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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be annoyed i cant find somewhere to donate clothes

36 replies

gingerbreadmam · 29/01/2015 09:21

i have some clothes i no longer wear as does my dp. we recently moved and dont have the room to keep them so i want to donate them to someone who would benefit from them. also have lots of smelly sets and part used perfume. theyre all good condition some hardly or never worn.

its not as easy as i had hoped. my first thoughts was a childrens home, most stuff be suitable for older teens and then i picked up the idea on here for domestic violence organisations for people that have had to leave their homes. i contacted two local organisations and have not even received a response.

when i was younger i didnt have a lot, big family, i used to get a lot of hand me downs and loved them and would like to give someone else the same joy.

anyone have any ideas?

OP posts:
Hennightpanic · 29/01/2015 09:22

Charity shop?

Theselittlelightsofmine · 29/01/2015 09:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Waitingonasunnyday · 29/01/2015 09:23

Yabu as you can just take them to a charity shop. Double benefit as someone gets to buy affordable new to them clothes, and the charity gets money (you can gift aid for extra benefit too).

ghostyslovesheep · 29/01/2015 09:23

you could try your local SS dept - older care leavers often need clothes and toiletries

or try a charity shop

SuburbanRhonda · 29/01/2015 09:24

Contact Social Services - Google the number for your area.

Or the Salvation Army if there is one nearby.

FarFromAnyRoad · 29/01/2015 09:24

Clothing bank? We have them at all the major supermarkets - you can choose to support various charities this way - Salvation Army, Breast Cancer care - that sort of thing. I've just disposed of my late mother's clothes like this.
Part used perfumes always do well on ebay.

LadyLuck10 · 29/01/2015 09:25

Yanbu, it's amazing how picky some places are! I had two suitcases full of clothes including the suitcases and phoned around for places and it was so difficult to get someone to take it.

Mel0Drama · 29/01/2015 09:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scater · 29/01/2015 09:33

I understand it's annoying but lots of places like refuges and hostels don't have much storage space so if they have recently had a few clothing donations may not be able to take more.

A charity shop is a good bet I think.

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 29/01/2015 09:35

i know charity shops donate takings to charity but tbh i always find they over price everything. i know that makes sense as its all for a good cause but a lot of people that shop in charity shops (not all) are there because things are cheaper than normal shops.

clothing banks, where do the clothes go?

i dont want to ebay i want someone to benefit from them i want to help people in a difficult situation. i will try social services i did speak to them when trying to track a childrens home down but didnt get much joy.

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 29/01/2015 09:36

oh i just want to add incase it sounds like i am against charity i donate to cancer research and nspcc by dd every month and have done for about 10 years.

OP posts:
ender · 29/01/2015 09:36

YABU to be annoyed.
Clothes are so much cheaper than they used to be. People, esp older teens would rather buy new than wear second hand stuff. good article on what happens to clothes donated to charity shops.

Waitingonasunnyday · 29/01/2015 09:39

Ah yes I agree some do overprice. I make a point of taking mine to local hospice shop which is v reasonable in pricing. Worst pricing round here is Air Ambulance shop and Oxfam!

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 29/01/2015 09:41

thanks for the article will take a look. yes your probably right about teens think i am thinking too much about when i was younger.

it feels a shame to get rid of say some nike jogging bottoms in good condition when i would have been over the moon with them as a child (tomboy).

thinking too much into it. i never thought of them getting lots of donations that could be the case.

OP posts:
bigbluestars · 29/01/2015 09:41

YABU.

There are plenty charity shops, and collection points in big supermarkets.

Why not drop them off there? THere are loads of Barnardo's charity bins around, the money they make will go to support the charity.

MegMogandOwlToo · 29/01/2015 09:43

Either you want to get rid of you don't, it sounds more like you want to donate to give yourself a pat on the back.

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 29/01/2015 09:43

skimmed the article i didnt realise they went to people well that has made charity shop sound more appealing thanks for that.

OP posts:
Pumpkinette · 29/01/2015 09:45

You could always sell them on eBay / Facebook selling pages and donate the money raised directly to a charity if your choice.

You can donate directly through eBay - they have an option of donating anything from 10% to 100% of the sale directly to the charity.
It also states on the selling page that it is a charity auction and I have found people tend to bid a bit more that normal when they know 100% profit of the sale is going to a charity.

Selling I eBay is a bit of a faff though if you just want them gone quickly. Another option I would look at is to directly contact the homeless hostels in your area and see if they want the clothes and toiletries.

SuburbanRhonda · 29/01/2015 09:45

I agree with the PP who said not everyone would think secondhand clothes are worth getting excited about - especially young people. So it can be frustrating to find others don't place the same value on your things as you do.

But if you put too many conditions on how you want your unwanted stuff to be used, you may end up being stuck with it.

Perhaps phone around the charity shops to see if they can take your things to avoid a wasted journey.

ILovedYouYesterday · 29/01/2015 09:47

I am guessing the trouble is, they don't know you and therefore don't know if the clothes are going to be nice, good as new etc or manky old tat that noone wants and thay they are now lumbered with getting rid of. If you are wanting them to pick it up, it might end up costing them more.

I would look around the carparks at local supermarkets for clothing banks. Oxfam or Salvation Army will see them delivered to people in need.

SaucyJack · 29/01/2015 09:47

If ever just want rid of stuff without worrying about it going to the worthiest cause, then have a look on Facebook to see if you have a local "Free-up" group. You'll get it shifted by the weekend.

jopickles · 29/01/2015 09:52

fire stations tend to collect clothes/toys etc as well for families who lose things in fires

SuburbanRhonda · 29/01/2015 09:52

I think the article ender linked to actually makes the secondhand clothing business sound less appealing, not more - especially the issue of undermining the local clothes manufacturing industry in countries like Ghana. And the fact that it feeds into the demands of Western people for cheap, disposable clothing.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 29/01/2015 10:07

There are a couple of charities near me that collect bags of clothes and textiles so that they can then take them in bulk to a cash for clothes depot.

Or you could take your stuff to your nearest cash for clothes place and donate the proceeds to the charity of your choice. They don't pay much but at least you get to dispose of it and know that a charity will benefit from a small donation.

I usually take good wearable/saleable stuff to a charity shop and save the more worn out stuff for the cash for clothes people.

JsOtherHalf · 29/01/2015 10:28

Give them away on netmums local? Or Gumtree?