Making Room for New Toys

11. Dec, 2009 Comments Off

toydrive main Full 300x199 Making Room for New Toys I hate it when I see perfectly good toys sitting in the pile for garbage collection. We can help the environment and needy families by passing along toys in different ways. Consider sharing them with non-profit organizations. You’ll benefit too, both in terms of reducing clutter in your home as well as receiving a valuable tax deduction. Your children will also learn important lessons about sharing and will be exposed to the importance and benefits of philanthropy from young ages. Some great organizations to consider include:

Thrift Shops – Charitable groups such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and others accept toy donations for resale. Most of these shops take donations during their standard hours of operation, as well as via drop boxes placed in various areas within the communities they serve.

Children’s Hospital – A children’s hospital or child’s wing in any hospital can always use the fun and laughter toys can bring.

Ronald McDonald House – If you’re fortunate enough to have a Ronald McDonald House in your community, the facility provides an excellent opportunity to donate your used toys to a worthwhile cause. These facilities provide shelter for families who have to travel away from home to seek hospital treatment for a child.

Women’s Shelters – If your community has a shelter for battered women, consider sharing toys that your child no longer wants or needs with the organization. These types of shelters operate on shoestring budgets, providing a safe haven for women and children who have fled abusive family environments. They rely heavily on donations of money and items of all types to help the clients they serve.

Church Day Care Centers – Many churches operate nonprofit day care and mom’s day out programs. Many of them accept donations of toys that are appropriate for the age group of youngsters who participate in their programs.

Contact these organization in advance to see what types of toys they will accept. Some have restrictions or will let you know if they are not currently accepting donations.

In these troubled economic times, selling toys that are in good condition can also be a great way to bring in some extra holiday funds. If you are computer savvy, you can take photos and sell your items via EBay or Craigslist. Another option is to find a consignment shop in your area. With consignment, you will typically make 40-50% on the sale of your item(s).

So far this season, I’ve been able to bring in an extra $200 by selling items. It has helped tremendously to purchase the new toys this year as well as make room by clearing out the unused toys.

Other ideas? Let us know.