I recently met a woman who had just spent several hours sorting and clearing out toys from her son's room. She asked me about donating used toys to charity. She was fully aware of organizations that accepted donations for resale, but she wanted to give the toys directly to children in need. She wished she could find a local women's shelter that could use them. I told her I'd look into it.
I grabbed the yellow pages and looked up "Shelters" and "Women's Organizations." A couple of quick phone calls led me to the B. Robert Lewis House in Eagan, MN, which provides a safe place for women and children to go for shelter and support. They appreciate donations of toys, bedding, towels, and more. The shelter is continually in need of donations, because women and children in the shelter--as well as those that leave the shelter to make a new start--use these donated items.
I e-mailed this information to my new friend, acknowledging the drive she'd have to make. I hope you are inspired as much as I was by her reply:
"It's not that far, when you think about what a difference the things I have can make in someone's life."
Wow. I can't tell you how blessed I have been by all this, and I hope it gives you some inspiration to seek out creative ways of letting go of the extras in your home.
For more information about the Lewis House and other donation resources, visit my Donate/Recycle page.
