Donating Gently used toys for christmas

[Anonymous]

I am asking my children to choose several toys to donate for kids in need during christmas.
Does anyone know of places where it can be dropped off and used for christmas?

[Anonymous]

Why not sell them and use the money for new toys to a charity?

[Anonymous]

I don't know of any gift drive/ charity that will take used toys specifically for underprivileged kids' Xmas gifts. They all request new toys.

But, you can hurry up and donate the toys to Goodwill or Salvation Army, and they'll make it to the shelves before Christmas and be bought up by families who are trying to live frugally. And those may not even be the families who are signing up at 2 or 3 or more different agencies trying to get the most stuff at Christmas, but are too proud to ask for help.

Either way, you're doing a good thing. I would donate and have your children help you pack up the toys when you do.

[Anonymous]

Remember those "Top of the Muffin" Seinfeld episodes?

I like PP's suggestion. I'm not in a position to donate new toys to anyone except my DD this year, and actually I think her gifts will skew toward the practical under present economic circumstances. But we can pass some barely used toys on to Goodwill.

[Anonymous]

Having just participated in a toy drive, I strongly believe that anything that is intended to be presented to an individual child as a gift should be new. With very few exceptions (toys that have been opened but literally never played with or played with once), used toys tend to look a little sad. I take our gently used toys to our preschool--the teachers can rotate them into the mix if they like them or throw them out. If your children are not in school, perhaps you could find a local school, community center, shelter, etc. Goodwill is also a great idea.

[Anonymous]

gently used toys look sad?

I guess my DC is having a sad Christmas then because its the best I can do...

I would call SS or CPS or somewhere and ask let them know you have some toys youd like to donate and see where they recommend

[Anonymous]

Ok- they might look a little sad... but they're donations! A receding tide sinks all boats. Sad, but realistic.

[Anonymous]

"Having just participated in a toy drive, I strongly believe that anything that is intended to be presented to an individual child as a gift should be new. With very few exceptions (toys that have been opened but literally never played with or played with once), used toys tend to look a little sad. "

Lets keep who the toys are intended for in perspective. The parents may notice that the toy is gently used but a 4 year old? Come on. My kids and their cousins shuffle toys all the time and there is no less excitement between new in the box and old. Older kids tweens etc may have a harder time with hand me down clothes especially if the trends are different but again I don't think the preschool and elementary set is there yet.

[Anonymous]

New toys make underpriviledged children feel special. Take it in context... these kids get hand me downs all the time. Let xmas be special for them.

[Anonymous]

well I guess my son wont feel special

I mean come on people dont send toys missing peices ro that are beat up but A LOT OF toys are hardly used but other kids and when I find them on CL or other places for my son look new or nearly new

who cares if he gets hand me down... Even when I can afford moremy child will still use hand me downs

Im glad to know some of you people feel sorry for my son and feel that he is going to have a sad christmas and not feel special. nice now I feel great

[Anonymous]

PP don't take it personal. I'm also like you and have no problem with used items from CL, garage sales, thrift shops, whatever. I run the plastic ones through the dishwasher, the soft ones through the wash, and bleach solution anything else. I always impress myself how much they look like new when I'm done.

My kids wouldn't know the difference if they didn't see me cleaning them first, and I guarantee you they wouldn't care. In fact, if you ask them, they'd rather get two used toys than one new toy! And if you ask my oldest (DS13), he'd tell you it's a smart idea and better for the environment because it's keeping something out of the landfills. He's actually said that, yes.

So, keep on with the values you're instilling (frugality, living beneath your means, value for the money, and donating to other when you're done with the item). It's never wasted on kids, and if they grow up with those values, you've all won.

[Anonymous]

thats prettymuch how I feel. Im just sad that people have these feelings because it rtubs off on their kids and thats when kids who receive used toys feel bad when their peers make it seem like they arent as good

kwim

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having just participated in a toy drive, I strongly believe that anything that is intended to be presented to an individual child as a gift should be new. With very few exceptions (toys that have been opened but literally never played with or played with once), used toys tend to look a little sad. I take our gently used toys to our preschool--the teachers can rotate them into the mix if they like them or throw them out. If your children are not in school, perhaps you could find a local school, community center, shelter, etc. Goodwill is also a great idea.

You need a reality check.

[Anonymous]

Nearly 80% of DCUMs report household incomes of $100,000 or more. If you want to help a needy child, why not give a brand-new toy rather than use the holiday season to clean out your closets?

[Anonymous]

They might not notice new vs old toys if they are really little. But if you mostly go without or usually receive used hand me downs new toys would be noticed and make Xmas better.