By Marion Brunken
Alexandria, VA – Is your family already circulating a holiday wish list? Is your business scheduled for a holiday party? As you plan seasonal gift-giving, consider TOYS4alx, Volunteer Alexandria’s annual local toy drive and distribution. Approximately 300 Alexandria families need help providing holiday gifts for their children and TOYS4alx needs your help to serve them all. We invite you to collect new toys and sports items for children ages 0-12 from November 16 through December 14, 2026. Our goal is to collect 3500 items (each child receives four/five toys) to make the holidays as cheerful as possible.
Selecting and donating a toy can be a meaningful experience for your child and a chance to help make the holidays brighter for local youth. Children understand the joy of receiving a gift, and they’re often the best experts on the latest toy trends! Invite them to help select a toy they think another child would love. Or, as part of your company’s holiday party, choose to support TOYS4alx. No matter the age, shopping for toys is a fun activity. View a list of suggested items and learn how you can support TOYS4alx at www.volunteeralexandria.org/toydrive or scan the QR code below.
DID YOU KNOW… Over 800 children will be served through TOYS4alx?
Attend Family Volunteer Day
Volunteering as a family is a meaningful way to make a difference together. Every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, VolALX hosts Family Volunteer Day, a Global Day of Service. Families create gift tags and decorations for TOYS4alx, helping make the holidays brighter for others. Family volunteering is about more than lending a helping hand. It’s an opportunity to spend time together, model compassion, and show children that their actions can make a difference.
Register at https://www.volunteeralexandria.org/family to be part of Family Volunteer Day on November 21.
Inspired to give more? Organizations need food, clothing, and essential supplies to support our neighbors. Friends of Guest House collects clothing and meal donations, while Affordable Homes & Communities seeks supplies for its after-school educational programs. Wesley Housing offers a holiday Adopt-a-Family initiative, and Carpenter’s Shelter collects new bed linens, full-sized toiletries, and other essentials for its clients. ALIVE! also accepts food donations year-round. Find all collection needs at www.volunteeralexandria.org/goods. Thank you for supporting our community!
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Volunteer Opportunities – To register and find more opportunities like these, visit www.volunteeralexandria.org/search
Help Shovel Snow for Homebound Neighbors – Sign up to be a Snow Buddy and ensure your neighborhood walkways remain safe for all.
Spread Joy with the Holiday Toy Drive – Volunteer roles include sorting toys, providing translation services to “shoppers,” wrapping gifts, and more.
Support The Alexandria Turkey Trot – Volunteers are needed for the Thanksgiving Day race as well as packet pick-up sessions earlier in the week.
Feed Those in Need – Meade Memorial Church runs food assistance programs Monday through Friday. Prepare bagged lunches, provide emergency food pantry support, and more.
A donation to Volunteer Alexandria (https://bit.ly/VolALXgive) enables us to continue connecting caring people to needs in our community.
