some advice on donating some toys for xmas

[DamnBamboo]

Hello,

need some advice really and after discussing it with my husband, who also wasn't sure, I thought I check here.

We are going to have a good clear out of the children's toys before Christmas. We have three DS and in addition to Christmas, two of them have birthday's in Nov and Dec and they are very fortunate in that they get a lot of nice things from our large family and also from friends! We really need to clear some space and have a lot of good quality toys, electronic and otherwise, some of which I think should go due to them having grown out of them a little, but also because we want to make space.

We would like to do something for a good cause and I would happily donate these items if I knew they were going to go to those in need, but because i continually hear about unscrupulous people on freecycle etc. and don't really know what else to do with them. There is no local organisation that I can donate them to and I don't want to give them to the local toddler groups since they get enough and the toys are of good enough quality that, I know somebody would be happy to rewrap and give to a child who might otherwise get very little.

I am wondering if somebody suggest/give me ideas how to go about this.

I know this is not an AIBU but I need some ideas fast since I need to get this all done over the next few days.

thanks

[TheMonster]

Argos are currently collecting toy donations for barnados. Pus you get a five pound voucher when you donate some. Then you get a fiver off thirty five pounds spent on new toys for Christmas.

[lisad123]

Local woman's refuge? Children's centre? Social services or local preschool.
If you can't do that, you could post then here and there's a local SN school I'm a trustee of I'm certain would love them and also the cc I work for too.

[yellowsubmarine53]

Children's ward of local hospital (plastic, easy to clean ones)?

Charity shop of your choice?

Hostel which houses families?

[DamnBamboo]

Did think about the charity shops but they overprice the stuff they sell on and whilst it's great for a charity to make money, I'd rather it just went to someone a little short of money who won't be able to afford charity shop mark-ups.

Local children's ward has so many nice things already...

Don't know of any hostels near here either.

Again, would like to give them as Christmas gifts to children who may not get any rather than to toddler groups etc.

Maybe will look into women's refuge... can't believe I didn't think of that.

Didn't know about Argos either.

thanks

[Pictureperfect]

I posted the other day about sending cards or gifts to seriously ill children and their brother or sisters at Post Pals www.postpals.co.uk

[LadyMaryChristmas]

I donate ds's to the local children's hospital. I know that they have nice things, people steal them though. (I used to work there) What about play groups or social services? They will be able to give them to children who have very little.

[sashh]

Ask your local refuge. The salvation army give toys to needy children so that might be an option.

[SavoyCabbage]

I found a woman's refuge when I wanted to do this. My dds birthdays are both in the run up to christmas too.I asked at the doctor's. I used to work in a primary school with a refuge in its catchment. Some of the children had nothing at all as they fled their homes. It was heartbreaking.

Refuges are not always easy to find but it can be done,

[Pictureperfect]

I didn't think children's hospitals accepted second hand toys these days no matter how clean or nice they are. I brought a few things and made some gifts for my local refuge one Christmas and got sent a card made by a child in one of the refuges (obviously didn't have their name on or anything)

[deXavia]

I'll probably get shot down by the bringing church into this but when we moved abroad we faced a similar problem - including big items like scooters, bikes and even some baby things (moses basket etc). I contacted a local church who I knew from the local magazine and ads in shop windows, was very active in the community and who are based in a fairly low income neighbourhood. I rang them up and explained the situation. They were delighted and explained that they ran a lot of groups for the community with no active push of relegion but just as the right (or in their eyes the Christian) thing to do. I'm not relegious at all - although probably more agnostic than aethist so had no problems doing this and I felt comfortable it would go to local people who genuinely needed it.

[AnnaKissed]

There are lots of groups on Facebook, usually called something like buy/swap/sell in (your town). I gave away some very old and cheap furniture that way. In my experience the people who responded were on very low incomes.

[AnnaKissed]

Sorry I meant buy /swap/ for free

[lovelyladuree]

The Salvation Army will pass them on to families who really really need them. Contact your local branch.

[avivabeaver]

ladymary- i know what you mean about stuff being stolen. I donated a whole box of toddler books to the local surgery. a week later there were exactly 3 of them left!

[avivabeaver]

would also suggest the local church. I am not religious in any way shape or form, but our local Baptist church does a fantastic, no strings attached service for people with low incomes. They run a food bank and identify families in need from this and also via referrals from schools/local authority. They assess what the family need and drop them to the doorstep. They probably could find a very decent home for your stuff.

[Jen547]

Women's refuges are not allowed to publish their address so your best bet is to contact a charity like women's aid or your local council and they can arrange somewhere for you to drop them off to be taken to the refuge by staff. My sister works in a refuge and they would love something like this, very generous of you!

[DamnBamboo]

Thanks all. Some more good ideas. Will look into postpals.
My middle son had his 5th birthday today and got some lovely things. It will make it easier getting him to choose things to give away
I will look into a women's refuge and see if they want them.

Thanks for the suggestions.