| Knowing what to do with unwanted toys can be the | | | | Some encourage you to send your toys, old and new, |
| biggest stumbling block when it comes to taking action | | | | to improve the lives of these children as well as |
| to get rid of these house cluttering items. Children grow | | | | monetary donations. To find addresses of orphanages |
| out of them or they did not like them in the first place, | | | | that do accept toy donations, search on Google for |
| for whatever reason, every household has a pile of | | | | "send toys to african orphanages" or "chinese |
| toys that no longer see the light of day. If every time | | | | orphanages" or something similar and find their |
| you look at the ever growing mountain of abandoned | | | | donations page. Some only accept monetary |
| toys you quickly walk by or close the door, take heart, | | | | donations but you can find addresses if you are |
| finding a better home for them is easier than you think. | | | | persistent. |
| So where do you start? | | | | 7. Donate to Family Centres |
| Firstly you need to consider which toys should really | | | | Contact your local Social Services Department to see |
| go in the rubbish and which can safely be given away. | | | | if they know of any family centres near you that will |
| You should not give away: | | | | take and get good use from your second hand toys. |
| - toys which are at the end of their useful life | | | | 8. Ask Your Local Church |
| - soft toys, unless they are new or in as-new condition | | | | Ask your local church if they know of families who |
| - toys which have suffered significant damage. | | | | could benefit from your unwanted toys. |
| In other words only give away toys in a condition that | | | | 9. Donate to Special Needs Schools, Playgroups or |
| you yourself would buy. If you have the original packing | | | | Nurseries |
| or manufacturer's instructions give them away with the | | | | Find your nearest special needs school, playgroup or |
| toy. | | | | nursery and ask if they will accept second hand toys. |
| Secondly you need to decide whether you want to | | | | 10. Donate to Toy Libraries |
| GIVE your unwanted toys away or make a bit of | | | | Toy libraries offer services to local children, families |
| spare change from selling them. | | | | and carers based on regular toy loan for a nominal fee |
| The following 11 ideas cover donating your unwanted | | | | (and sometimes for free). Contact the National |
| toys to worthy causes: | | | | Association of Toy & Leisure Libraries online to |
| 1. Donate to Charity Shops | | | | find a library nearest to you. |
| Pop into your local charity shops and ask if they | | | | 11. Use The Freecycle Network |
| accept second hand toys. Don't be offended if they | | | | Freecycle is an online network of groups that match |
| don't because due to health & safety regulations it | | | | people who have things they want to get rid of with |
| often costs the charity more money (in terms of staff | | | | people who can use them. Their goal is to keep usable |
| time having to check for loose threads/parts/batteries | | | | items out of landfills. Find your local group from their |
| etc) than actually buying them brand new. If they will | | | | website and send the details of the toy you are |
| accept your donations do not forget to sign the Gift | | | | offering in an e-mail. All items must be offered for free. |
| Aid declaration form, to boost the value of your | | | | The remaining 5 ideas cover making a few pounds |
| donation by 28%. | | | | from your second hand toys to help in the current |
| Charity shops obviously benefit the charity they are | | | | gloomy economic climate: |
| supporting, be that children's charities, medical charities | | | | When selling your second hand toys you must be |
| etc. If you would prefer your toys to go directly to less | | | | aware that all second-hand toys sold or supplied in the |
| fortunate children ideas 3-11 may be more appealing. | | | | course of a trade or business fall under The Toys |
| 2. Donate to Charities Online | | | | (Safety) Regulations 1995 which requires that they |
| By using the Ebay For Charity initiative, you can sell | | | | must be safe and bear the CE marking. |
| your unwanted toys and the proceeds will be sent | | | | 12. Sell Them On eBay |
| directly to the charity. Items being sold for charity are | | | | Sign up with eBay, an online auction and shopping |
| identified with a distinctive ribbon symbol along with a | | | | website, where you can advertise your unwanted toys |
| description of the charity that will be receiving the | | | | for sale and interested buyers will make bids if they |
| proceeds of the sale. Buyers place bids for these | | | | are interested in your item. |
| goods in the usual way, knowing their money will go to | | | | 13. Sell Them On Craigslist |
| a worthwhile cause. | | | | Sign up online with Craigslist, a centralised network of |
| JumbleAID is another online answer to your | | | | online communities, and submit a free online classified |
| mountainous toy problem - they let you post adverts | | | | advert for your item. |
| for your unwanted toys (and other things) online and | | | | 14. Sell Them At A Car Boot Sale |
| anyone can pledge a donation for them. It is free and | | | | Look in your local newspaper to find the location of |
| easy to use and all of the funds raised go to your | | | | your nearest car boot sale, usually held over the |
| chosen charity. | | | | weekend. Make sure you turn up early to ensure you |
| 3. Donate to Hospitals | | | | get a pitch. You will have to pay a fixed fee for setting |
| This is only really appropriate for new toys due to | | | | up your car boot in the sales area so make you sure |
| safety/infection concerns but sometimes we all find | | | | you take enough unwanted items to make it worth |
| toys that our children received two of or perhaps | | | | your while. Portable tables or blankets are a good idea |
| some that they were not so keen on that never left | | | | to take with you to display your goods on. |
| the box. | | | | 15. Organise a Toy Swap Party |
| 4. Donate to Childrens' Homes | | | | Arrange with other parents a time and a place for |
| Children in homes are typically older so when | | | | everyone to bring their unwanted toys and the |
| considering which toys would be suitable go with an | | | | chances are all items will change hands very quickly. |
| average age of about 14. Find your nearest home | | | | The downside to this is that you will not end up |
| using a service using an online search to see if these | | | | decluttering your house of toys but you will get some |
| children could benefit from part of your unwanted toy | | | | new toys for free. |
| stash. | | | | 16. Rent Them Out |
| 5. Donate to Women's Refuges | | | | Find an online toy rental service, such as Zilok, and |
| Women's refuges help hundreds of thousands of | | | | make some money by loaning out your unwanted |
| women and children escape domestic violence each | | | | toys by the day. |
| year. Often they flee their homes leaving all of their | | | | Start DeCluttering Now |
| possession behind. Find the number of your local | | | | As parents it is a daily task to try and keep on top of |
| Domestic Violence service online through an | | | | the toy chaos that surrounds us. Decluttering the |
| organisation such as Women's Aid, to offer your help | | | | house of unwanted toys is a logical way to restore a |
| through your used toys. | | | | bit of order and get part of your home back. Hopefully |
| 6. Send Your Toys To Orphanages Abroad | | | | at least one of the above ideas will work for you and |
| There are many orphanages, child health homes and | | | | you will feel better knowing another child is benefitting |
| day care centers abroad who are in need of toys. | | | | from your efforts. |