To ask you to consider Women's Aid

[terrierist]

when you have children's clothes/toys to donate to charity.

I recently ventured onto the relationships board when a thread I was watching was moved there and have had my eyes opened to what some ladies and their DCs go through and how WA help them. On one thread the OP mentioned donating things to them as ladies often arrive with nothing but the clothes they are wearing.

I've been lucky enough to lead an uneventful life and, whilst I realised that refuges existed, it had never occurred to me that people escaping abusive situations don't necessarily have time to pack a bag.

As I had a fairly large item which I ordered in error and was unable to return I went on the WA website (find a local service section) and called the number to see if it was of use to them. I was put in contact with the local refuge (48 years in this town and I didn't know it existed!) and have just got home from dropping some things off. The lovely ladies that worked there told me they are particularly in need of children's toys/clothes, towels and ladies toiletries.

All charity shops need donations to sell to raise money, but through WA you can give your unwanted items directly to the people who desperately need them. Please consider them next time you have stuff to give away.

I did this last Christmas when I accidentaly bought duplicates of a Brio train set. I also got some other things from Amazon and took them to the local refuge as emergency gifts for any DC who might arrive over Christmas.

Our local women's aid collects practically anything and everything. So far we have donated kitchen equipment (saucepans, plates, plastic containers, cutlery, mugs, glasses); a cot and cot mattress; a futon; books and magazines; nail polish and samples of make up and perfume; garden stuff including seeds and pots; cds; DVDs; as well as the usual children's and women's clothes. They are always very grateful for all the buts and pieces.

Im glad people do this may I make a suggestion if you are buying to donate then the best thing is nickers. It sounds silly but people dont like second hand knickers and when I stayed in one as a teenager I had to wash my knickers out by hand and dry them each night for a we had to wait a week for benefits to be sorted.

Its really horrid having no clean knickers.

sorry should say each night for a week.

If anyone is donating toiletries, can you please throw in some sanitary towels and tampons. I work a lot with WA through my job and every refuge likes to have a supply for women who turn up in crisis and obviously haven't taken time to pack the essentials.

Oh yes please do! I will be donating something small this year at Xmas as they helped me out so much last year.

I have a PS2 my Dc do not play with either so am handing that in, hopefully it can be used in our local shelter.

When I lived in Bulgaria the Expat women's association used to collect hotel toiletries to pass on to a women's refuge. We used to make up little packs of shower gel, shampoo, soap etc and they would give them to women who arrived.

Underwear is a great idea.

You can also give stuff to Hostels for the Homeless if you have one in your area, they are always grateful as families/individuals often end up there at very short notice . I second the idea of sanitary items - also needed at Food Banks.

Thanks OP for bringing this up! My eyes have recently been opened to the needs of the women and children who rely on Women's Aid and I will certainly be donating once I'm in a position to. A very worthy cause.