The 2025 SFSU Toy Drive is here!
San Francisco State University hosts an annual SFSU Toy Drive, an initiative to support families in the Lakeview, Oceanview, Merced Heights, and Ingleside (OMI) communities during the holiday season. Coordinated by ICCE in collaboration with the Office of the President, the SFSU Toy Drive brings the campus community together to share holiday cheer and strengthen local connections.
Toy collection barrels will be available through December 19, 2025, at the following locations:
- Admissions Welcome Center, Student Services Building, Room 104 (SSB 104)
- Tutoring and Academic Support Center (TASC), Library (LIB 220)
- Administration Building, 5th Floor Lobby
- Institute for Civic & Community Engagement (ICCE), HSS 206
For a list of suggested donations, visit the Community Wish List tab.
New, unwrapped toys for children ages 0–12 are welcome.
Greatest need is for gifts suitable for ages 8–12.
Suggested donations:
- Gifts for preteen girls and boys, ages 10-12. This group of kids receives the least amount of donations! They love- Audio headsets, ear pods, fuzzy socks, lip gloss, costume jewelry, hair styler tools, local team baseball caps, STEM items, upper level lego sets, remote control cars and all things tech.
- Ethnic Dolls - Aim is to boost the confidence and promote cultural understanding among young people
- Cultural Books- Children feel positive about themselves when they encounter characters in books that they can identify with.
- Sports Items (basketballs, footballs, skateboards, soccer balls, tennis Racquets, and tennis balls)
- Board games and puzzles
- Arts and crafts kits (jewelry making Kits, markers, crafts kits, paints)
- New stuffed Animals
- Learning and Sensory Toys
- Baby toys and baby supplies (wipes, rattles, blankets)
We cannot accept any type of toy guns (includes water guns) or weaponry.
For information on where donated toys will be distributed, please visit the Where Your Donations Go tab.
All toys collected through the SF State Toy Drive will be distributed at the Youth 1st OMI-Lakeview Annual Holiday Extravaganza on Friday, December 12, 2025, from 2:00–5:30 p.m. at Merced Heights Playground (801 Shields Street, San Francisco). This community-led event supports hundreds of children and families through gifts, food, entertainment, and resources.
Toy donations are tax-deductible.
If you need a receipt or the Federal Tax ID number for Youth 1st, the 501C3 nonprofit organization coordinating distribution, please email icce@sfsu.edu to request their Toy Donation Form.
Toys collected after December 12, will be donated to the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program, a 501C3 non-profit organization. If you need a receipt or the Federal Tax ID number for The SF Firefighters Toy program, please email Linda Silva at linda.toyprogram@gmail.com to request their Toy Donation Form.
Past Drives
