Donating clothes

I do use the bags that come through the door.

I fill them with clothes etc and take them to the Red Cross charity shop or to the local hospice shop.
The Red Cross is usually first on hand with emergency packs when a disaster happens anywhere in the world.

Getting clothes to refugees is more difficult than you would think. New or nearly new children's clothes are welcomed by some charities but unless you know of a convoy which is taking items out to where they are needed the cost of posting anything can be prohibitive. Better to donate them to a charity who can then raise money to send help where it is needed.

I do post new items and have bought children's clothes on an Amazon 'wish list' for a charity but whenever I have posted I think 'that £10 postage could have bought more clothes'.

I never use the bags that come through the door but recently looked up the contact details for our local Homeless Shelter and was able to take a bag each of men's and ladies clothes to a local (unknown to me) church, who support them and have a collection area for clothes.
I'd do this again, as I'd rather the clothes went where they were needed.

It can be difficult but I set up a relief group 2 years ago and we have direct contacts with containers going from London so we collect clothes, food medications and school stuff
Tools, computers, sewing stuff etc goes through a local collector for TWAM straight to africa and children's summer clothes goes to a friend who regularly works for an orphanage in India the rest goes to the nearest charity shop
Yes it is can be very hard unless you have direct links but there are also needs when refugees arrive in this country if that is a charity that interests you

and you can use the bags that come through the door for your donations to charity or to refugees - just don't hand them back to these private firms that come to the door!

Thanks Grans. There are no charity shops near me, at least not that are easily accessible on the bus (I have no car) and having checked the bag from the post I can see it only gives £100 to the NSPCC for every ton of clothes collected.
Think I'll try phoning for a collection, but reckon I'll need more than one bag for it to be worth their effort!

Many East African countries are now banning the import of second hand clothes as it is destroying the local economies.

If you google 'Rwanda bans secondhand clothes' you might find it interesting reading.

It is big business and huge profits are being made from your donations.

I have 3 large bags full of clean single fitted sheets and mattress covers ( all double beds now). Any ideas who would like these?

Perhaps a homeless shelter or a women's refuge?
Best to check first though

Will make a couple of calls. I don't want to drop them at my usual charity shop and then they are just ragged, they are too good for that, we just don't need them anymore.

Try the Salvation Army for the sheets and mattress covers, they can be used in their hostels. Also any blankets or pillows.

I did Google that, felice. It's all a lot more complicated than I realised.

As I have said previously on another thread, I was sick of scammers either stealing bags from our doorstep or giving a pittance to charities. Now I phone the British Heart Foundation and they come and pick them up at a pre-arranged time.
"Gill", if you have "Mary's Meals" in your area, they are desperate for sheets etc. The towels are put in backpacks along with other necessities and sent abroad to children who are refugees.