-18. The gifts must be
NEW & UNUSED and in pristine condition. Please do not wrap the gifts
How do I make a Referral?
You must be a Professional, Voluntary Organisation or Charity such as; Health, Social Work, Education, Police or for example Young Carers, Brownies, Women’s Aid, Befriending Service, Homestart etc
Unfortunately we cannot accept referrals from individual members of the public, however if you identify a family that would benefit from the Toy Drive, then it may be worth contacting their nursery, school or health visitor to ask them to make the referral. This also helps prevent duplication of referrals.
What do you do with the Information I pass on?
This initial referral is seen by the Toy Drive coordinator. The details included in the referral serve only to ensure we do not complete 2 referrals for the one family. The referrals will then be shred-ded via confidential waste bins after the event is over. No details are kept, shared or passed on. Volunteers matching referrals and parcels, will only ever know that they are selecting gifts for a ‘girl aged 8’, ‘boy aged 4’, ‘girl aged 13’ etc.
Who already supports the Toy Drive and how can I, my school, business or organisation get involved or become a collection point?
Tesco Riverside, AM Soccer, Cupar Brownies, STAR, University of St Andrews, Storehouse NE, Hope Park & Martyrs Church, The Old Course Hotel, Fife Council, Fife College, Granary Lane Sheltered Housing, County Buildings, The Rotary Club, and over 30 Nurseries, Playgroups, Pri-mary & Secondary Schools.
If you would like to act as a collection point then please email toydrivefife@gmail.com. It would simply entail helping to publicise the event in the run up to November by way of a poster or ‘share’ on social media. Then collecting and keeping the gifts until the event is over. Volunteers will then pick up the toys and gifts and bring them to a central point to begin organising and matching to referrals
How else can I help?
- Spread the Word
- Like our Toy Drive page on facebook to keep up to date
- Put up a poster to help publicise the event
- Become a Collection Point
- Donate a Gift
- Encourage you class, school, business, organisation to get involved
- Host a ‘Secret Santa’ with staff and donate a gift to the Toy Drive
- Donate Christmas Gift Bags / Sacks
- Fundraise through raffles or bake sales
- Volunteer to Organise Gifts
Who do I contact if I have any other questions?
As coordinator of the Toy Drive I can be contacted via email: toydrivefife@gmail.com or by our page on Facebook. Should you need to contact me directly then please do so via my work’s email:
Victoria.Leonard@fife.gov.uk. Children & Families Team.
Find us on Facebook.