I have been calling around all morning trying to find someone who will take our stuff. (we are moving and I have tons of baby clothes, toys and mat. clothes along with household items) Good Will will not accept items with out inspecting them and we have to drop off they won't pick up.

Diabetes Association will only pick-up Nov./Dec.

I live in a mega city, just in our subburb there are over 400,000 people and we only have one Women's Shelter run by the Salvation Army, they will only take brand new items and will only accept used stuff at their stores! Women in need have to pay the Salvation Army to buy donated stuff!

Our local municipal office did not even have a list of women's shelters available, I had to call a crisis hot line and they directed me to the Salvation Army.

I sent an email to my Dola as she works with women in need at the hospital and I'm trying to reach someone at the breast feeding clinic in hopes that they know some women who could use this stuff.

I guess my last resort will be to call our church.

Who would have thought with so many people in need that it would be so difficult to donate, I might call the local fire hall as well they might know some families in need.

I almost give up!

Any suggestions?

By Jackie on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 12:24 pm:

If nothing pains out, give it away on freecycle. Those peopel take anything, and will come right away for "Free stuff" LOL

By Heaventree on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 12:52 pm:

Jackie, isn't Freecycle a Yahoo group? I have never been able to log on to a yahoo group.

Good idea though.

Maybe I should just put an ad in the paper "Free Stuff to Give away, this Saturday only" and leave all the stuff in the driveway.

By Janet on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 01:07 pm:

I know what you mean! I live in a bitty little town, and we have to take our stuff at least 45 min. to a city, to the Goodwill. About three years ago, our church began having what we call a "Free Stuff" sale in conjunction with our town's town-wide garage sales (we are that small! LOL), where we bring our good-shape stuff to the church, we set it up like a garage sale, but anyone can take anything for any amount of donation. The donations then go to one of our missions, and what's left over goes to another mission. Everyone benefits! I've stopped trying to have garage sales and just do this. Are there any local churches or smaller bargain corner stores that would take your things? I've also read of people who just set their things out and they disappear. As long as you aren't violating any codes, that might work!

By Jackie on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 01:13 pm:

Yes, Freecycle is a yahoo group. Why cant you log onto a yahoo group?

By Missymelissy on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 01:17 pm:

Churches, Children's Aid, can you drop the stuff off at a donations box for Goodwill or Diabetes - we have them all around the city.

It is unfortunate that you aren't able to give it away with out all the hassle you are getting.

Good luck, I'm sure something will come along that you'll be able to give it away.

By Missymelissy on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 01:18 pm:

sorry, forgot to add....what about checking with the local police department also, they may know of someone who could use the stuff.

By Nicki on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 01:21 pm:

We have a local woman's shelter in our town. Our shelter always welcomes donations. Is that an option for you?

By Kate on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 01:28 pm:

Do you have a 'Volunteers of America' near you? Personally, I wouldn't Freecycle it because you'll likely get people who don't NEED it but who want to sell it. If you were to Freecycle I'd state that this is to go to a non profit charitable organization.

Also, with all this hassle, you might as well go thru with the garage sale! Just price it low and it will go.

By Heaventree on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 01:43 pm:

Melissa, Good Will where I live will not accept donations without inspecting the good first. I have too much stuff and not enough time for them to pick through my stuff. I would hate to pack up the van just for them to say "No thanks"

I will call the Canadian Diabetes Association again though, hopefully they can at least pick-up the clothing.

As for Women's shelters can you believe in a burb of over 400,000 people we have 1 shelter. Which is run by the Salvation Army. They will only accept new items at the shelter and used items at the store, so women in need have to go to the Salvation Army store to buy items that people donated. I think that sucks.

Kate, I had to laugh at "Volunteers of America" not that you would know, but I'm in Canada so the closest chapter would probably be Buffalo! LOL.

I tried calling the fire department, they will only take food donations on behalf of the Salvation Army. Seems the Salvation Army has corned the market on giving (for a price) here in our lovely town.

I did manage to finally log onto Freecycle, we'll see what happens. I don't want to give out my home address though, I'm worried about the type of people who might show up.

Keep the ideas coming and you are right for all the trouble I might as well have a garage sale.

By Kate on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 01:48 pm:

Well hey, is a drive to Buffalo that much more trouble than you're already going through?! ;o)

Do you have any pregnancy crisis centers around?

I agree with you about freecycle and your home address and such...that's why you should specify it is to go to a non profit charitable organization or a school or daycare....you'll get safer, more deserving and grateful people that way.

By Bemerry84 on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 01:51 pm:

What about daycares. When I clean out the toys and clothes I always take it to my daycare (which is in a home like Cat's), they love the donations. I have given her most of my baby stuff (stollers, booster chairs, walking toys, bouncy seat) as my children were done with them. She especially loves the toys as the kids go through them like crazy. The clothing she keeps different sizes on hand for those whose parents who don't like their kids to get dirty and sends some home with others who are less fortunate and could use good clothing. Good Luck!!

