Welcome to Operation KC Northpole
Kent County, Delaware
Delivering Hope to Children at Christmastime—and Beyond!
Through the gift of a new toy or book, Marine Toys for Tots delivers joy and sends a message of hope to children and families throughout America.
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The National Impact
Since 1947, Marine Toys for Tots has distributed:
732 million toys
325 million children supported nationwide
In 2025 alone, Toys for Tots delivered more than 24 million toys to nearly 11 million children across the country.
The Local Impact
Kent County, Delaware—2025
10,590 toys distributed
5,576 children supported
Every one of those numbers represents a Kent County child who received more than a gift. They received a reminder that their community sees them, values them, and cares.
The North Pole Has Landed at the Dover Mall!
Operation KC Northpole is the official holiday headquarters for Toys for Tots in Kent County, Delaware.
Our elves and volunteers work throughout the year collecting, sorting, stocking, packing, and distributing toys and books for local children and families.
Operation KC Northpole will be open to the public inside the Dover Mall from:
October 1 through December 20, 2026
We are located between Zales and Trendy Man inside the Dover Mall.
Whether you want to donate, volunteer, host a toy drive, become a collection site, or help spread the word, there is a place for you in the sleigh!
How It Works
At Toys for Tots—Kent County, Delaware, we believe every child deserves to experience joy on Christmas morning
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Assistance for Families
Family applications for the 2026 holiday season are open now.
Application Deadline: December 1, 2026
The December 1 deadline gives our team enough time to review applications, organize inventory, and distribute gifts before Christmas.
Families experiencing an emergency after December 1 may contact us at:
dover.de@toysfortots.org
Emergency assistance after the deadline will depend on the family’s circumstances and the toys and resources still available.
Once an application is approved, the family will receive an email invitation with a scheduled date and time to visit our free toy store inside the Dover Mall.
Parents and guardians personally select gifts for their children. This preserves dignity and allows families to choose the toys they believe will make their children light up on Christmas morning.
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Assistance for Nonprofits, Schools, and Churches
We partner with qualifying local nonprofits, schools, churches, and community organizations that provide holiday assistance to children in Kent County.
Toys are generally packed according to the children’s ages and needs and prepared for distribution by the requesting organization.
Participating organizations asked to:
Submit an accurate list containing each child’s first name, age, and gender
Avoid submitting children already receiving Toys for Tots assistance through another application
Recognize Toys for Tots during the organization’s giveaway or distribution event
Encourage families needing additional assistance to apply directly through Toys for Tots
Together with local businesses, schools, churches, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, donors, and community partners, we bring the spirit of Christmas to thousands of children throughout Kent County.
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Our Gift Goals
Depending on available donations, our goal is to provide:
One book for each family
One board game for each family to enjoy together
One or two larger gifts valued at approximately $20 or more, or another high-demand item
Stocking stuffers
Our book and board-game goal is about more than placing another present under the tree. We want to encourage families to spend time reading, laughing, playing, and making memories together.
These are our campaign goals—not guaranteed gift quantities.
The number, type, and value of gifts provided will depend entirely on donations, available inventory, each child’s age, and community demand. Approved assistance does not guarantee any specific toy, brand, quantity, or dollar value.
How You Can Get Involved
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Donate a New Toy or Book
Donate a new, unwrapped toy, book, game, or age-appropriate gift at an official Toys for Tots collection site in Kent County.
Every donation matters. One toy may look small sitting in a collection box, but to the child receiving it, it can mean everything.
Please Remember Babies, Preteens, and Young Teens!
Babies and older children are often the ones forgotten during toy drives. Some people think a baby is too young to understand Christmas, while others assume a preteen or young teenager is too old for Santa.
But no child is too young—or too old—to deserve a reason to smile on Christmas morning.
Imagine being a parent watching some of your children open gifts while another has little or nothing meant especially for them. Every parent wants to see all their children feel remembered, included, and excited that morning.
