Donating clothes

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

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 was once told that you can put shoes in the recycling bins even if they are not wearable as the parts are recycled. Anybody know if this is true?

I've never been sure that it's a good idea to pass on used shoes - never did it with my children. There are a few foot infections which could spread, and you can't wash all shoes.
But I suppose desperate people will appreciate them.
I donate used clothes to a charity here which has depots at many supermarkets, then they're sorted and passed on to needy people

Two last week, BlueBelle.
Perhaps they go in areas. They must realise that there is a saturation point in any one area.

The shoe scheme I first heard of about two years ago when the refugees were walking across Europe some of the schools round here did that which I thought was excellent
I personally collect for Syria and send a vanload off about every six to eight weeks, what's not useful for there goes to my local charity shop I never use the bags through the door as so many are a con and come to think of it I haven't had one through the door for at least six months now perhaps they are waning

Marydoll, I was once given a pair of my teacher's castoff shoes in front of the whole class.
I never wore them to school.
It isn't always appreciated.
They weren't wasted, by the way. My mother insisted my sister wore them.

If you pay tax, I know not all of us in that lucky position, some charities will gift aid your donation so increasing the value of what you have given.

What a great idea. If I was still teaching, I would have suggested that.
It's not only in Africa, children need shoes. I once had to take some children in our school to Tesco to get them school shoes and boots. It was winter and they were wearing ankle socks and shoes with holes in them The manger was lovely, he gave me a discount on them.

That sounds a brilliant idea, paddyann.
I think I'll tell my granddaughter about it, the only one who grows out of her shoes each year.

has anyone heard of Sals Shoes ? One of our local schools did an ened of term thing for this charity called toe to toe .When the time came to leave the classroom on the last day of term the children removed their shoes and sat them on their desks,they then walked barefoot out into the street.Apparently to try to understand how African children have to cope without shoes,the shoes on the desks were all donated for the African children .The school kids who took part were asked to bring other shoes to go home in and as most kids get new shoes at the start of term these donated shoes would likely have been thrown out.Didn't matter if they were scuffed or a bit worn all shoes were gladly accepted.I haven't heard of this before ,but it seems like a great idea.I like to get children involved in charities ,I think its good they see that not everyone is as fortunate as they are .

Read the bags. Some of them tell you how much they give per tonne of clothes.
AgeUK collect and get the lot. Air ambulance the same, but not the children's air ambulance which seems strange.

I always take mine direct to the charity shop of my choice - and usually end up taking another bag back home with me after I've looked around !

I take stuff directly to the charity shop. So it gets shared between cancer and heart. Money guest sent to children's charities. Both abroad and the UK

Exactly as I said silverlining there are companies making money on the back of these "charity bags" . much better to take then directly to a charity shop of your choice .