When was the last time you donated to an op shop?

[Rouge]

Just out of curiosity?

So many of us complain these days that op shops aren't what they used to be. That everything is so expensive. That there isn't much stuff. But when was the last time you donated household good, shoes, baby toys etc?

If you had a box of glasses would you take them to St Vinnies or would you throw them in the recycling bin? And what about miss matched crockery or cutlery? That strange kitchen gadget that takes up so much room in your kitchen?

I think we should pride ourselves on the fact that when we donate we are not only helping our community and those in need but we are also helping ourselves. By encouraging all those around us to donate where possible instead of chucking it out (or ebaying it for 99c) so that everyone gets back into the mentality to recycle goods instead of just chucking them out as we do. We all want to get greener, we all want to be more thrifty... but we've become such a big part of such a disposable society we've forgotten how simple and easy it is to give back.

[Glamourcide]

I usually donate every time we move house, just because I can't stand lugging so much unused junk (well, not junk, useful stuff that I have no use for) and clothing with me for no good reason. I also had a bunch of stuff stored in the shed that I went through just before DD2 was born (searching for DD1's hand-me-downs so I didn't have to buy too much new stuff for her) and whatever I didn't want that was still in good nick, I took to Vinnie's. We're seriously considering donating the second-hand cot we were given for DD1 that she never, ever used (she's still in a portacot and will go straight into a big girl's bed once I get around to buying one), I just don't think DD2 will use it either and it's a very pretty cot, in excellent condition (FIL brought it home from the second-hand dealer and sanded, varnished and did it all up for us) and I'd love to see it go to a good home where it's needed rather than languishing in our shed gathering dust.

I like some of the odd finds op shops have tucked away - I especially love the cheap books (I refuse to pay RRP and don't have a library card). Unforunately our local op-shops don't seem to have any clothes that were donated after 1984 but that being said, occasionally I find a hideous item of clothing that I can cut up and turn into something else, so it's always a bit of fun browsing around and trying to recognise the potential in some stuff.
I'm about to have another kids' wardrobe clearout as DD2 is growing so fast and there are heaps of clothes there that won't be worn by her again - I'll offer them up on BB and FB first and if there are no takers, off to the op shop they'll go! I like to see sentimental stuff go to friends or family first, but if nobody's interested, I like the idea of them going to people who will appreciate them, kwim?

[Anila]

I actually donate on a regular basis, about once a month hubby takes bags of clothes and toys etc to the life line bin, i get given a lot of clothes and shoes for dds age 3 and 4, so as i do the washing i just put in the charity bag clothes that are still inn good nic, but they have a lot of.
I am constantly culling the toy boxs, and just before xmas i do a massive cull.

My problem is, that cause i have 5 kids, people see me as a charity, as give me soo much stuff, and most of it really isnt charity worthy either, they just too lazy to deal with it so i get given it. lol.

[Rouge]

Awww yay! That makes me so happy

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I hafta say, I've never donated to an op shop. However, my mum and her sisters and mum started a 'Clothes Day' when mum and her sisters had young families - they would put out all the stuff the kids had outgrown that was still good, and encourage others to do the same. They'd display it and Grandma's garage (HUGE!), and on the first Friday of the new season, everyone would flock to Grandma's to swap clothes and munch on some goodies G had made, and generally have a good time.

So everyone got new clothes for the new season, and all it cost was a plate of food! So that's where all our clothes go when we have a clearout

[Fleur]

We last donated the week before Christmas. We do fairly regularly... every time one of the kids rooms has a clean out We also have a bag under the stairs of bits & pieces that gets dropped off when it's full.

Sunflowa_girlie, that is a great idea, love it!!

[DaintreeDream]

I always seem to have an op shop pile somewhere in my house.

The last time I actually donated was about 2 months ago but it was alot, I had clothes, unopened dinner sets and wine glasses, nic nacks, toys, books and various other very usable items.

My pile at the moment consists of clothing that I never want to wear again, but is in great condition for someone else.

Our little local op shop actually just moved from a tiny little shop to one about 4 times its size so I think that is a good sign that they are recieving regular donations which is great to see .

