Donate Gently Used Toys
If your child has a bedroom overflowing with toys and you are wondering what you can do to control the clutter, consider donating some of those gently used toys that they are not using anymore. Not only will this clear clutter from your home and prolong the life of the toy by recycling, it will go a long way to help make another child happy. There are two good ways to donate gently used toys, decide which is best for you. Donate directly to a charitable organization (such as The Salvation Army or Goodwill) that accepts donations for resale, money raised from this goes towards charitable programs or donate gently used toys which will go directly to the children in need. This article will show you donate gently used toys by giving them directly to the children that need them.
Instructions
1. Preschools, elementary schools, early childhood education programs and daycare centers may have a use for your gently used toys. Kindergarten teachers are often looking for small toys to put in prize boxes (think all those McDonald Happy Meal toys) as rewards. Donating toys to your school is a great way to give back to your teachers who do so much for your child. If you don't know of any schools that need donations place a free ad in your local newspaper and you may find that this is a good way to reach out to teachers, home daycare providers and daycare centers. They will find you.
2. Homeless shelters, teen mom support programs and domestic violence shelters provide services and support for women and children in need. Contact them to see if they can use your toys. Some of them have a children's play area or classroom that can use gently used toys.
3. Donate gently used toys to your local hospital or children's hospital. Be aware though that some hospitals don't take used toys for the health and safety of their sick patients. Call ahead first and check their policy.
4. Look out for a need within your neighborhood. You may know of a family in need and consider donating gently used toys to them. A small token like this can mean so much to others in our community, especially around Christmas time.
5. Your pediatrician may accept a donation of gently used toys to keep kids entertained in the waiting room while they wait for their appointment. Also check with your police and fire department. They may take donations of stuffed animals and others gently used toys to help them deal with children that are in frightening situations.
6. There are several ways to donate at your church; you can donate gently used toys to the church nursery, give them to missionaries traveling to poor countries or speak to someone there about donating to a family in need that is known to them.
7. Freecycle is a non profit online community that is free to join and promotes giving. Groups are local and you can post information about your toys and someone who can use them can come and pick them up from you. This is a very earth friendly site and promotes community spirit.
8. Get your children involved in the process by letting them choose toys that they don't use any more but are in good condition. Bring your child along to the place that you are donating the toys, so that they can see first hand how their charity is benefiting another child. This teaches them the importance of community service when they donate their gently used toys.
Tags: gently used, used toys, gently used toys, gently used toys, used toys, donate gently