As the mom of three kids, I do my best to routinely go through toys and gear in my home so we’re not overloaded with kids’ stuff. But it still feels like Brandon, Julia, and Sarah accumulate new belongings faster than I can keep up with them. Not to mention all the random items I keep for nostalgic reasons (like Elmo’s Peek & Seek, which reminds me of Brandon’s Elmo phase). So, in the spirit of spring cleaning, I’ve selected four standout organizations (and one cool website) that accept toys and gear for kids in need. Not only will you be helping out another family and teaching your kids about giving, but you’ll have a less cluttered home in the process!
Second Chance Toys. This organization not only provides toys to help with children’s emotional development, but also works to keep non-biodegradable toys out of landfills. Toys are collected at various times during the year, including next month, and are checked to make sure they’re still in good condition. Once they’ve passed the test, they’re given to local community organizations who can get them into the hands of children who need them.
Baby Buggy. Jessica Seinfeld’s 13-year-old charity brilliantly partners with local community organizations to provide donated goods to parents in need who are working to improve their lives and ability to care for their children. The organization accepts cribs, strollers, bath tubs, and other baby gear as well as clothing and toys for kids up to fourteen.
La Casita. Donations of gently used toys go a long way at La Casita, a residential treatment program for homeless women who are pregnant or have young children. The organization provides a safe place for women to stay with their kids while they recover from their addictions and learn to take care of themselves and their families. After a year and a half, women move onto permanent housing outside the program, but continue to be monitored and receive counseling for an additional nine months before officially graduating.
Room to Grow. Donating toys, clothing and gear to this program helps parents and children living in poverty get the items they need to support each stage of their young child’s development. Particularly noteworthy is how Room to Grow gets referrals from prenatal programs to meet with parents during the third trimester of pregnancy–and then every three months after–to monitor the child’s development until they turn three.
Yerdle.com. It’s similar to an auction site, but rather than receiving money, members of this website obtain credits that can only be used to bid for other items on the site. The site is organized around the idea of sharing within a community: when you look for items, they are sorted by location to allow for easy exchange. And although Yerdle doesn’t offer a traditional way of donating toys, users are free to give their items away to those they feel will benefit from them the most, rather than automatically giving them to the highest bidder.
