Give a Little Joy: Charter One Realty’s 2026 Lowcountry Holiday Toy Drive

A favorite book. A first bicycle. A game the whole family can play. Sometimes, a thoughtful gift becomes the beginning of a treasured childhood memory.

This holiday season, Charter One Realty invites you to donate new, unwrapped toys, books, and games through December 2, 2026, at our participating offices in Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Beaufort.

Donations will support The Santa Shop at Deep Well, The Market at Bluffton Self Help, and HELP of Beaufort, helping bring holiday joy to local children and easing the seasonal strain on their families.

Whether you are a longtime Lowcountry resident, a new neighbor, or visiting for the season, we would love for you to join us.

Jump to Drop Off Locations

Can't make it in? You can also give online at blufftonselfhelp.org/donate.

A Holiday Gift That Gives Parents a Choice

For families facing financial challenges, the holidays can bring difficult decisions alongside the celebrations.

Our local nonprofit partners help make the season brighter. At Deep Well’s Santa Shop, for example, parents personally select meaningful gifts for their children. Your donation helps give them that opportunity, creating a holiday experience shaped by their own children’s interests and wishes.

It is a simple way to support both the excitement of a holiday morning and the parents working hard to make it happen.

What Gifts Are Most Needed This Year?

Gifts for children ages 9–12 are especially needed, along with items for ages 4–8 and birth through age 3. Toys, books, games, sports equipment, crafts, STEM activities, and age-appropriate electronics are all welcome.

Bicycles of all sizes are also greatly needed. Whenever possible, please include a helmet with each bicycle and donate the bike unassembled.

The following shopping ideas draw from the 2026 wish lists provided by Deep Well and HELP of Beaufort. Please check the manufacturer’s recommended age when selecting a gift.

Gifts for Preteens: Ages 9–12

Older children can be harder to shop for, but the wish lists offer plenty of possibilities beyond the toy aisle.

Consider donating:

• Science kits, STEM activities, and LEGO sets
• Craft kits, jewelry-making kits, and bead kits
• Art supplies, sketchbooks, markers, and drawing pads
• Board games and card games
• Headphones, earbuds, or Bluetooth speakers
• Remote-control cars with batteries
• Watches and children’s karaoke microphones
• Moon lamps, lava lamps, plush throws, and pillows
• Basketballs, soccer balls, baseball equipment, or tennis equipment
• Skateboards or scooters with knee and elbow pads

HELP of Beaufort’s wish list also includes gifts for ages 9–17, such as Walmart and Amazon gift cards, handbags, wallets, nail polish, bath sets, tool kits, and fitness trackers. These provide additional options for donors who would like to shop for older children and teens.

Gifts for Elementary-Aged Children: Ages 4–8

For this age group, gifts that encourage creativity, imaginative play, and discovery are welcome choices.

Wish-list ideas include:

• Matchbox cars, monster trucks, and Hot Wheels tracks
• Dinosaur sets and construction vehicles
• Dolls, doll strollers, and multicultural dolls
• Play kitchens, toy food, grocery carts, and toy dishes
• Toy workbenches and tool sets
• Sticker books, craft kits, and painting sets
• Terrarium kits, STEM toys, and educational games
• Board games and card games
• Dress-up clothes and superhero toys
• Footballs, soccer balls, and basketballs

Deep Well’s 2026 wish list also highlights Moana, Toy Story, Spider-Man, and K-Pop Demon Hunters as popular themes this year.

Gifts for Babies and Preschoolers: Birth–Age 3

Look for gifts designed specifically for little hands and early learning.

HELP of Beaufort’s youngest-child wish list includes:

• Musical toys
• Push-and-play toys
• Stacking and nesting toys
• Large building blocks appropriate for the child’s age
• Melissa & Doug toys designed for younger children
• Dolls and stuffed animals
• Bath toys

Age-appropriate books are another thoughtful addition.

Books and Stuffed Animals Deserve a Spot on Your List

Deep Well specifically requests books for ages 1–12, with a particular need for beginner-reader and bilingual books for ages 6–8.

Medium-to-large stuffed animals and Squishmallows are also requested. Deep Well’s wish list notes that every child receives a stuffed animal.

If you are deciding between several inexpensive items and one well-made gift, Deep Well recommends fewer, higher-quality toys that children can enjoy for longer.

Where to Donate Toys in Hilton Head, Bluffton, and Beaufort

Bring your new, unwrapped donations to any of these participating Charter One Realty offices:

Please drop off all donations by December 2, 2026.

Supporting the Communities We Call Home

Our work in Hilton Head real estate, Bluffton real estate, and Beaufort real estate connects us with people at every stage of life. It also reminds us that a community’s character comes from the people who care for one another.

Whether you are exploring Hilton Head homes for sale, Bluffton homes for sale, or Beaufort homes for sale, or have called the Lowcountry home for decades, this is an opportunity to help a local family enjoy a brighter holiday.

Choose a gift, leave it unwrapped, and bring it to a participating office by December 2. Thank you for helping us put a little more joy under the tree this year.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Toy Drive

When does Charter One Realty’s 2026 holiday toy drive end?

The donation deadline is December 2, 2026. Please deliver gifts to a participating Charter One Realty office by that date.

Where can I donate holiday toys in the Lowcountry?

Charter One Realty is accepting donations at seven participating offices across Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and downtown Beaufort. The full address list appears above.

What should I donate?

Donate new, unwrapped toys, books, games, crafts, sports equipment, or age-appropriate electronics. Gifts for ages 9–12 are especially needed. Bicycles of all sizes are also requested, preferably unassembled and accompanied by a helmet.

Which organizations receive the donations?

Donations support The Santa Shop at Deep Well, The Market at Bluffton Self Help, and HELP of Beaufort.

Should I wrap my donated gifts?

No. Please leave all gifts unwrapped so the receiving organizations can organize donations and match them with appropriate age groups.