Our Kent County campaign works to assist eligible children through age 13. When choosing a donation, please remember the babies, preteens, and young teens too. They may be at opposite ends of childhood, but the joy of opening something chosen especially for them matters at every age.
Gifts That Make Babies and Toddlers Smile
Rattles, teethers, and sensory toys
Tummy-time and activity toys
Stacking toys, blocks, and shape sorters
Musical and light-up toys
Bath toys
Push-and-pull toys
Infant-safe dolls and plush toys
Toy cars and activity centers
Board books and early-learning books
Gifts for Kids in the Middle
Children around ages 4–10
love toys that let them build, create, pretend, collect, race, and explore.
Popular gift ideas include:
Toy cars, trucks, tractors, and construction vehicles
Hot Wheels cars, tracks, garages, and playsets
Remote-controlled cars, trucks, and other vehicles
Barbie dolls, accessories, vehicles, and playsets
Baby dolls, doll accessories, and dollhouses
Action figures and character playsets
LEGO and other age-appropriate building sets
Magnetic tiles and building blocks
Pokémon cards, figures, and playsets
Bluey toys and playsets
Disney character dolls and toys
Minecraft, Super Mario, Sonic, and Roblox-themed toys
Marvel, DC, Transformers, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys
Dinosaurs, animals, and creature playsets
Squishmallows and other popular plush toys
Fidget toys, sensory toys, and squishies
Slime, modeling compound, and kinetic-sand sets
Dress-up and pretend-play sets
Play kitchens, food sets, tool sets, and doctor kits
Arts-and-crafts kits
Jewelry, bead, friendship-bracelet, and fashion-design kits
Science-experiment, STEM, and robotics kits
Magic kits
Karaoke machines and musical toys
Foam-dart blasters and target games
Sports balls and outdoor games
Beginner board games and card games
Puzzles and activity sets
Interactive pets and electronic toys
Children’s interests are not limited by gender, so choose whichever toys you believe will make a child excited to open that package on Christmas morning.
Popular characters and trends change quickly. Donors do not have to find one exact brand or the season’s hardest-to-find toy. New, fun, age-appropriate gifts in every price range are welcome.
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Gifts That Make Preteens and Young Teens Smile
Older children want something fun under the tree too. Please think about the things they would be excited to open—not household necessities or clothing.
Popular ideas for children through age 13 include:
Wireless earbuds and headphones
Bluetooth speakers
LED room lights
Gaming accessories
Gaming headsets and controllers
Portable chargers
Instant-print cameras and film
Art, painting, drawing, and craft sets
Journals and creative-writing sets
STEM, robotics, and science kits
Remote-controlled cars and drones
Skateboards and scooters
Sports equipment
Advanced building sets
Strategy games and escape-room games
Jewelry-making and bead kits
Books, graphic novels, and manga
Karaoke machines
Mini projectors
Fun electronics and gadgets
Insulated tumblers and popular water bottles
If an electronic item or toy requires batteries, including the correct batteries is always appreciated.
Give the Gift of Family Time
Our goal is to provide every participating family with a new book and a board game they can enjoy together.
Family gift suggestions include:
Children’s storybooks
Family read-aloud books
Chapter books
Holiday books
Graphic novels
Family-friendly trivia games
Classic board games
Card games
Cooperative games
Preschool and early-learning games
Strategy games for older children
Puzzles the entire family can complete together
A book or game does more than fill space beneath the tree. It can create an evening of laughter, conversation, imagination, and family memories.
A Child’s Dream-Come-True List
Sometimes one generous donor, business, or community group wants to provide the kind of gift a child dreams about all year.
Our dream-come-true gifts may include:
Bicycles, tricycles, and balance bikes
Helmets to accompany donated bicycles
Scooters and skateboards
Large dollhouses
Play kitchens and workbenches
Large building sets
Ride-on toys
Remote-controlled vehicles
Gaming systems such as Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch
Handheld gaming systems
Tablets
Laptops or Chromebooks
Virtual-reality gaming systems
Televisions or gaming monitors
Digital cameras and instant-print cameras
Karaoke machines
Electronic keyboards and beginner musical instruments
Basketball hoops and larger sports sets
Large STEM, robotics, and science sets
We understand that these gifts cost more, and no donor is expected to purchase one. But when individuals, businesses, clubs, churches, or groups come together, they can make a child’s biggest Christmas wish come true.
