My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

Aibu to take things from outside the clothes bank

320 replies

Untamedfemale · 14/10/2022 11:43

Just what the title says my kids need clothes and there are always bags of them outside the clothes bank a lot of people seem to go through them and they often end up on the floor etc so do you think ibu to have a look through and take some.

OP posts:
Report

Am I being unreasonable?

610 votes. Final results.

POLL
You are being unreasonable
45%
You are NOT being unreasonable
55%
PoundOfNesh · 14/10/2022 11:44

Is your actual question ‘am I being unreasonable for stealing from a charity clothes bank’?

OF COURSE YABU

Report
NewWateringCan · 14/10/2022 11:45

can you go into the clothes bank when it's open and the clothes have been sorted through?

Report
KimberleyClark · 14/10/2022 11:45

Well no the stuff belongs to the charity/organisation operating the clothes bank so technically you are stealing it.

Report
vodkaredbullgirl · 14/10/2022 11:46

🤔1st post

Report
Untamedfemale · 14/10/2022 11:46

It’s the banks that are outside the supermarkets etc a lot of the stuff ends up outside of it

OP posts:
Report
SnarkyBag · 14/10/2022 11:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

TabithaTittlemouse · 14/10/2022 11:46

It’s incredibly sad that it has come to this. Could you volunteer for the charity?

Report
Untamedfemale · 14/10/2022 11:47

vodkaredbullgirl · 14/10/2022 11:46

🤔1st post

What’s wrong with that I’m a long time lurker never felt the need to post and now that I did want to ask a question I registered 😒

OP posts:
Report
PoundOfNesh · 14/10/2022 11:48

Untamedfemale · 14/10/2022 11:46

It’s the banks that are outside the supermarkets etc a lot of the stuff ends up outside of it

But the charity still collect, even if it doesn’t fit in the bin!

Report
Untamedfemale · 14/10/2022 11:49

If there are things all over the floor I don’t see the problem we are in in desperate times

OP posts:
Report
MRSE20 · 14/10/2022 11:49

I’m not sure if morally I could do this

It depends though, are you desperate? Are you broke and need clothes for your children that you can’t afford - I could feel sympathy for someone rummaging through the bags if this was the case.

Report
Oceans12 · 14/10/2022 11:49

If the clothes are outside the clothes bank on the floor/pavement and the option is that they get wet, and are no use to the charity, then I would say 'help yourself'.

Report
spiderontheceiling · 14/10/2022 11:50

I donate to these "bins" as it is often more convenient that going to a charity shop (pedestrianised town centre) and I want to help someone in need. If you happen to be that person in need, then I'd be quite happy for you to take it.

Report
jay55 · 14/10/2022 11:50

Just do it. And when you're feeling a bit more flush donate a fiver to the charity.

Report
Untamedfemale · 14/10/2022 11:50

TabithaTittlemouse · 14/10/2022 11:46

It’s incredibly sad that it has come to this. Could you volunteer for the charity?

I wish but I’m a full time carer

OP posts:
Report
MeowMeowPowerRangers · 14/10/2022 11:50

If you desperate do it.

I donate to clothing banks a lot, and if I knew someone was desperately searching through it for clothes for their little ones or themselves it wouldn't bother me one bit.

Report
Untamedfemale · 14/10/2022 11:51

MRSE20 · 14/10/2022 11:49

I’m not sure if morally I could do this

It depends though, are you desperate? Are you broke and need clothes for your children that you can’t afford - I could feel sympathy for someone rummaging through the bags if this was the case.

Yes it’s not as though I’m selling them etc I have actually asked a few people sometimes who are about to donate if I can take the stuff and they have happily agreed

OP posts:
Report
JRHartly · 14/10/2022 11:52

YANBU, if you need them you need the. Take them, but take only what you need and what you can use.

Report
Ihatethenewlook · 14/10/2022 11:52

I’d see no problem with this whatsoever. The charities are hardly desperate for donations when they’re letting their clothes banks overflow to the point people are chucking their bin bags all over the pavements. The ones outside are likely to get water damaged or even covered in dirt if the bags get ripped, they’ll just end up going to the rag man if not the bin. I wouldn’t take stuff out the banks themselves, but out of the bags on the floor, definitely.

Report
TonksInPurple · 14/10/2022 11:53

YANBU the stuff on the floor gets binned anyway. So go for it, if you read all the writing it says not to leave stuff outside it.

Report
Cherrysherbet · 14/10/2022 11:54

I’m sorry you are in this position op.

YANBU

Report
MRSE20 · 14/10/2022 11:54

It’s kind of like, if you’re desperate and struggling and you take bits from outside a food bank I’d understand that. But someone who can afford food yet takes from the vulnerable just because it’s there, no I don’t agree with that

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

SBAM · 14/10/2022 11:55

Have you checked if there are community re-use or surplus hubs in your area? The one local to me will help without a referral. Also Facebook groups can help - there’s one called Pass It On for people to pass on children’s items for free. You could also do an anonymous request on your local Area Mums type Facebook group for people to pass things on to you.

Report
Untamedfemale · 14/10/2022 11:55

Ihatethenewlook · 14/10/2022 11:52

I’d see no problem with this whatsoever. The charities are hardly desperate for donations when they’re letting their clothes banks overflow to the point people are chucking their bin bags all over the pavements. The ones outside are likely to get water damaged or even covered in dirt if the bags get ripped, they’ll just end up going to the rag man if not the bin. I wouldn’t take stuff out the banks themselves, but out of the bags on the floor, definitely.

Yes I never actually take the stuff outside and literally only get kids clothes and a few toys etc

OP posts:
Report
CourtneeLuv · 14/10/2022 11:55

Do what you need to do. Until the charity collect it, it's technically not theirs, it's dumped.

And those bins aren't particularly charitable anyway. It all gets sorted and sold abroad.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.