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224-421-0948 | info@familyfirstcenter.org

Family First Center of Lake County

Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • Our Board
    • Our Partners & Donors
  • Programs
    • Overview
    • Toys for Tots
    • Behavioral Health Clinic
    • Unity in the Community
    • Mental Health Services
    • Youth Programming
    • Case Management
    • Community Outings
    • Community Health Workers
    • Seniors on the Move
  • Our Impact
    • Newsletters
    • Blog
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Help
    • Volunteer
    • Make A Donation
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us

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Toys for Tots Season is Nearly Here!

Great Lakes Marines Toys for Tots individual family site's Online Registration Opens from October 15 - November 30

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Request a Toy (Registration Opens Oct. 15)Become a Great Lakes Marines Toys for Tots Campaign SponsorVolunteer WITH Great Lakes Marines TOYS FOR TOTSRequest Toys as a Local Nonprofit Organization or AgencyFrequently Asked Questions

Spreading Joy Every Holiday Season

What is Toys for Tots?

Toys for Tots is a program created by the United States Marine Corps to assist in giving gifts to children in need with the help of local organizations. This program started in 1947 and has created a major positive impact in over 800 communities across the United States ever since, one of them being our very own Lake County.


Ever since 2007, The Family First Center of Lake County has worked alongside the Marines of Great lakes, Marine Air Control Group 48 (MACG-48) to provide gifts in Lake County as the Toys for Tots individual family site non profit. As the individual family site, we help register thousands of families every year and organize gift pick-up days for families to receive their toys just in time for Christmas, helping the Great Lakes Marines focus on other important steps in the Toys for Tots process.


Every winter, we look forward to bringing joy to your family with the amazing efforts of the Great Lakes Marines. Registration for Lake County will be available every October. Please keep a look out for communication from us about the Toys for Tots process!


Important Note: The Family First Center of Lake County works only as the individual family site supporting the work the Great Lakes Marines does during the Toys for Tots season. We cannot accept any toy or monetary donations for the Toys for Tots program. If you are interested in supporting local Toys for Tots campaigns, check out the Great Lakes Marines Toys for Tots website to learn more.

Toys for Tots and its Nationwide Impact

The U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program helps families all around the United States. Learn more about what this incredible program does!

Click Here

Bringing the "Shopping Experience" to Toys for Tots

In the Past...

Since we started working with the Great Lakes Marines Toys for Tots program in 2007, we took a traditional approach to giving gifts to families. Families would show up to toy distribution and receive gifts based on their kids' ages. 


Though this system works great, it sometimes meant families did not receive the kinds of gifts their kids would like. We started thinking: How do we make this experience even better for families?


No one knows kids better than the loved ones that surround them—the families that watch them grow and the friends they meet along the way. That's why starting in 2023, we wanted to work together with the Great Lakes Marines to provide families an experience that would ensure families could receive gifts their kids would love.

Starting in 2023...

In 2023, with the help of the American Place Casino, we rented out a space at the Gurnee Mills mall to give our first ever FFC "shopping experience" for the Toys for Tots distribution. Families entered the store and were welcomed by tables full of toys organized by age range and interests, allowing families to choose the toys they wanted for their kids. 


This initiative was taken with the hope that it would help families receive age-appropriate, good quality toys, and we are happy to say that it was a huge success. With the Great Lakes Marines support and assistance, we gave away toys to over 3500 families and over 7000 children, and we are excited to continue doing so for the years to come!

Frequently Asked Questions About Toys for Tots

Please reach us at info@familyfirstcenter.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.

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.


Additionally, if you want to verify your online registration, please email info@toysfortotslc.org.


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 U.S. Marine Corps 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.


Don't Miss Out on the Toys for Tots Experience

Registration starts in the Fall! Keep an eye out for updates
Like Us on FacebookSign Up for Our eNewsletterLearn More About Great Lakes U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots
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    Family First Center of Lake County

    2504 Washington Street Suite 603, Waukegan IL 60085

    224-421-0948 | info@familyfirstcenter.org

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    Toys for Tots Season is Nearly Here!

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