That time of the year has arrived again.
A time for generosity. A time for giving. A time that residents, businesses and organizations have always shown their very best side through their holiday spirit and care for their neighbors.
It is time for the 2026 Toy for Joy campaign.
The 104th year of the campaign is an enduring tribute to the people of the Pioneer Valley and Western Massachusetts. But never has the need been greater than it is today, with families in need looking at their higher grocery bills and fuel costs — and facing the heartbreak of wondering if their children will be denied the Christmas gifts that not only brighten their faces but can help form a positive outlook for their lives ahead.
Is there a better way to ensure that our young people of today will share their community spirit with others in the next generation than to show them that spirit in their time of need? And in fact, many past Toy for Joy donors were once recipients who never forgot what the generosity of others meant to them.
The Salvation Army is once again sponsoring this year’s drive. It is again being promoted and supported by The Republican, Reminder Publishing, MassLive and El Pueblo Latino. And this year, we are joined by a new ally: Western Mass News, which has joined the Toy for Joy team to deliver this important message to as many people as possible.
The 2026 campaign goal is $100,000. It is an ambitious but reachable target. Reaching it will ensure that no one among the hundreds of families and thousands of children who rely on Toy for Joy will be left out.
Last year, more than 1,600 families and 4,300 children were served. In these challenging economic times, the need and demand is even greater than ever.
The Salvation Army monitors the campaign from its Corps Community Centers in Springfield, Holyoke and Greenfield. Volunteers from many agencies and organizations, notably though not only the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, offer support in distributing gifts to registered, qualified applicants.
The campaign that begins today ends on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Those seven weeks fly by, so donors are encouraged to make their contribution of any size in the early weeks, getting those funds into the Toy for Joy pipeline before the busiest part of the holiday season is underway.
Every dollar goes to the thousands of deserving children, age 16 and under, in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. The thrill of receiving age-appropriate toys, books and games through this campaign warms the hearts of recipients — and donors — every single year.
Contributions may be mailed to the address shown on the coupon that accompanies this story. It’s The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 971, Springfield, MA, 01101.
For online donations, donors can use the general link salvationarmyma.org/toyforjoy.
Donors will be listed and recognized on a weekly basis at thereminder.com/toy-for-joy-donors. Pickup times for registered applicants will be reported in future stories.
Toy for Joy is one of New England’s most enduring examples of generosity, community spirit and the joy of giving. Your support, with donations of any size, will ensure that the 104th edition of this tradition will again make Christmas a joyous one for families throughout our region, in the truest spirit of the season.