All electronics and gaming systems must be new and in their original packaging. Please do not donate used consoles, used electronics, or items containing personal information.
Donation Requirements
All donations must be:
New
Unwrapped
Age-appropriate
In their original packaging whenever applicable
Please do not donate clothing or used items.
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Become an Official Collection Site
Businesses, schools, churches, organizations, and community groups can help collect new, unwrapped toys and books.
Our Collection Box Coordinators will help approved locations get set up with the materials and information needed to support the campaign.
Host a Toy Drive or Fundraiser
Bring your workplace, school, church, club, neighborhood, or organization together to collect toys, books, games, or financial donations.
You can also create a themed drive focused on one of our frequently overlooked or high-need categories:
Babies and toddlers
Preteens and young teens
Books for family reading
Board games for family game nights
Bicycles and outdoor toys
Dream-come-true gifts
Community events help us reach more donors while spreading awareness about the needs of local children and families.
Volunteer With Us – Be the Magic!
Looking to make a real impact this holiday season? Join our cheerful crew of elves and help bring the joy of Christmas to families all across Kent County!
We need helping hands for:
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Toy sorting & stocking
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Drivers for pickups & deliveries
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Greeters & Guest Relations
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Saturday Event Support & Fun Stations
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Stocking Counting & Sorting
Coordinators. aka some bosses needed :)
No matter your skills or schedule, there’s a place for YOU in the sleigh! Whether you can help for a few hours, take on a regular schedule, or lead an entire department, there is a place for you at Operation KC Northpole.
Volunteers may also be able to complete qualifying community-service requirements with us. Please contact our team in advance to confirm eligibility, scheduling, documentation, and supervision requirements.
Join Us!
Register here to volunteer :
Join Us at the Dover Mall
Stop by Operation KC Northpole inside the Dover Mall between October 1 and December 20, 2026, to learn more about volunteering.
We are located between Zales and Trendy Man.
Toys for Tots works throughout the year to prepare for Christmas, so there is never a bad time to sign up!
After December 20, please contact our team by phone or email for information about year-round volunteer opportunities.
First-Saturday Volunteer Meetings
Beginning in October, we will meet at our Operation KC Northpole workshop inside the Dover Mall:
The first Saturday of each month at 4:00 p.m.
October 2026 through January 2027
Bring a friend, bring your holiday spirit, and come help us make some Christmas magic!
Why It Matters
This mission is about far more than toys.
It is about helping children feel loved, seen, remembered, and valued.
It is about showing parents and guardians that they are not alone—that their neighbors see what they are going through and are standing beside them.
It is about the laughter, excitement, wonder, and pure childhood magic of Christmas morning.
Toys for Tots helps bring that magic to life, but the impact can last far beyond December.
So grab a cup of cocoa, put on your elf hat, and become part of something truly special.
Because here in Kent County, we make Christmas happen—together.
“Watching children light up with joy is priceless, but the real gift is giving parents and guardians the dignity to select that special toy themselves. It turns a handout into a moment of hope.”
Serving ALL of Kent County, Delaware
Operation KC Northpole
Dover Mall
Located between Zales and Trendy Man
Contact Our Holiday Team:
Theresa Morris
Kent County Coordinator
302-423-2261
Chris Henry
Toy Distribution Coordinator
302-741-6517
Taylor Wheatley
Community Events Coordinator
302-359-3379
Robin L. Hartnett-Sterner
Collection Box Coordinator
302-670-6745
Dan Sterner
Collection Box Coordinator
302-670-6743
Website
dover-de.toysfortots.org
Email us:
dover.de@toysfortots.org