The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive
The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive is the largest toy drive in Nanaimo and has been in operation since 1983. Each year we work together with our community donors, volunteers, and business partners to help make Christmas a merry one for families in need. In addition to providing new, unwrapped toys and gifts, we also provide books, stocking stuffers, and stuffed animals for each child, and a game or puzzle for each family. The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive serves the communities of Nanaimo, Lantzville, Cedar, and Cassidy.
News & Updates!
Gift Ideas!
0-2 Years Old
3-5 Years Old
6-8 Years Old
9-12 Years Old
13-17 Years Old
0-2 Years Old Gift Ideas
Toys: Learning toys (shapes, numbers, letters, animals, sensory, etc.), Fisher-Price interactive learning toys, tummy time mats, activity gyms, learn-to-walk/push toys, pretend play (e.g. food set, tool kit, medical kit, etc.), dolls, vehicles, music (drum, piano/keyboard, noise makers, etc.), blocks, LEGO (Duplo)
Books: Board books about animals and families. Books by Todd Parr, Peter Reynolds, Robert Munsch, Sandra Boynton. The Children’s Treehouse has a large selection of books perfect for this age group that can be found here.
3-5 Years Old Gift Ideas
Toys: Learning toys (shapes, numbers, letters, animals, colours, feelings, etc.), pretend play (e.g. food set, tool kit, medical kit, etc.), dolls, vehicles/monster trucks, trains, dinosaurs, super heroes (Batman, Spiderman, etc.), music (drum, piano/keyboard, noise makers, etc.), LEGO (City, Disney, Jurassic World, Friends, Marvel), sports (e.g. basketball, baseball/softball, soccer, etc.), STEM kits (science, coding, robotics, etc.), Kinetic Sand, Frozen, Thomas & Friends, Barbie playsets
Books: Books by Mo Willems (Elephant & Piggie, “Pigeon” books), Jory John books (The Good Egg, Bad Seed). The Children’s Treehouse has a large selection of books perfect for this age group that can be found here.
6-8 Years Old Gift Ideas
Toys: Minecraft, LEGO (City, Dreamzzz, Creator 3-in-1, Disney, Jurassic World, Friends, Minecraft, Dots, Star Wars, Sonic), music (keyboard, guitar, etc.), sports (e.g. basketball, baseball/softball, hockey, soccer, etc.), scooters, STEM kits (science, coding, robotics, etc.), craft kits (e.g. slime kits, bath bomb making kits, etc.), dolls, vehicles, super heroes (Batman, Spiderman, etc.), Star Wars, Barbie playsets, Hotwheels playsets, Unicorns, Pokemon
Books: These readers love early chapter books and graphic novels such as: The Bad Guys, Dragon Masters, Dragon Girls, Diary of a Pug, Owly, Press Start, Dogman, CatKid. The Children’s Treehouse has a large selection of books perfect for this age group that can be found here.
9-12 Years Old Gift Ideas
Toys: Craft kits (e.g. slime kits, bath bomb making kits, jewelry making kits, etc.), fine art sets, nail polish sets/nail art, STEM kits (Science, coding, robotics, etc.), Tech Deck, Nerf or similar, remote control vehicles/drones, LEGO (Ninjago, Creator 3-in-1, Star Wars, Friends, Marvel, Harry Potter, Dots, Minecraft, Fortnite, Technic), music (keyboard, guitar, etc.), sports (e.g. basketball, baseball/softball, hockey, soccer, tennis, etc.), skateboards/scooters, Star Wars, Pokemon, sleeping bags
Books: Amulet, Wings of Fire, Percy Jackson, The Last Kids on Earth, Emmie and Friends graphic novels, “Weird but True!” non fiction series by National Geographic Kids, “Guinness World Records” books, “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling. The Children’s Treehouse has a large selection of books perfect for this age group and can be found here.
13-17 Years Old Gift Ideas
Gifts: Wireless speakers, headphones with microphone, gaming headphones, music (keyboard, guitar, etc.), fine art sets, photography, makeup, hair styling tools (e.g. blow-dryer, straightener, curling iron, etc.), shaving kits, wallets/belts, room decor, sleeping bags, sports (e.g. basketball, baseball/softball, volleyball, hockey, soccer, tennis, etc.), skateboards, STEM kits (science, coding, robotics, etc.), Nerf or similar, remote control vehicles/drones, LEGO (Star Wars, Botanicals, Architecture, Harry Potter, Speed Champions, Technic, etc.) (unlike previous years, we do not need gift cards)
Books: The Probability of Everything, Spy FamilyX, Deep Dark, Heartstopper, The First to Die at the End, House of Ash and Shadow. Our local Chapters/Indigo has great picks for Teens here.
Drop Off Locations
Donations of NEW unwrapped toys and gifts (we no longer accept used items) can be dropped off at any of our drop-off locations starting November 14, 2024:
- Woodgrove Centre (near Guest Services)
- Nanaimo North Town Centre (near London Drugs)*
- Country Club Centre (near Shoppers Drug Mart)*
- Coastal Community Credit Union (all locations)
- Save-on-Foods (all locations)
- Nanaimo Fire Stations (I, 2, 3 & 4)
- The Port Theatre
- Nanaimo Museum
- Budget Self Storage (North Nanaimo)
- Lucid (35 Commercial St)
- Pomme Natural Market (6560 Metral Dr)
- Dropzone Games (2520 Bowen Rd)
- Ernie’s Blackpoint Repair (587 Townsite Rd)
- VIDrives.ca (2595 Bowen Rd)
- Mercedes-Benz Nanaimo (2472 Kenworth Rd)
- Footprints Security Patrol Inc. (Unit 3A 4890 Rutherford Rd)
- Westland Insurance (#8-1533 Estevan Rd)
- Niik Steel Inc. (1061 Maughan Road)
- Nanaimo Mitsubishi (2348 Kenworth Rd)
- Nanaimo Christmas Village (Cavallotti Lodge – 2060 E Wellington Rd) November 22-24 Only
*Collections continue until Christmas at these locations
Other Ways To Help
Get Involved
A Volunteer Driven Organization
The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive depends on the valued efforts of our volunteers. You can help make a difference in the lives of children in our community. Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering your time.
Donate
Donate to the Greater Nanaimo Toy Drive
Your generous contribution will help our team of elves purchase toys for children in our community.