OT: how to get rid of kids stuff

[Scarlett]

We are planning to clean up our closets. We have lots of outgrown young kids toys, books and clothes in good shape. We could give them to Goodwill or have the Amvets pick it up. Any other suggestions? E.g. to donate directly to kids with hardships, victims etc. I was also curious if anybody has experience selling like-new fancy kids outfits to second-hand clothes stores or other places. Finally, what do people do with stuffed animals??? We have a full menagerie, but many places don’t accept them.

thanks!

[Coronita]

Funny you should ask. I was just doing this today.

For fancy/expensive clothes (I didn’t have many), I put them on sale for ebay.

For plain clothes in good condition, I just held on to them to give away to friends who are having kids.

For clothes not in good condition, I use them as rag to mop the floor.

I don’t donate clothes in poor condition to Goodwill/Salvation army because I believe it just gets tossed out. Also, I don’t know what the overhead these organizations are, but I figure better to do a handme down to other folks I know.

Regarding toys, baby stuff, stuff that my kid has outgrown that are inexpensive, I usually just sell them or give them away on craigslist. There’s usually either a single parent on a tight budget or a self-run daycare that might be interested. Most of the stuff were free hands-me-down from neighbors, like a playpen, activity center,etc, I just list on craigslist for free.

For things like strollers, high chairs,etc, I either craiglist them with a meaningful small amount. I don’t resell car seats for liability issues.

The thing that I usually try to resell the most (50% original price) are the security gates, because those don’t really depreciate with age…..

For books, I donate used books either to the elementary school, her old preschool, the library, or if no one wants them, just use them as target practice.

But be forewarn..Craiglists, you often deal with the wierdest cheapest people on the face of the earth…

Just today, I listed a jogging stroller for 20 bucks (not that I’m really trying to make money off of this). I had 5 people interested, but I had to be nice and pick the first guy who ultimately was the biggest pain in the ass. First off, he shows up late in the day after work. Then he looks at the stroller for like 30 minutes!!!! Pointing out, this is bad, this is not good, the wheels have a little side rust, the front wheel isn’t turnable, can I clean it, yada yada yada.. I was thinking like “dude” it’s 20 bucks for a fvcking jogging stroller…to which i ended up just telling him after he annoyed me “Look, we’ve been out here for 30mins, I’m freezing my ass off, and I need to get back to work. The stroller is as is, if you don’t want it, I don’t mind. There’s 4 other people that want it….Make your decision now…”

The dude continues to go off on this is wrong that is wrong, and finally says “but how about $15 instead….” I was thinking, you have to be fvcking kidding me right? I’ve been out there for 1/2 hr over 5 bucks. To which I said , “you’re kidding right? We’ve been talking about this for 1/2 hr over $5????Dude, look at my car. It’s $80 for me to fill up each time… Do you think I’m trying to make a living off of this?”

Dead silence.. To which I then said, fine you know $15 is fine. I was that close to just saying no, just because you he was such a pain in the ass. But at the same time, I don’t want to spend the next 1/2 entertaining 4 other people who probably think the same way….

Anyway, craigslist…Love it and hate it.

Well, so today I gave away free stuff and gave someone a $5 discount so he can be happy going home… Looks like the $15 is going into a lotto ticket for Weds’ draw 🙂

[UCGal]

I’m a big believer in hand me downs. We accepted hand me down clothes/toys when the kids were younger, and paid it forward to co-workers kids.

Our crib was a really nice hand me down from a former co-worker. When we were through with it after 2 kids, we gave it to another coworker who’s wife was expecting their first kid, his 3rd kid is in it.

When I go through the boys drawers to clean out old clothes I make 3 piles:
– Good stuff
– play clothes (perhaps some stains, but lots of wear left).
– trash… clothes that are badly stained, worn out, or otherwise not worth anything.

The trash pile gets turned into rags.
The Good stuff gets passed on to friends or to the younger kid.
Everything else gets donated to Salvation Army or Alliance for Africa.

Toys get passed on or donated to Salvation Army or Alliance for Africa. I like both organizations because they have extremely low overhead. Not a lot of fat at the top.

(Disclaimer – family member was on the board for Alliance. I know from meeting some of the refugee families they help that even the less pristine stuff WILL get used. If you have nothing, even slightly stained clothes are an improvement.)
http://alliance-for-africa.org/programs.php

[Rhett]

Good suggestions, many of them Scarlett and I already employ, but I want to focus on one thing:

Stuffed animals

Unless they are wrapped, it seems that almost nobody takes them any more. We’ve got dozens upon dozens of very, very lightly used stuffed animals, and it seems that the only place they can go is the trash. I find this quite sad.

[Coronita]

[quote=Rhett]Good suggestions, many of them Scarlett and I already employ, but I want to focus on one thing:

Stuffed animals

Unless they are wrapped, it seems that almost nobody takes them any more. We’ve got dozens upon dozens of very, very lightly used stuffed animals, and it seems that the only place they can go is the trash. I find this quite sad.[/quote]

Edit…

http://www.stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org/

[Rhett]

[quote=flu]http://www.stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org/[/quote]

Thanks. I found them when doing an online hunt a while back. Unfortunately, the nearest chapter is Long Beach. A few years ago, the Marines were taking gently used stuff animals, but they stopped doing that.

[UCGal]

[quote=Rhett]Good suggestions, many of them Scarlett and I already employ, but I want to focus on one thing:

Stuffed animals

Unless they are wrapped, it seems that almost nobody takes them any more. We’ve got dozens upon dozens of very, very lightly used stuffed animals, and it seems that the only place they can go is the trash. I find this quite sad.[/quote]
Give a call to Alliance for Africa. They set up refugee families (so kids too) in homes. They are always looking for toys…

USA Headquarters
5952 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego CA. 92115
Tel: (619) 286-9052
Fax: (619) 286-9053
Email: [email protected]

http://alliance-for-africa.org/contact.php

They took a (very ugly) sofa bed that was rejected by a few other organizations – because they knew they could set up a family in need with more sleeping spots. As long as it’s bug free and not torn, they seem willing to take most things.

[Scarlett]

Thank you! Those are very useful suggestions.
We’ll definitely check out Alliance for Africa. As for other kids, it seems all our friends/coworkers have had kids already…It’s good to know Salvation army has a small overhead.

Flu, we had similar experience with you in the craigslist.:). That site for stuffed animals – we could mail them or drop them on of our Orange County trips.

[Hobie]

I make the drive to Camp Pendleton and give to their thrift store.

http://sandiego.networkofcare.org/veterans/resource/agencydetail.cfm?pid=ThriftShopCampPendletonNavyMarineCorpsReliefSocietySanDiego_870_17_0&ageGrp=

The Marines have a resource center whereby they give food and stuff to needy Marines. Diapers are always welcomed.

It is in a different building than the thrift store which they can show you better than I to describe here.

It will bring a tear to your eye to know little these soldiers are paid and how appreciative they are and mind you, they never complain.

Navy has similar programs in National City base.

[CA renter]

Father Joe’s also takes childrens’ items. They sell them at their thrift stores and also use them for the children who live there.

When we were donating a bunch of stuff, I was hauling some pretty thrashed toys to the trash (don’t donate the thrashed stuff), and the drivers insisted on taking it because they will repair it and use it there.

They have quite a few families staying at Father Joe’s Villages.

http://my.neighbor.org/page.aspx?pid=389

[Scarlett]

Has anybody donated directly to a shelter or a organization for disabled kids or suffering from some condition, or for victims of child abuse, homeless, etc.?

[Author]

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