I feel so guilty!!

spendy

In going through my DS room the other day, I found loads of toys and books (some that had never been used). I was going to put them on ebay, but never got around to it, so I decided to donate them to my local charity shop.

I decided on my local Oxfam and a friend mentioned that I could leave it outside if they were closed.

I did this last night, only to find out today that I shouldn't have and there should have been a sign asking people not to do this. It was already dark when I donated it and I didn't notice a sign.

I feel awful, I've never donated anything this way and should have really thought it through, as now I think about it, it's probably littering in a way. :eek:

Should I call them and apologise?

feniera

What's to deter anyone from picking up rubbish left in public that has no signs of ownership?

Phoning them to apologise serves no other purpose than to make yourself feel better. Do it if you feel like it.

Wings_of_Ambition

If you didn't see the sign, you didn't see the sign. I don't think it's any harm done. I'd probably have done the same.

welshbookworm

Charities ask people not to leave donations outside when they are closed for several reasons -
The donations can be ruined by rain and wind,
The donations can be spoiled by bird or animal 'mess',
The donations can be mistaken by the road sweepers as 'rubbish' and thrown into the bin,
The donations can be taken by people walking by,
The council can complain to the Charity shop about leaving 'rubbish' outside their shop,
Please, if you can avoid putting donations outside Charity shops when they are closed it would be appreciated by most Charities .

themull1

spendy wrote: »

In going through my DS room the other day, I found loads of toys and books (some that had never been used). I was going to put them on ebay, but never got around to it, so I decided to donate them to my local charity shop.

I decided on my local Oxfam and a friend mentioned that I could leave it outside if they were closed.

I did this last night, only to find out today that I shouldn't have and there should have been a sign asking people not to do this. It was already dark when I donated it and I didn't notice a sign.

I feel awful, I've never donated anything this way and should have really thought it through, as now I think about it, it's probably littering in a way. :eek:

Should I call them and apologise?

Is it not common sense not to leave a bag of stuff outside a closed shop? why would you need a sign telling you not to do this?

chilliphoto

Oh dear, think its a mistake you had good intention and good intention is better then no intention at all

snowleopard61

You meant well and it's entirely possible the donations were still there in the morning ready to be taken in. Although I'm aware, from seeing signs outside them, that charity shops don't want people to do this, if you are an honest person yourself it isn't obvious that others may not be, so it wouldn't necessarily occur to you that the donations might be stolen. Hopefully if they were well sealed they wouldn't be spoilt in any other way.

You obviously aren't going to do it again, so don't beat yourself up about it.