By Missymelissy on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 02:02 pm:

Heaventree, what about calling Drs offices, they may know of a family in need.

I'll keep thinking.

Email me please at

missymelissy at h o t .... . com

I may have another suggestion although it would depend on your location. Let me know in your email if you can.

By Heaventree on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 02:07 pm:

Kate you're funny.

Mary, daycare good idea! I talk to Matthew's preschool tomorrow, although Matthew might might be a bit confused as to why he can't take his toys home. LOL

Melissa, sent you an email. Thanks

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 02:17 pm:

I can't believe you're having so much trouble!

Are you not interested in selling on ebay?
I also think daycares,church nurseries, and preschools would LOVE to get some of your baby items.

Here, if you put an ad in the paper that said Baby Stuff for Free this Saturday, it would probably be cleaned out by Friday night if you had it out.

Does your church have a yearly garage sale that may be coming up? You could donate it to your church for that, if they have one.

Good luck! I can't believe it's such a pain!

By Tarable on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 02:24 pm:

You might call other churches in the area also as ask if they know of any families in need of the types of thing you have to donate. I know my old church did things for families who lost their homes in fires and stuff like that.
Also is there any homeless shelters around? Sometimes they have the need for donations also.

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 08:33 pm:

Do you have a Disable Veteran's thrift store? I know ours takes donations at any time. A women's shelter would be another great suggestion, they are always in need.

By Marcia on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 11:28 pm:

Heaven, where are you again? If you want, I can join your local freecycle and advertise your stuff, and then get the people to contact you instead of me. If you want me to, write to me at marciat at sympatico . ca

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - 04:28 pm:

Heaventree, something to think about - Purple Heart used to make pickups in our area every month - they are now only making pickups every three months because of the high price of gasoline.

By Heaventree on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - 07:18 pm:

Thanks everyone, I got rid of a pick-up load of stuff today. A young family with a 2 month old baby needed the stuff badly. Not sure what the Mom does but she is probably on mat. leave and he is a new immigrant from Trinidad and working in the tabacco fields. Very nice hard working people who are struggling, so it felt good to see that the stuff will be put to good use and is appreciated and Man OH Man did they have a cute baby, I could have eaten that child up! He had lovely brown eyes and a curly top just like Cameron.

Thanks again for all the suggestion, the rest of the stuff is just stuff so I'll drop it off at the Good Will.

Ginny, what is Purple Heart? Not sure we have that here.

By Missymelissy on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - 08:43 pm:

Glad you were able to give it to a family who is able to use it.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - 09:33 pm:

Purple Heart is run by the Purple Heart Foundation. I don't know if they are in your area, and I never heard of them until I moved outside the city. But, they run thrift shops and the money goes to the foundation to help Purple Heart veterans. For me, because it is a charitable, tax-exempt organization, it means I get a tax deduction for what I donate - and they pick it up, which means less work for me.

By Bemerry84 on Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 09:24 am:

Purple Heart just picked up 3 huge garbage bags of stuff at my yesterday. They call me every three months and tell me what day they'll be in our neighborhood and to leave anything on the front porch. Workd for me. I think it may only be in the States as the purple heart is an award given to soldiers for bravery, I believe. I am so glad you were able to give your stuff to people who really need it. I'm sure they are thanking God right now for people like you.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 09:57 am:

I know you have gotten "rid" of most of the stuff but encase someone else might read this thread needing ideas.

Our battered women shelter is run the same way, new donations or the ladies have to go through Salvation Army. But they don't pay for the items. They get a voucher that is for a set amount of merchandise, like five pair of jeans, etc... They do this because they would have to have storage for the amount of donations that would be dropped off and this just isn't possible.. Think about the different sizes they would be needing to have on hand. Much better to take them (the families) to the Salvation Army and pick out what would fit and what they would wear.

BUT, I do know that are homeless shelter does have a clothing closet but they only accept controlled amounts. If they run low on something they go to the Salvation Army and are given free merchandise to restock the items. So doesn't our Catholic Church and a Baptist Church here in town. Both "stores" are opened once a week and both stores give away free items to the people that come in. Their logic is, if you are willing to go into a free shop you must really need the stuff. Most of the other churches around town suggest donating to the stores. And we have a couple others that have food pantries, that all the local churches donate to also.. Basically, if everything is in a couple of places instead of all over town the people know who to go to for help..

As hard as it is to find someone to take the stuff, I think it is twice as hard to find someone/some place that is willing to just give things in need away..

By Imamommyx4 on Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 05:51 pm:

At the hospital where I work, the psychiatric unit is always requesting donations for adult clothing in decent condition. Alot of those patients are admitted in the middle of the night with just p.j.s and won't have family members that will bring in more for them.

Also, our pediatric unit asks for donations for gently used children's toys to keep sick kids occupied while they are in the hospital. They will take almost anything as long as all of the parts are there.