What to do with some used toys?

[bleedingheart]

Here are my choices...


1. ship them to my mother-in-law who babysits my husband's nephews (note these are children who live in a very privileged environment...)

2. give them to Goodwill

I am leaning towards Goodwill...


I have a fisher price remote control car, a whole motherload of duplo blocks, magnetic blackboard with letters (it is a table top one) and some v-tech toys...
I may find some more stuff too....I am making my children get rid of the stuff they no longer play with but I would hate to throw this stuff away when I know some kid out there may yet enjoy them. I am just bummed I can't give away stuffed toys (I know all the reasons why)...cuz my kids never played with them and they look so unloved....

[MsAnthropy]

1. I give my stuff to Goodwill

the people there need it more

[bleedingheart]

2. I agree...it is just the guilt of not giving stuff over to the MIL

that is what is causing my angst for the moment...

meanwhile these are very well off people who can well afford to buy stuff for these kids...but when she visits my home she is always saying..."you know...I could use any of your old toys..."..blah blah blah...

[Pithlet]

3. Goodwill.

Thanks for not just throwing them away. I hate it when people do that to toys that aren't broken or worn out. It's such a waste. I'm with you on the stuffed animals. I can't bring myself to get rid of them. I'm very sentimental about stuff like that.

[bleedingheart]

6. the saddest part is knowing how my kids are just growing up...

I get all weepy....they are moving on to the older toys....boo hoo....and then those sad lonely unloved stuffed toys...it compounds the misery...

[Pithlet]

8. I know!

I always feel sad giving away the toys :cry:

[dolo amber]

4. freecycle.com is a good choice

if there's one in your area...that or craigslist. There are always people on freecycle looking for toys for kids who've lost stuff in fires, moves, etc.

:hi:

[bleedingheart]

5. thanks for the idea! I will check that out!!!

[philosophie_en_rose]

7. Shelter?

If Goodwill won't take something, sometimes a homeless shelter or domestic violence agency will know someone that could really use the toys.

For stuffed animals, there are ways to sanitize them. Sometimes animal shelters will take them for the animals to play or sleep with. One of my dogs has a stuffed dog that he's had all his life.

[Starlight]

9. Most stuffed animals can safely be put through the washer & dryer.

I did it frequently when my kids were small.

[philosophie_en_rose]

12. I assume so.

But I can see how some places are paranoid. As long as the agency washes the animals themselves, they should know that the animals are clean.

Then again, maybe it's easier to just say no. After all, some people donate the grossest things.

[Starlight]

16. A lot of people apparently don't realize they're washable.

At least that seems to be true of people I know. They often express surprise when I mention putting stuffed toys through the wash. They assume the toys will disintegrate. Maybe the freebie ones from carnivals would, but I've never had it happen. :shrug:

[Rambis]

10. Local clinic or Dr. office waiting room maybe?

the toys at those places are usually in pretty bad shape-

[WCGreen]

11. Any charity....

But make sure you get a receipt so you can deduct it on your taxes...

Itemize the toys and then put a best guess as to market value...

Then take 25% as a deduction....

[China_cat]

13. If you have a shelter for abused women

and their children, they'd probably appreciate them.

[madinmaryland]

14. That's what my wife does.

They are always in need of toys and clothes at the shelters for abused women.

[Squatch]

15. If you send them to me, I can give them to CHKD

Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters.