What to do with unwanted gifts?

[speakout]

I have already a large bag of stuff I have been given that I dont want to keep- what should I do with it? Mostly gift sets, mugs, cheap perfumes slipper socks, toiletries etc, Everthing is new with labels on etc,
Most of my charity shops are not accepting donations- I don't want to bin them- what will I do with them.

Women's shelters for 'female' stuff and Salvation Army for 'men's' stuff, or the food bank for it all

There's a great charity in my area that makes up Christmas present packs for children whose parent(s) are struggling financially. Families are referred by various agencies in the area. Anyway they collect all year round and they cover ages 0-17 so they would certainly accept things like slipper socks and toiletry sets for the teenagers. I'm sure these schemes exist across the country.

The things that OP mentions - socks, mugs, perfume, toiletries etc will be considered luxuries by many living with extreme material deprivation. Things like this tend to only be considered 'unwanted tat' by people who have a lot.

Or maybe some of us just don't want to add to producing junk for the planet to deal with. Just for the record I haven.t used the word tat. Buying gifts sets and toiletries are usually quite uneccesary. table or epsom salt makes for a great bath soak and not much can beat a huge jar of pure coconut oil fror £2 from Lidl or Asda for dry skin. I use bar soap bought in paper wrapping hich lasts me months.

I am not rich, but I still consider plastic gift sets of mediore products wasteful- for so many reasons. I would rather a tub of ALdi coconut oil for dry feet than use some of the stuff I have ben given for chrismas. I will find a home for them, I appreciate not everyone shares my view.

Local community hospitals/residential homes/nursing homes will make good use of your cast offs.

Going forward, tell your gift givers not to bother and to give the cash directly to a charity of their choice.

@speakout

The comment wasn't directed at you - it was directed at the person who suggested that the poor may not want your 'unwanted tat'.

Whether or not these items are environmentally friendly isn't really relevant here. The items have already been produced so the question is what to do with them. My argument was simply that there will be someone out there who would be happy to receive them and would make use of them.

As another poster suggested, ask people not to gift in future, or to donate to a charity instead.

MidnightMeltdown

I aprecciate what you saying, but surely it's better to find a home gor this stuff that people who would normally buy it anyway.
I am not a bubble bath userm but some people may ove it and if my guft can stop the manufacture or purchase of just one single bibble bath it it will have an environmental consquence.
I was responding to a poster saying well just use it as foot cream or whetever. That;s no more green than chucking it in the bin if I never buy or use foot cream anyway.

[quote MidnightMeltdown]@speakout

The comment wasn't directed at you - it was directed at the person who suggested that the poor may not want your 'unwanted tat'.

Whether or not these items are environmentally friendly isn't really relevant here. The items have already been produced so the question is what to do with them. My argument was simply that there will be someone out there who would be happy to receive them and would make use of them.

As another poster suggested, ask people not to gift in future, or to donate to a charity instead.[/quote]
So much anger and projection on this thread isn’t there? I saw the original post and just knew when I checked back that someone would post it as insulting to donate.
Absolute rubbish, we have local charities crying out for toiletries and need to make the best of this situation.

Shamefully I am always suspicious of those who claim to speak for the recipients of such donations too and wonder exactly how involved they are really?

@CovidPassQuestion

Charity shops where I am are completely full and not accepting donations! I have several winter coats from my children, in excellent condition that I wanted to donate, but none have any space. People had such enormous clearouts over the last 18months that shops have been full for ages.

I would ask your child’s school if they want the coats. Assuming it’s primary. Our school like old uniform that’s in good condition along with pe kit and coats so they have spares / give to the children that don’t have them.

Unfortunately, they're primary aged coats, but my children are now in secondary. Their old primary school had a uniform coat, so they wouldn't take them. I'll try a different area of the city when I visit MIL, or friends.

@Ragwort - if you're in West Midlands, you'd be welcome.

[quote AnotherDayAnotherDisappointme]**@Smorgasborb, "vile"? That seems a bit harsh. They only criticism on that web link was that they put Christian literature alongside the shoeboxes given out. As they are a Christian organisation giving Christmas presents, that doesn't seem particularly "vile"[/quote]
The humanists link was especially kind and was focused on alternatives. A bit of googling on Operation Christmas child or Samaritans Purse will clearly set out why they are are particularly unpleasant.
Their founder is evangelical, trump supporting and has made homophobic comments.
They distribute boxes with the intent of proselytising and conversion in designated Muslim and Sikh or Hindu communities. Often the boxes are used as bribery and only given out when children and their families promise to attend evangelical sessions.
I imagine people put these together with lovely ideas that these boxes are kindly distributed to those with little to their name. The reality is very different. The humanists link has some lovely alternatives that do exactly that with no strings attached.
And it is NOT acceptable for a Christian organisation to only offer support to those who agree to their missionary ways nor to distribute evangelical material in a non Christian country.

Happy to report all unwanted stuff has gone. Found a small local independant charity shop who were happy to accept the items and I put all the edible stuff- mostly chocolate into a food bank.

dont bother anymore. What a waste.