sending unwanted clothes,etc abroad to poor people

Economical

I am doing a clear out & have lots of my children's old clothes, shoes, toys etc. I want to send these to a village in India where I have been & seen poverty. If I send it directly to the people, I know it will get to them but how do I do this?

Savvy_Sue

Economical wrote: »

If I send it directly to the people, I know it will get to them but how do I do this?

More to the point, do you know whether there will be import and customs duties at the point of entry, and if so, will the people in this village be able to pay them?

It's a good thought, but the logistics may make it unworkable.

fengirl_2

I think its cheaper for aid agencie to import clothing direct from China nowadays than to ship second hand stuff out from the UK with, as Savvy Sue says, duties, etc.
Why not donate your unwanted items to your local refugee support group? They will be in touch with many people who have no recourse to public funds and therefore rely totally on what people give them (yes - even in the Uk today!).

Economical

Thanks, it looks like I'll have to put it in those bags delivered through the door, which u don't know where it goes to.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Economical wrote: »

Thanks, it looks like I'll have to put it in those bags delivered through the door, which u don't know where it goes to.

i would strongly advice you not to, as there are so many rougue door to door collections going round at the moment, i would take them into a charity shop if possible, if you cant get there, phone the shop and see if they offer a pick up service..

markandkate

Try https://www.stuffyourrucksack.com they are meant to be for people going abroad but they can also receive goods by mail by prior arrangement. I have taken and psoted things to genuine charities in poor countries sucah as an orphange in Cambodia

markandkate

forgot to say if you are posting stuff on the customs declaration you need to say it is a gift

medders2604

Just in case you hadn't realised a lot of the bags that are posted through doors are companies that take the clothes to whatever country they are supporting and then sell them on they are not charities the majority of the time but for profit companies.
I much prefer to either wait till one of the genuine charity bags comes through or take my stuff to the local charity shopd at least I know then the money is going to good causes. Read the leaflets that come with the bags thoroughly and you will soon see which ones are which.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

medders2604 wrote: »

Just in case you hadn't realised a lot of the bags that are posted through doors are companies that take the clothes to whatever country they are supporting and then sell them on they are not charities the majority of the time but for profit companies.
I much prefer to either wait till one of the genuine charity bags comes through or take my stuff to the local charity shopd at least I know then the money is going to good causes. Read the leaflets that come with the bags thoroughly and you will soon see which ones are which.

even charities sell they clothes on, and dont actually send any clothes abroad.. even major charities that say they send clothes abroad, actually sell them....