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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone has any idea where I can donate toys etc?

26 replies

Tallaween · 16/11/2013 21:16

With Christmas coming up I am planning to do a large sort out of all DDs toys and etc. She has far too so many and a lot of them have had very little use or have been outgrown (and being designed for toddlers are showing practically no wear).

She has also reached an age - soon to be six- where she is beginning to understand that she is very lucky, and that there are a lot of children who do not have the opportunities or access to materiel things that she does.

So I would like to get her involved in the sorting and, if possible, donate all of her 'baby' toys etc so that they can go to children who might otherwise not get much/anything for Christmas.

I normally take her old things to the charity shop but I have noticed that the things that are like new aren't sold particularly cheaply (Oxford) which kind of defeats the point of what we would like to do.

There will be all sorts of things soft toys, plastic/wooden toddler toys, books, DVD's etc.

Any ideas of where I can take them would be much appreciated, or tell me if it's a crap idea and charity shop it is Grin

OP posts:
Justforlaughs · 16/11/2013 21:21

Why not approach your local health visitor or food bank - they might have some ideas.

sara11272 · 16/11/2013 21:21

How about your local women's refuge? They might be grateful of them as there are usually lots of children of all ages there.

Justforlaughs · 16/11/2013 21:21

And it's not a crap idea at all!

Twoandtwomakeschaos · 16/11/2013 21:23

In our city there is a charity with organises the gifting of new/like new/nearly new toys to children at Christmas; is there an equivalent in Oxford?

Twoandtwomakeschaos · 16/11/2013 21:23

Oh, and, no, it's a great idea!

LoganMummy · 16/11/2013 21:24

Argos have a toy swap running at the moment but I don't know if that's what you're after.

I know that Action for Children and Shelter/Shelter Scotland will gladly take donations for families they work with.

Nanny0gg · 16/11/2013 21:25

Also, local children's hospital, maternity units (the one where my DGC were born has manky toys for them to play with during pre-natal appts).
Toddler groups.

Brilliant idea (our local hospital was very pleased) but soft toys maybe not as they need cleaning, and stuff with batteries can be a pain. They're best to charity shops I would think.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 16/11/2013 21:26

our church hall toddler group is equipped pretty much exclusively with outgrown donated toys

redcaryellowcar · 16/11/2013 21:27

Health visitors in west sussex area work with rotary club especially at christmas to ensure families have christmas presents, might be worth giving rotary club a call, as i imagine this happens elsewhere?

Original poster
Tallaween · 16/11/2013 21:45

Thank you.

I hadn't thought of the women's refuge so I will definitely look into that. And the rotary club too.

Hopefully DD will 'enjoy' helping me sort things out as well Confused

OP posts:
FTRsGotAShinyNewNN · 16/11/2013 21:56

I'd also suggest women refuges or your local children's hospital.
It's a lovely thing to do and a good way to teach your DD about doing things for others.

TheGinLushMinion · 16/11/2013 21:58

Yep,local children's hospital/hospice is always a good idea

PitstopPetunia · 16/11/2013 22:03

I tried taking some bags of toys to the charity shop today but was told by each of the four charity shops I tried to donate them to that they weren't taking any toys as they had too many already. They didn't check the toys out at all (it was all decent quality stuff) they just weren't interested in toys of any description.

So much for my de-cluttering attempt! Presumably everyone's been having a clear out in readiness for Xmas.

Mosschops30 · 16/11/2013 22:14

We use the Salvation Army to provide toys and items to families all year round.
Also action for children or local homeless hostels.

Princessgenie · 16/11/2013 22:14

Do you have a local Surestart centre. We take all my DD's clothes there as they have a lot of families that desperately need some help. They woul probably be able to distribute them for you.

AbbyLou · 16/11/2013 22:43

Ds (8) has had lots of problems with his eyes and was under the Opthalmic Department at our local hospital until about a year ago. He first started going when he was 13 months. He spent many appointments in their waiting area playing with rather a poor selection of toys/books. One day when we were sorting out some of his old stuff, he must have been about 5, he suggested giving them to the department. I was really proud of him for thinking of them - he knew some of the younger toys there were very worn out. I rang to ask if they would like them and they did. On his next appointment we took three binbags of lovely toys and books and they were so appreciative. It was really nice on future appointments to see the younger children playing with them and ds felt so proud. The department wrote him a lovely letter (they asked me if it was ok) to say thank you which I thought was a lovely gesture.

PerpendicularVince · 16/11/2013 22:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Tallaween · 16/11/2013 22:50

Oh I have loads of old clothes too (mine and hers) I might have a look through those and see if there is anything nice I can donate alongside.

OP posts:
WalkingtoFarAhead · 16/11/2013 22:59

DD1 donated her toys to the Ophthalmology Clinic in the hospital.

DD1 has spent ages there every month with me and she has saw the toys getting worse. (I go monthly and stay for a few hours and have done for 4 years and will continue to do so until I don't need my eyes anymore)

It is nice to see the children play with her old toys and DD loves playing with them when we go. :)

Zorra · 16/11/2013 23:01

If you're in Oxford try Donnington Doorstep as they can either gift it to a family who need it, put it into general use in the drop-in play bit, or sell it on and use the money for the centre. It's a brilliant place, I would have been lost without it!

Monty27 · 16/11/2013 23:03

Women's refuge, children's charities, churches that do a christmas thing for kids. I took a load down to the local children's ward of the hospital.

DameDeepRedBetty · 16/11/2013 23:06

There's a huge collection of toys going on here at the moment (NE Wilts)

Any good?

Oldraver · 16/11/2013 23:44

I have to say...Oxford Childrens Hospital didnt used to accept any second hand toys at all

Original poster
Tallaween · 16/11/2013 23:57

No I think I tried to donate some stuff to the JR before, DD has been there a lot and they did say only new toys. They were nice about it though.

No matter, sounds like there's plenty of other options out there.

OP posts:
flyingspaghettimonster · 17/11/2013 05:01

I Set up a free toy giveaway via craigslist - you could do the same on a local free website... I asked other people to donate their gently used kids toys over two weeks. I sorted and cleaned all the donations and then set up a free yard sale for families that had missed the deadline for toysfortots or been laid off right before Christmas. All the small items I put in a huge box along with candy and chocolate, and I bought dollar tree stockings and hung them around the edge for the parents to fill with the small items. Then they each got to pick age appropriate free gifts - I used clear gift bags and bows to keep the parts to each play set together and make the parents feel less like it was a second hand gift. I had also taken details for the older siblings who were too old for toys for tots... Some people that contacted me wanted to help financially so I was able to pass on details for skateboards and iTunes vouchers. It was a huge success, we helped 50 struggling families with Christmas and it was so much better than selling all the toys.