The Christmas Toy Shop exists "so that no child will be without a Christmas". The Toy Shop provides toys at Christmas time to needy children. Over the past few years 800 families were served including 2,000 children. In addition, 700 bicycles were issued as part of the overall distribution. 

The Christmas Toy Shop recycles toys and bicycles by refurbishing them to look like new. At Christmas time, new and used toys, stuffed animals, a book, and a stocking stuffer are provided to each child (0-12 years of age). Thousands of toys are given out each year to families during distribution days.

The Christmas Toy Shop coordinates its services and resources with over 25 community agencies in both north and south Pinellas county so that each agency understands the others role in giving to the needy. There is sharing of information so that there is less duplication. Since the Christmas Toy Shop has such an excellent excellent record and identification system, other agencies screen their charitable assistance clients from the Christmas Toy Shop records, thus allowing more people to receive services. We have had over 25 volunteer groups working with the Christmas Toy Shop who provided over 4,000 hours during the distribution period. 

The Toy Shop operates year round in order to have toys ready in December with over 60 regular volunteers. The Christmas Toy Shop is non-profit, a totally volunteer operation, and operates on private donations. All donations, both cash and merchandise, are deductible as permitted by existing tax laws. Unlike some charitable organizations, the Christmas Toy Shop has no paid administrators or staff. 100% of all donations support the Toy Shop's goal of providing toys to needy children at Christmas. Each year over 60 volunteers donate over 15,000 hours of their time to prepare and distribute these gifts. The Toy Shop is the ultimate recycling center. New toys are purchased with donations from community contributions. 

Names of needy families with children 12 years and under are referred to the Toy Shop by city and county agencies, Head Start, Coordinated Child Care, We Help, Pinellas County Health Department, Free Clinic, Healthy Families, Healthy Start, and the Department of Children and Families. Other family referrals arrive from local agencies, churches, schools, Salvation Army, and other groups and individuals. The families of 25 local agencies, many churches, and several schools are served by our Toy Shop each December. In the past few years we served over 2,000 children, 700 bicycles were distributed, and about 800 families were assisted. 

There is no cost for any of our services; all expenditures are made for supplies to repair used toys, purchase new toys, and maintain facilities that are in operation two days a week, 48 weeks a year.