Who do I donate my dd's old toys to (preferably an orphanage)?

[Callisto]

Hi all, I know that some of you are involved in overseas orphanages so wondered if you could help. I have just culled a box full of toys from my daughters collection. There is a range of soft toys, some birth upwards developemental toys, soft books, etc. I really want them to go to babies and children who don't have much and thought maybe I could send them to an orphanage somewhere. Any advice on the best way to do this would be great.

Not sure about the orphange bit, but we have donated toys, clothes and equipement to a women's refuge, for the children there.

I give mine to MILs church who then give them to people locally.

soft toys oyu can bin
no one wants them cos of germs
id give them to you local hospital or doctors surgery

ah yes thats true, they dont want the soft toys.

Beware too of toys that need batteries. There are plenty of those in waiting rooms over here.

How about a local nursery? Or a GP's, dentist's?

I think suejonez might be looking for toys, but only ones that can be easily wiped clean, and possibly board picture books (can't remember the exact details). She's adopting a child from Kazakhstan, and is off out there in a few weeks. She may already have more than she can carry, though...

I think some groups do take soft toys - I read in a local paper about a couple who ship a ton or so every year to S. Africa. I also know of people who on their own initiative take out bags of clothes and shoes to various countries when they go on holidays - it's worth asking around locally

womens refuge is a good idea.
I cannot believe no-one wants soft toys!!

My local radio station used to send shoe boxes of toys to romania at christmas - worth a try. Don't put in anything too valuable though as these can get stolen after they arrive.

I gave some of ds toys to my mother and toddler group, just soft rattles, soft toys etc when I left as he could only go until he was 12 months.

I will take toys to the orphanage in Kazakhstan when I go in a few weeks if you can get them to me. They won't take soft toys/books as they can't sterilise them but will take small plastic or wood developmental toys.

I'm sorting out dd's to give to the women's refuge.

I shall do that then Annie - I hate throwing things away if they are in reasonable condition.

I have always preferred to give to a charity shop as I think then two lots of people benefit rather than just one!

Firstly a child may open a present that their parents might otherwise might never have been able to afford and secondly the charity who get the money then passes it on to provide funds for whatever charitable organisation that floats your boat.

What a great way of looking at it soapbox, I never thought about it like that before