Top 10 Christmas Toy Drives in Houston

It's that time again! Here is a top 10 list of Christmas Toy Drives in Houston. Ranging from virtual shopping to Dynamo fun, Houston is in a giving uproar, so shop till you drop and join the Holiday fun.

1. It's that time again! University of Houston's Law Center's 21st annual Toy Drive is almost here! Located on campus at 100 Law center, students and society come from across the university to donate toys, books, clothes, and even money to kids to a specifically targeted Houston area. Last year proceeds were given to the Children's assessment center and Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

2. B.E.A.R. Program
Bank One in conjunction with children's protective services has created a heartwarming program known as BEARing Gifts. Here, children who have been abused and neglected throughout their lives are given a chance to feel appreciated, even loved. Thousands of children across the globe have never sat before a Christmas tree or snuck into the living room hoping to get a peek at their presents. Here's your chance to make a difference. Bank One's across the city will soon put out Christmas trees with wish lists. Choose a child and get shopping! Heck, write them a note if you'd like, let them feel like someone out there cares.

3. West Houston Assistance Ministries
West Houston Assistance Ministries is at it again! The WHAM Adopt-A-Family Holiday Toy drive will soon be in full swing, bringing light to a child's eyes and spreading cheer throughout the city as people are reminded of what Christmas is truly about. Located in the Second Blessing Gift Shop at 10501 Meadowglen Lane, WHAM is an annual event where food and toys are collected to support those less fortunate and to make Christmas seem like a holiday instead of a shocking reminder that they are struggling. All donations of hygiene items, non perishable foods, unwrapped toys, and funds and greatly accepted and any volunteerism is wonderful.

4. The "Jingle Bell Express" is a unique outreach program sponsored by the Christian Community Service Center. Instead of the average hand off of unopened gifts, the Jingle Bell Express allows parents to "shop" for things such as books and toys, knowing what their child would like, and each family is given food for a holiday meal. The Christian Community Service Center shows that over 3,000 children were blessed by this program last year.

Enrollment is pretty lenient. You must live in Houston, and children must be somewhere between infancy and 15, but at registration, parents will be asked to demonstrate financial need (must be at or below poverty guidelines) and proof of residency. It will be based at Bellaire United Methodist Church at 4417 Bellaire Boulevard (just inside Loop 610 at Newcastle.)

5. Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities, located at 2900 Louisiana Street, will continue to serve Houston this Christmas, planning to give to over 4,000 underprivileged families of all religious affiliation. From food and hygiene items to clothes and toys, Angel trees will soon appear with everyday dreams of poverty stricken youth. You also have the ability to sponsor a child or an entire family, providing them with food, clothing, and other necessary items throughout the year, or you can donate money to brighten a child's Christmas. If interested in sponsoring a child or family, call Catholic Charities 713-526-4611 and get info about the client wish list. Sav-A-Lot will also continue to be used as a drop off location.

6. Oliver Luck, Houston Dynamo President and General Manager, announced last year that the Houston Dynamo would join Amigo Energy to sponsor Toys for Lil' Soldiers, an annual toy drive for the children of men and women who are serving our country and unable to be with their families. These toys may be dropped off or mailed to the Houston Dynamo main office, located downtown at 1415 Louisiana St, Suite 3400, Houston TX 77002. All seven locations of Soccer 4 All will also be drop off locations.

7. Virtual Toy Drive
An online website called http://www.namonline.org/site/c.ktJYJ7MNIuE/b.2116653/apps/s/content.asp?ct=3010167- is what is called a "virtual toy drive." Basically, you can buy a gift from the comfort of your own home, with prices ranging from $10 to $525 and unlimited options in the lives you can change. You can buy stuffed animals, clothing, books, toys, and even things such as watches and board games. The higher you go the more lives you touch, and even better, here you can order in your pjs!

Whenever the site comes up, just go to the search link in the top right corner and type in virtual toy drive; that will take you to a page with three options, with your toy drive being the third one down. Once you select that, you'll be in business! Have fun, and remember you can do this all year round.

8. Reliant Energy has decided to join in the medical center's holiday spirit this season, sponsoring the Red Ribbon Toy Drive while continuing to collect toys for youth. This will be the 14th annual Red Ribbon Toy Drive, a collaboration of AFH (AIDS Foundation Houston), Texas Children's Hospital, UTMB, Baylor College of Medicine, and Harris County Hospital District. All toys will go to children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Presents may be dropped off at 3202 Weslayan (the AIDS Foundation Houston location).

9. Houston Children's Charities Toy Drive
All Houston-area Sterling Banks take part in this festive fervor. With 24 offices spread about the city, Sterling Banks have collected thousands of unwrapped presents throughout the years, changing lives, and bringing smiles.

10. Wal-Mart and The Salvation Army- www.walmartfacts.com
Wal-Mart and the Salvation Army have worked hand in hand for over 20 years now in an effort to make the world a better place. From putting food on the table, to rebuilding homes, to donating money, Wal-Mart has played a substantial part in Houston's life, and when the Red Kettle Campaign of Christmas arrives, everyone takes a step back, sighing and then smiling, because a what is only a dollar to many may soon mean the world to a child.