Holiday Giving: Where to Donate and Receive Holiday Toys, Meals & More

The giving season is fast approaching. We've gathered food and clothing drives, adopt a family, holiday gift collections, and volunteer opportunities. 

VOLUNTEERING 

NOVEMBER

• 16: Volunteers Needed - Turkey Distribution: Kingswood Community Center, 2300 Bowers Street, Wilmington, DE 19802. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• 17: 2023 Turkeython: Shoprite of Brandywine, 1300 Rocky Run Parkway, Wilmington DE 19803. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• 20: Urban Bike Project Volunteer Nights: Fix kids' bikes for their annual giveaway. Monday Evenings in November and December.
• 20-22: 2023 Holiday Decorating at Rockwood Park
  
• 22: Shelter Dog Sleepovers! Host a pawesome sleepover with a Faithful Friends' dog!
• 25: Jaycee's Christmas Parade Volunteering: ‘Parade Central’ at the corner of Fourth and King Street. 9 a.m.
• 27 & 28: Delaware Center for Horticulture Greens Donation Drop-off  

DECEMBER

• November 30 and December 1: Arasapha’s 60th Annual Wreath Workshop - Volunteer Decorators Needed. Decorate downtown New Castle with festive cheer.
• 1 & 2: Holiday Open House - Rockwood Park
• 4, 11, & 18: Urban Bike Project Volunteer Nights: Fix kids' bikes for their annual giveaway. Monday Evenings in November and December.
• 4-7: 2023 Holiday Decorating at Glasgow Park
• 8 & 9: Holiday Celebration & Market - Glasgow Park
• 9: Sensory Santa - Volunteers Needed
• 9 & 10: Brandywine Valley SPCA Mega Adopt

ADOPT A FAMILY

Brandywine YMCA

• Benefits the Claymont Community Center.
• Choose an Angel from the tree in their Lobby. Children's Ages are listed on the Angel Ornament. Return your unwrapped gift to Member Services by December 16th. 

• Adopt-A-Child Fund
• Wish List
• Brighten the holidays for a child living in poverty in the greater Wilmington area this holiday season.

• You (or your student) can then bring this item into Springer Middle School's main office any time during operating hours before December 19th.
• They still has a few items from their Angel Tree Sign-Up Genius and on Amazon wish list for the stockings. Their goal is to completely clear both! If you have signed up on sign up genius to purchase an item please bring the item to Springer Middle School no later than Monday 12/18. If you have any questions please reach out to Mrs. Koons at elizabeth.koons@bsd.k12.de.us. Thank you all for your generosity and support!
  

CLOTHING DRIVES

Charity Crossing Sock Drive

• Drop-off locations:
  • Garfield Rec Center, 26 Karlyn Drive, New Castle, DE 19720
  • Hockessin Rec Center, 7539 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707

Operation Warm at New Castle Public Libraries

Several New Castle County Libraries will distribute free coats for children - sizes vary, while supplies last. A list of participating libraries and giveaway dates are below. Contact the library for additional details.

• 12/2 at 10 am: New Castle Public Library
• 12/9 at 1 pm: Bear Library
• 12/9 at 1 pm: Elsmere Library
• 12/9 at 1 pm: Newark Free Library
• 12/9 at 1 pm: Woodlawn Library

3rd Annual Winter Wonderland
The United Way of Delaware is collecting new coats and toys to help school-aged children this winter. Runs until December 1. Register for assistance by November 27.

Drop-off locations:

• United Way of Delaware, 625 N. Orange St., 3rd Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801
• Wilmington Library, 10 E. 10th St., Wilmington, DE 19801

The WRK Group Toy and Coat Drive

The WRK Group (Reach Riverside, Kingswood Community Center, and The Warehouse) is helping 300 Riverside families get free coats and toys for their children!

• Gifts can be purchased directly from their wish list. 

Coats and Cops

December 9.

The Journey, 721 E Chestnut Hill Road, Newark DE 19713

• Food Distribution - The Journey
• Kids Eye Exams - Lions Club
• Veteran Resources
• Toys for Kids
• Face painting
• Behavioral Health Unit
• Food Bank of Delaware
• Crafts for Kids
• Photos With Santa
• Free Hair Cuts & more

FOOD DRIVES

Help Feed a Person in Need with Green Box Kitchen 

As the weather turns colder, an increasing number of homeless individuals are left exposed on the streets, searching for a meal to sustain them.

• Select a donation amount between $5 - $100. The full amount goes to menu items for people in need. 
• The full donation amount is designated for people in need. We will generate a ticket, publicly displayed for those in need to redeem, providing them with a 100% free menu item 

Hockessin Rec Center

Collecting: non-perishable, sealed food items for the Delaware Food Bank. Deadline: December 18

TOYS FOR TOTS

December 15: Big Brothers Big Sisters Holiday Toy DriveDecember 15, 2023

Drop off a new, unwrapped toy at the following locations: 

We will continue to update Wilmington-New Castle Macaroni KID's Holiday Events Guide with events as they are posted so check back often. 

Stay in-the-know!

• Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
• Get a FREE kid-friendly event calendar for the Wilmington area full of Santa sightings, holiday events, daily activities and more! Sign up by clicking HERE! 

Do you know of a kid-friendly holiday event taking place in Wilmington and New Castle, DE that isn't listed here? Please submit your event here or email leslieh@macaronikid.com and we will add it to our list!