donation options

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

I am trying to find a place I can donate my kid's old stuff (clothes, toys). The clothes are easy; the toys are not. Things which have failed thus far:
* Children's Clothing Exchange, Roosevelt Towers, Cambridge
* Goodwill
* Salvation Army
* 311

Will anyplace take this stuff, or am I doomed? Thanks.

Comments

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Freecycle? GB-reuse?

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

I am really hoping for someplace I can take everything and be done with it (it's a lot of stuff), but I'll keep that in mind if I have no other options; thanks.

[lonelyholiday.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't rule out Freecycle for someone who will take everything. When we were moving offices, I would post a bunch of stuff in one email, assuming I'd have to arrange pickups for individual items, and many times I'd get a reply saying "I'll take it all." Whether it was a random assortment of different things, or a whole bunch of one or two things (35 binders and 50 t-shirts? I'll take them all!). I always wondered what they were going to do with this stuff, but never asked. ;)

So who knows, maybe there's someone looking for a boatload of toys.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

You can also say "priority to whoever will take the most stuff", or "please take all and freecycle what you do not want". Good luck:)

Big Brother Big Sister

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

They pick up at your home but only take "small toys."
http://www.bbbsfoundation.org/web/pageDetail.aspx?pgID=home

Re: Big Brother Big Sister

[ravenword.livejournal.com]

I have used BB/BS and the pickup option is super handy! They work on a schedule, though, so you might have to wait a few weeks for their next pickup in your neighborhood.

[rozhinka.livejournal.com]

So Children's Clothing Exchange isn't taking toys now? They still did a couple of months ago.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Right now they are closed due to flooding. Of course I looked up this information on my web site *after* I had completely filled my car with stuff I want to donate ASAP ;).

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's useful information.

I've had good luck with Freecycle - people will come and pick up a box of assorted toys.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Fox thrift shop in Arlington maybe?

[turil.livejournal.com]

It's not legal to sell toys for kids anymore unless you are certified with some kind of government something or other.

Gotta love government regulation...

[eeyorecol.livejournal.com]

That is no longer true; the new regulations that limit the amount of lead in children's products do not apply to small businesses (like things on Etsy) and second hand stores (it did when first passed, but changes were made before it went into effect)

[turil.livejournal.com]

Excellent! I'll have to look into that...

Cradles To Crayons

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

They also take SOME toys.
http://boston.cradlestocrayons.org/?q=node/54

[avecvu.livejournal.com]

Savers? There's one in West Roxbury, and a new one in Framingham.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

The little fox shop in Arlington, in the fox library. drop off is only on tuesdays (morning) and wednesdays (afternoon/evenings). littlefoxshop.com

[turil.livejournal.com]

I wonder how they get around the new laws prohibiting most people from selling kid's toys (unless they have some kind of certification that they are "safe").

[narya.livejournal.com]

Rosie's place doesn't take them but does have a link to a list of other organizations that might take them on this page:
http://www.rosiesplace.org/Page.aspx?pid=247

[justjess.livejournal.com]

Children's Orchard in Brookline takes toys in good condition (and if I remember correctly--I used to work there--they pay you, too, which I guess means this wouldn't be a donation). You have to make an appointment to bring items in.

Info:
807 Boylston Street
Brookline, MA 02467
(617) 277-3006
brookline@childrensorchard.com

Other locations in MA: http://www.childrensorchard.com/component/option,com_store/state,MA/

Here are Little Fox Shop guidelines

[mamabunny72.livejournal.com]

http://www.littlefoxshop.com/donations

Toys for Tots?

[neuroacorn.livejournal.com]

http://www.toysfortotsma.org/

[ionicaq.livejournal.com]

Possibly doomed because of all the lead problems recently, but Freecycle or Craigslist might be good options if you can't find someplace to take them.

donation options

[mead-24.livejournal.com]

Cradles to Crayons (Quincy) will probably take them.
http://boston.cradlestocrayons.org/

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

You can dump all the clothes in a garbage bag and put them in one of those Planet Aid bins, I know there is one on RT 16 in the gas station parking lot just before Whole Foods, I think there is/was one also near Subway in Davis.

[ron_newman]

Please don't. Planet Aid is not a legitimate charity and its parent organization (Tvind) is often considered a cult.

[ron_newman]

Offering them for free here on DSLJ (with descriptions) may help too.

donation resource listing

[2ndchancesinc.livejournal.com]

We generally refer people to this helpful listing of donation places from the Cambridge Recycling Division:

http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/donaterecycle.html

Second Chances takes clothing, shoes, accessories and household linens only: http://www.secondchances.org , but we completely understand that this isn't always what people need.

[turil.livejournal.com]

The woman's shelter I stayed at when I was homeless takes kids toys. They are in Union Square, right next to the train tracks at 270 Washington.

St. Patrick's Shelter: (617) 628-3015. That may not be the number where they take donations, but they can tell you who to talk to.

[mamabunny72.livejournal.com]

I know of a family with ties to Haiti; the mom has taken donations of clothes and small toys to bring over. If interested, I could put you in touch with her... that is, if I can find her email address. Alternatively, you could call the Haitian Coalition and ask them whom they know who could take them and transport to Haiti.