Toys for Tots Season is Here!

The Great Lakes Marines Toys for Tots program is only able to serve families who reside in Lake County, Illinois.

If you do not live in Lake County, Illinois and want to receive toys through this program, you can see if there is a Toys for Tots campaign near you through the following link: https://www.toysfortots.org/request-a-toy/

Here's the step-by-step process to receive toys from the Great Lakes Marines through its Toys for Tots individual family site:

1. Go to www.toysfortots.org
2. Find your Local Marine Toys for Tots Chapter by entering the state and county you & your kids live in into the Local Chapter Search Tool.
3. Request a toy by submitting an application to your Local Toys for Tots Chapter.
4. Residents of Lake County, IL can fill out this online registration form, which will be open from October 15 to November 30 this year.
5. Get your documents verified and receive your pick-up letter during one of our Document Verification days.
6. Pick up your toys during one of our gift distribution days, making sure to bring your pick-up letter.

Specific information regarding this process will be sent directly to your email after you fill out our online registration form, so be sure to add info@familyfirstcenter.org to your email account safe list and regularly check your JUNK/SPAM email folder for Toys for Tots-related information.

You can be notified by signing up for our eNewsletter. Not only will you receive the Toys for Tots online registration link directly to your email, you will also receive information about upcoming events, local resources, and more.

Kids ages 0-12 can receive toys from the Great Lakes Marines individual family site.

We will be sending information about the Toys for Tots process directly to your email. Be sure to add info@familyfirstcenter.org to your email account safe list and regularly check your JUNK/SPAM email folder for Toys for Tots-related information.

You can also contact us at info@familyfirstcenter.org to verify your registration.

After you press submit on your online registration form, you will receive a copy of your responses in your email inbox. If you did not receive a copy of your responses, neither did we. You must have that copy to make sure we got your information, as that is your first confirmation that we received your application.

An important tip to make sure you receive a copy of your responses is to write your email address carefully on the online registration form. If you mistype your email address, we will not be able to contact you about the next steps in the Toys for Tots process.

However, you can also contact us at info@familyfirstcenter.org to verify your registration.

Thank you for your interest in serving families this holiday season! Check out the Great Lakes Marines Toys for Tots website to learn how you can support the Toys for Tots Program. There are many ways you can help:

• Donate online and/or start your own Toys for Tots Local Fundraising Page
• Donate toys and/or become a local toy drop site
• Volunteer
• Host a local event
• Become a Great Lakes Marines Toys for Tots Campaign Sponsor

No, because the Great Lakes Marines Toys for Tots Program is only able to provide toys to families living in Lake County, IL. However, you can find a local chapter of Toys for Tots in your community on the national U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots website.

Because FFC is  the Lake County individual family site for the Great Lakes Marines Toys for Tots Program, we help individual families in the community complete the registration and verification process for Toys for Tots and help directly give those families the toys that the Great Lakes Marines receives during the holiday season. We simply help the Great Lakes Marines support a large population in Lake County, but we are not the only nonprofit organization that helps - or can help - provide toys to kids in the area through the local Toys for Tots program. 

You can receive toys by going on the Great Lakes Marines Toys for Tots website and filling out the Local Non-Profit/Agency Toy Request Form. If you have any questions, you can also contact the Great Lakes Marines to learn more.