Catholic Charities Opens St. Cloud Toys for Tots Registration

Families in St. Cloud and nearby communities can now register children for the holiday toy program, but only in person this year.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Philanthropy

Red brick building entrance with a wooden door and bare maple branches overhead on a late autumn day.
Catholic Charities opened in-person-only registration on November 2, 2026, for its St. Cloud Toys for Tots program at 157 Roosevelt Road. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should local charities require in-person sign-up for holiday toy programs?

Catholic Charities opened in-person-only registration for the St. Cloud area Toys for Tots program on November 2, 2026, at its Emergency Services office at 157 Roosevelt Road. The program serves children from newborns through age 14 who live with a parent or legal guardian in St. Cloud and surrounding communities.

Why it matters

Catholic Charities is using a new software system for registration and asking residents to come into its building to sign up, which changes how families apply for the holiday program. Children enrolled through the program cannot be enrolled in any other holiday assistance program.

The program serves children from newborns through age 14 with no income test, and Catholic Charities has offered it for more than 20 years. Registration closes December 11, 2026, and the total number of families expected to register was not reported.

The players

Catholic Charities

A faith-based social service organization that has run the St. Cloud Toys for Tots registration program for more than 20 years.

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve

The military reserve branch that partners with the St. Cloud Toys for Tots program to collect and distribute toys.

Valhalla Detachment of the Minnesota Marine Corps League

A local veterans' chapter of the Marine Corps League that partners with the St. Cloud Toys for Tots program.

The details

Parents or guardians must bring a valid government-issued photo ID, mail or a bill showing their current address, and a birth certificate or other government document for each child. Legal guardians may provide official guardianship documents in place of a birth certificate.

Timeline

  1. November 2, 2026: Registration opened at Catholic Charities Emergency Services.

  2. December 11, 2026: Final day for family registration.

  3. December 15, 17, or 22, 2026: Approved families are assigned toy shopping days.

Market Landscape

The St. Cloud program follows the national Toys for Tots model run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, in which donated toys are shared among local chapters. Donated toys here are distributed among Catholic Charities and other area programs, including one at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Families must register in person at 157 Roosevelt Road by December 11 and bring photo ID, proof of address, and birth certificates or guardianship papers. Children who are enrolled cannot also receive other holiday assistance from the same period.

The takeaway

Parents who plan to use the program should gather all required documents before visiting in person, since missing paperwork can delay registration for families seeking holiday toys for their children.

What happens next

Approved families will be assigned toy shopping days of December 15, 17, or 22, 2026, after registration closes December 11.

Further reading

For more on charitable giving and holiday programs in the region, explore Philanthropy coverage.

Source note: This article includes information reported by KNSI.

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Should local charities require in-person sign-up for holiday toy programs?