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Ethical living

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Donating toys ethically

4 replies

WittgensteinsBunny · 06/04/2017 10:05

I'm really into living a simple life with less stuff. We're very eco friendly in terms of toiletries, adult clothes, food, and our own stuff but the children have waaaaay too many toys. My mum literally can't stop buying stuff for them. Every week there is a new toy 😱 for both of them. My mum has also kept all of mine and my siblings toys from the 80s & 90s. She is a bit of a secret hoarder, it's just she has a huge house and a lock up. I've had words before and it was met with sulking but it's gotten out of hand again. And DD2 has just had a birthday 😭. We're thinking about a loft extension and there are about 6 huge boxes of toys up there (our children are 2&3). We need to get rid of so many things. Whenever I've been to table top sales, the toys don't really sell and as we live in an affluent area there are loads of other people trying to sell toys. The charity shops are picky too, again, too many donations. I won't throw the toys awa as I can't bear to think of them as landfill. Does any one know of any charities or places where I can ethically send the toys? I know the answer is buy less stuff but I've got to make way somehow...

OP posts:
ActuallyThatsSUPREMECommander · 06/04/2017 10:08

Toddler playgroups. Nursery. Freecycle. Charity shops in less affluent areas. Loads of our local shops have big signs up saying "Donations urgently needed" so keep an eye open as you go through places that maybe you pass in the car once a fortnight

elQuintoConyo · 06/04/2017 10:11

Car boot sale? Just go alone and don't tell anyone (ie your mum) what you are doing or selling.

Women's shelters? Local nurseries?

We donated some out-grown toys to our DS' school (they start at age 3) for playing with on wet lunchtimes. A huge Weebles tree with Weebles, big bag of Megablocks, some cars. All clean and in good condition.

Do you perhaps have any local cafes or somesuch place with a table of toys for littlies- or doctor's waiting room?

It does seem such a faff to get rid of umwanted toys. I would try and insist that gifts bought by GM stay at her house Smile

Leeloo2 · 06/04/2017 10:27

On eBay you can choose to donate a proportion to charity. You always add to the listing title that 'proceeds go to charity'. Or drive to a less affluent area. Some charity shops near me accept anything! Even broken things are put outside and people rummage through and take stuff.

ChampagneCommunist · 23/05/2017 20:13

Freecycle has alway worked for me. I sometimes post "big bag of X year old girls toys" or similar & they get taken

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