Radio Free Cybertron’s 15th annual Toys for Tots drive.
Kickoff October 7 · Final drop-off December 9
You know that toy. The one that’s been on the peg since spring, the one every collector walks past, the one that’s been marked down so many times the sticker has sediment layers.
That toy is exactly what some kid would love this holiday.
Elf on a Shelf Warmer turns dead pegs into presents. Buy a shelf warmer, drop it in a Toys for Tots box, and tell the world about it. That’s the whole thing.
It doesn’t have to be Transformers. Any new toy counts, from any line or brand. If it’s warming a shelf, it’s fair game.
How it works
- Hunt. Find a toy nobody’s buying. Clearance aisles and closeout stores are prime hunting grounds.
- Drop. Put it in any Toys for Tots box.
- Snap. Take a picture and post it with #elfonashelfwarmer.
Three ways to give
1. Buy it and drop it off yourself.
This is the best option. Your toy goes straight to a kid in your own community.
2. Donate a sealed piece from your collection.
Got something still in the box that you are, let’s be honest, never opening? It costs you nothing, it clears shelf space, and it makes a kid’s whole morning. Move the dead weight out of your collection for good.
3. No box nearby? Use the wishlist.
Order from our Amazon wishlist and it ships straight to Brian, who drops it off locally. RFC takes no referral fees on wishlist purchases. Not a dime.
Where to hunt
Anywhere toys go to be ignored:
- Ollie’s
- Five Below
- TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross
- Clearance endcaps at Walmart and Target
- Online clearance counts too
The store doesn’t need to have a drop box. Buy it anywhere and drop it somewhere else.
Where to drop it off
Any Toys for Tots box works. Retailers and local businesses host them, along with banks, gyms, offices, and restaurants. Locations change by chapter and by year, so check your local list:
Find your local Toys for Tots chapter → “Find Your Local Chapter” → pick your state and city or county. Your chapter’s site lists its drop-off spots.
Boxes hit major distribution in November. In October, start hunting and set things aside.
The 2026 calendar
- October 7 — Kickoff. Start hunting. Keep an eye on clearance and set aside those sealed pieces.
- November — The big push. Boxes are everywhere. Go drop it off, then post the photo.
- December 9 — Final round. Last call. If you’re ordering from the wishlist, order early so it arrives before Brian’s last drop-off.
Before you donate: the rules
Toys for Tots has a few rules, and collectors should know them:
- New and unwrapped only. Sealed collection pieces qualify.
- No realistic-looking weapons. Anything with a realistic gun mode gets pulled and won’t reach a kid. (Vintage-style Megatron, we’re looking at you.) If you’re not sure, ask your local chapter.
- No gifts that include food.
- Don’t forget the older kids. Most chapters serve kids up to age 12, and some go older. Pre-teens and teens are the hardest group to shop for, which makes them prime territory for collector-grade figures and model kits.
Full details are in the Toys for Tots FAQ.
Snap it. Tag it.
Every donation photo is free advertising for a good cause. Post yours, whether the toy is in your cart, in your hand, or going into the bin, with #elfonashelfwarmer on any platform.
We search that tag every week. Your photo might end up on the show, and your name might get a shout-out.
15 years of clearing pegs
RFC has run a holiday toy drive every year since 2012. It started as Operation Beehive on the show’s 13th anniversary episode. That was Rob Springer’s idea for pegs clogged with unsold Transformers Prime Bumblebees: give them to kids who’d actually love them.
Over the years it’s gone by other names, including Operation Better You and Operation Combination. In 2019, listener Mark Alley won an on-air naming contest with Elf on a Shelf Warmer, a name that fits any toy on any shelf.
Fifteen years later, the shelves are still warm, and so is the idea.
Other ways to help
Second Chance Toys rescues gently used plastic toys and gets them to kids in need. It’s a good home for toys that aren’t new enough for Toys for Tots.
Quick links
- Find a drop-off box: toysfortots.org
- Amazon wishlist (ships to Brian): tfradio.net/elf
- Donation rules: Toys for Tots FAQ
- Share your donation: #elfonashelfwarmer
Find a shelf warmer. Make a kid’s holiday. Tag us.