More Charity Shop Bargains for 2018 & beyond!

Pollycat

Pollycat said:

I have a 4 wheel walker and a 3 wheel walker in the garage that used to belong to Mum before she went into a care home. Plan was her care home would take them as spares for residents but I'm not sure they'll want them now. If not, I'll offer them to charity shops and as a last resort I guess they'll go in the skip we're having soon.

Well, the care home didn't want them.

I've only been able to get in touch with one charity shop in town and they ummed and ahhed and suggested I take them to their large donation centre where they might agree to accept them.

I put them on Freecycle (first time for me) on Sunday and one walker has found a new home already.

I_Love_comps

I have not been on MSE for a while. Our local Newlife shop re-opened last week.   Not been in yet to see what it is like with there social distancing .

Floss

Eenymeeny said:

...Could anyone tell me what the procedures are in 'normal' times with things like china, books etc. I always wash where possible or wipe with sanitizing wipes if not, but would be interested to know?

I always launder any clothes with my detergent, wash any china or glass to get rid of dust & shake any books I buy - so my "normal" practices won't change.

Wednesday2000

I just called a local shop and one is open with shorter opening hours. I have 2 bags of shoes and books to donate today. 

I am going to go through my clothes later today.

Potternerd

My local hospice shops have had to pause on taking donations because they have so many. Good news for charity shoppers. I’m pleased I managed to drop a bag off yesterday. Most of my books are in bags and boxes (Waiting for DH to make me some shelves) so my next job is to go through those and try to be ruthless.

Rosa_Damascena

Potternerd said:

Am loving being back in the charity shops. Not all are open but some of my favourites are. I haven’t bought anything yet but I have been tempted.

Could anyone suggest anywhere i could donate ring binders and files? I donated some clothes and books to the hospice shop today but they didn’t want the files.

I will be sticking mine on Freecycle.

LittleVoice

Pollycat said:

Pollycat said:

I have a 4 wheel walker and a 3 wheel walker in the garage that used to belong to Mum before she went into a care home. Plan was her care home would take them as spares for residents but I'm not sure they'll want them now. If not, I'll offer them to charity shops and as a last resort I guess they'll go in the skip we're having soon.

Well, the care home didn't want them.  [That was 4-wheel and 3-wheel walkers]

I've only been able to get in touch with one charity shop in town and they ummed and ahhed and suggested I take them to their large donation centre where they might agree to accept them.

I put them on Freecycle (first time for me) on Sunday and one walker has found a new home already.

@Pollycat    I volunteer with an Age UK group (not in a shop) and I know our shops do have donated mobility aids and will collect.

Pollycat

LittleVoice said:

@Pollycat    I volunteer with an Age UK group (not in a shop) and I know our shops do have donated mobility aids and will collect.

Thanks for that, LittleVoice.

It was the Hospice shop I spoke to, we do have Age UK charity shop in our town but there wasn't any answer when I rang.

I'll give it until next week and try to speak to them.

I'm not bothered about collection, I'll walk it up the 3/4 mile if they say they'll definitely take it.

dolly84

Eenymeeny said:

Our local news programme ran a feature recently about a charity who had received thousand of bags of donations as a result of lockdown de-cluttering. They explained that all items are kept 'in quarantine' for over 72 hours before staff open them, then it takes a few days for them to be sorted and steamed in the case of clothes. She estimated that it was about a week before anything would be on display and that there wasn't anything to worry about when buying goods. I thought that might settle some peoples minds about buying. Could anyone tell me what the procedures are in 'normal' times with things like china, books etc. I always wash where possible or wipe with sanitizing wipes if not, but would be interested to know?

I think the buyer just needs to do what they feel is needed, the shop doesn't need to do anything different to their normal steaming of clothes imo, I always clean things up myself.  When donating I always, always make sure it is clean but I never use antibac wipes (trying to save the environment), things are washed etc, even things I donate for rag have been washed.

I would Freecycle the binders, I've used it many times and you'll always get a timewaster or two but on the whole it is very good.

Rosa_Damascena

I had a late start today so used the extra hour to take a walk to 3 local chazzers. Only the Fair Havens was open, the Marie Curie looked like the Marie Celeste and the Salvation Army well and truly deserted