Chester / Central Montco - General FAQ

This page is designed to offer information for people who may be seeking information on our specific Toys for Tots Campaign

It is important to understand that this is relevant for the Chester / Central Montgomery PA campaigns  only. Each Toys for Tots campaign is run independently, and have their own processes and procedures. Just like our campaign cannot be expected to offer something another campaign does that we cannot, applicants outside our area should not expect their local campaign to work this way. Your local campaign is solely responsible for how their campaign is organized

Q: Why PACSHT?

A: Each Toys for Tots campaign has a six letter identifying code associated with it. We are in PA, and we started in Chester County. We are an LCO - a Local Charitable Organization - rather than a campaign supported by a Marine Reserve unit. There are no Marine Reserve units in Chester or Montgomery Counties.

Q: Why do you change locations every year?

A: Each Toys for Tots campaign is  a volunteer run organization fully dependent on the support of their community. Funds spent on rent are funds not available to buy gifts for the families we support. A significant part of our responsibility is locating space that can be loaned to the campaign every year. These spaces tend to be available for a short amount of time, and as of Dec 2023 our warehouses from 2020, 2021, and 2022 had all been leased or sold the following year. 

Q: Who do you support?

A: We support the children of Chester and Central Montgomery Counties, PA. We accept applications from individual families, as well as nonprofit / agencies that are also focused on helping those in need

Q: What happens to leftover gifts?

A: Any gifts that are not distributed or that come in too late to be distributed are stored for the following year's campaign

Q: Does Toys for Tots offer support except during the holidays

A: In exceptional cases, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has authorized coordinators to distribute stored items outside of the holiday time frame. These are almost always large natural disasters or other events that displace multiple families within our service area, and require us going through a primary supporting organization rather than directly. If you are aware of such as event, please contact us at chester.county.pa@toysfortots.org or montgomery.county.pa@toysfortots.org 

Q: What is the best way to contact you?

A: Please email chester.county.pa@toysfortot.org  or montgomery.county.pa@toysfortots.org