Each year we have businesses and organizations who host collection boxes at different locations around the greater Orlando area or at their holiday parties. You can also donate online through our Amazon Wish List page or our the donation portal for monetary gifts (each $25 gift counts as one STEM gift towards our goal).

Use the menu to find locations and events to drop off gifts, or contact us (STEMGiftDrive@gmail.com or 407-608-9242) and we can help.

Our big – and final – collection event is called Elfing Day, where we will host a collection tent and donors can drive through to drop off items collected by groups or business – or bring their individual donations.

Our volunteers work throughout the year to create a meaningful drive during our six week campaign period that begins on November 1st.

There are many ways you can help:

• Businesses, organizations, communities, and more can host collections to support the STEM Gift Drive or can invite us to a holiday gathering or party.
• We would love to have interested people serve on our Campaign Committee
• There are opportunities to volunteer such as assisting with outreach, marketing, networking, and more.

Just contact us for information, or visit our Host a Drive or Volunteer information page on the menu.

No. This drive is for new items in original, sealed packaging.

If you have used STEM-themed items that you want to donate and aren’t sure where they will be accepted, please connect with us and we’ll help find a non-profit or thrift store that would be able to accept it and would align with your values.

Absolutely! Especially science-themed gift wrap or bags would be great!

All gifts must be unwrapped or in open gift bags. Charities need to be able to inspect items before giving them to kids & families.

Our focus is middle & high school. Donations in most gift drives tend to be for younger kids – the older kids get left out. So we want to bring in a majority of items for middle & high school level youth.

However, younger kids also don’t get a lot of STEM-related gifts. If you can, include a gift for younger children with your gift for middle and high school level youth. The Boys and Girls Clubs serve younger youth, too, so these gifts will benefit the charity.

No. We collect gifts for our partner charit(ies) according to our MOU agreement(s).

If a family contacts us we can direct them to the non-profit(s) we work with so they can find out if they are eligible to participate in gift programs.

If you are in financial difficulty a great resource is United Way 2-1-1.
You dial it on your phone just like “911”. Or you can visit their website, https://uwcf.org/about-2-1-1/

We do not accept gifts that proselytize or promote any religious tradition. Please see our Diversity Statement for more information.

Examples:

YES: A book STEM-themed book featuring a female scientist in a Hijab on the cover

NO: Religious toys, games, or books including Bible, Qur’an, Torah, etc.

No. There are many celebrations and observances during the Giving Season for many religious, secular, and spiritual traditions. We host most of our events & marketing through the holiday Giving Season. December is the biggest gift-giving month, with savings and sales opportunities for donors and the holiday spirit – whatever holiday you celebrate – to inspire us all to make a difference together.

The gifts are given to the partner charity on Elfing Day. Some gifts may be used for holiday giving; others may be distributed through, or used as part of, the STEM program throughout the following year. This is at the discretion of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida.

Non-profits must be established and have a proven track record of positive impact. They must serve at-risk youth in the community.

We currently partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida.

No. We are a volunteer group & have an MOU with our partner charity.

Currently, all gifts and donations through the STEM Gift Drive are for Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida, EIN 59-0951887.

Yes. We provide a donation form (located on the What to Give page, or you can email us and we will send it to you). When you include this form with your gifts, BGCCF will send you a receipt for your donation.

0% – Our volunteers do not receive any compensation or reimbursement for expenses. Our time and resources are voluntarily given to support the STEM Gift Drive efforts. 100% of gifts are given directly to BGCCF for distribution to youth. Our financial giving portal is directly through the BGCCF giving page and funds through our portal are earmarked for STEM Programming.

While the charity does have its own operating and administrative expenses, all gifts collected in the STEM Gift Drive simply go directly to youth in their programs.

If you’d like to learn more about BGCCF, visit:

• Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services “Check a Charity” page
• Charity Navigator (BGCCF is a Four Star rated charity)
• GuideStar / Candid
• IRS Search (enter EIN 59-0951887)