[Indadhanu]

WOOHOO we just did We're also about to do a toy run to our local Red Cross store where MIL used to work. I feel better doing it that way, and know they actually get inside the store, rather than in the bins, because the bins in our area just get trashed

Our local area does bag days, where we get a big yellow (I think it was yellow, but the colour isn't really important) garbage bag in the mailbox, and we can put all the things we want to donate in it, leave it next to our mailbox on a designated day, and someone will come pick it up and take it to the shop for us. Great idea I reckon, heaps of people took advantage of that. It was Salvo's I think.

occasionally I find a hideous item of clothing that I can cut up and turn into something else, so it's always a bit of fun browsing around and trying to recognise the potential in some stuff.

Woohoo, gotta lova that! hehehehe!

[~Trish~]

I donate constantly to our local op shops. When I was pregnant with DD and "nesting" I took boot loads of things every week LOL!

I'm a big believer in recycling used things (hence why I have my pre-loved baby goods business ), it's so good for the environment and great for those who can't afford to buy new things. I always have a bit of a fossick while I'm dropping stuff into the op shops and have found some great stuff!

[Kitt3n]

All the time.

DD's school have an end of year disco - you need to bring a gift to give the Salvos if you are going to be let in the door. They also do a clothing and a toy run a few times a year.

A few months ago we gave a fridge, blender, clothes to Father O'Reily. If you are in Sydney and have anything to give it truly is a great cause.

[Spring Angel]

I'd say about twice a year (as a minimum). In my last donation were some clothes with the tags still on. I had bought them pre-pregnancy and decided the chances of getting back into them after three babies was fairly slim.

I also donate through work to a group that collects work wear for women jobseekers. It means they can wear a suit for a job interview or if they have recently got a job but no income yet, it means they can wear suitable attire for the first few weeks in their job until their first pay.

I also did a big clean out of toys recently and tried to find a women's shelter to donate them to but every shelter in our area had enough. A good thing I guess so I took them to the salvos instead.

DH is a bit of a hoarder and I'm not so I enjoy cleaning out and donating to people who really need it.

Spring xx

[Chocaholic]

Probably not often enough as I hate cleaning. Saying that, we are moving interstate next week so I have been going through the house for the last few months and doing a cull.

Have already done 1 load to the Salvos a month ago, 1 huge load of baby stuff to a girl at work having her first baby and will do another load today. Is already waiting in the loungeroom to be loaded into the car. Not sure if it will all fit so maybe another load tomorrow.

[maz]

Yesterday a car load FULL (and I have a Kia )
A heap of baby stuff, some kids papason chairs that were sitting here collecting dust and some books.

I keep teddies though and take them to the hospital's children's ward. They are very appreciative of them and give them to children who need a little someone to cuddle.

[MantaRay]

Just before Christmas we moved to a smaller place, so the op shops near us have gotten quite a few donations from us recently. The last one was Christmas Eve.

As you say Rouge, I would rather see the things we no longer use go to good use. Also, I think that the less waste we have the better so having things re-used also helps the environment.

[Tinks]

I always donate to our local church. They don't have an op shop but they distribute it to people who need it. They even come and pick it up from my house too.

[Michelle71]

DH loves to *clean out* the house so we donate. Often Clothes, furniture, crockery, unused electricals etc etc. I hope that if one day I need help there is someone out there who is donating so that I may benefit from their generosity too.

[Trillian]

I do it all the time. As soon as the kids have grown out of something I put it in the 'Vinnies' box that I have in my room LOL - it's a huge plastic tub that I am constantly putting outgrown clothes in because I do it as I fold the clothes - anything too small that I cannot pass on to anyone that I know goes into this box and as soon as I get a boxful it gets bagged up and taken to Vinnies. After the Black Saturday fires I got rid of a lot of stuff that we had that we didn't really need - pram, new doona and pillows that came with the kids beds and we didn't need so that was a great opportunity to have a huge clean out. I have also donated all the old baby toys to our local hospital's childrens ward. We just don't have the room to keep stuff now so it has to go. I don't have anything in my wardrobe now that I don't wear because it's all gone too. Same with household items - I got given box after box of crockery by my aunt and mum whenever they updated and it was all just here doing nothing and all that got taken in too.

[{sarah}]

Whenever I do a clearout of wardrobes & toys, so maybe 1-2 times a year.