Lockdown way of donating clothes to charity

[SimonSays]

You don’t need a charity shop, as they've been closed to the needs of the community for ages, the community just brings things that they would've donated; clothes especially, and it's a children's charity shop, and leaves them outside. At first, you see it as dumping, but actually it's very efficient. Every so often I see people taking what they need, and they can do so when they want, so it's a way of making sure that those who really need can still have, and those who are donating can still give, without needing anybody to tell them it's okay.

The problem with charity shops is they have become more like businesses. I've noticed that the price for things in charity shops has gone up a huge amount. Instead of the idea being that you go in, you make a financial donation, and in return you take something donated by another away with you. That’s really what’s going on. You're not going in to buy something. So for those who don't have much money, that's the way they often acquire things they need, but they now have to give a lot more to get them, whereas before, something might be 70p, which is giving a donation and you take something small away with you, now you have to give a lot more, almost like going into a second-hand shop to buy.

So even though the shop remains closed, people are still donating their children's clothes and leaving them outside, and they are being taken, so it's still functioning, people are still giving and people are still receiving, and that seems to make a lot of sense in a time when there is an awful lot of hardship around. It’s a nice thing to see, even though it looks messy sometimes, and sometimes things get wet, but they can come and take what they need, they don't have to think about money, and there’s something kind of right about that.

 

[SimonSays]

The charity shops that I donate to and frequent are different from the ones you've mentioned so far. It must have to do with the area itself. Most charity shops here sell clothing and donated goods for very little money.

They will pick up donations by car or their trucks from your premise if you call them. There are also containers where you can leave donations in public place such as parking lots. Local stores accept various kinds of donated goods, hardware stores accept donated electronics for example, and grocery stores have bins for food donations.

The charity shops have remained opened to the area's residents all along, as well as the food banks which also have donated clothing and household goods.

That sounds much better.
Here all the charity shops have closed and stayed closed.

 

[Mia]

Here all the charity shops have closed and stayed closed.

The stores that deal in donated goods like clothing, footwear and food were considered essential services.

 

[SimonSays]

The stores that deal in donated goods like clothing, footwear and food were considered essential services.

Food banks didn't shut, but every other charity shop did. I think they are essential and yet, they shut. Maybe because they are staffed by volunteers mostly...idk. I never liked that they closed.

 

[Thinx]

A lot of charity shops in the UK are staffed by volunteers who are elderly or vulnerable. I think that's one reason they're all shut.

There are ways to donate free stuff online, we have been putting stuff on free donations sites and taking stuff to people who ask for it.

 

[Major Tom]

Here everything has been open for a while, but for some reason they won't take most clothes!! I don't get it. I have a whole second story of my house full of clothes from mainly my wife and son, but I can't find anyone that will take them. It's pretty sad. I don't really want to throw away clothes, but it's getting to the point that I can't even use the upstairs of my house.

 

[Streetwise]

There are recycling bins for clothing in Supermarkets in the uk

 

[Gift2humanity]

You don’t need a charity shop, as they've been closed to the needs of the community for ages, the community just brings things that they would've donated; clothes especially, and it's a children's charity shop, and leaves them outside. At first, you see it as dumping, but actually it's very efficient. Every so often I see people taking what they need, and they can do so when they want, so it's a way of making sure that those who really need can still have, and those who are donating can still give, without needing anybody to tell them it's okay.

It sounds good that people dump old clothes outside of closed charity shops and others come and rifle through them for things they need.
I know people who bought stuff from charity shops, before covid, and sold them at a higher price on ebay, people who "knew their clothes and labels".
Cynical as it sounds, while some needy people are getting free clothes, which is good, I couldn't help but think that among the people rifling through the bags, may have been people selling designer donated clothes online for profit.

The problem with charity shops is they have become more like businesses. I've noticed that the price for things in charity shops has gone up a huge amount. Instead of the idea being that you go in, you make a financial donation, and in return you take something donated by another away with you. That’s really what’s going on. You're not going in to buy something. So for those who don't have much money, that's the way they often acquire things they need, but they now have to give a lot more to get them, whereas before, something might be 70p, which is giving a donation and you take something small away with you, now you have to give a lot more, almost like going into a second-hand shop to buy.

Absolutely, it is not only disgusting that UK charity shops have become more like businesses, charging more for clothes, and appointing high ranking staff, who drive around in expensive cars paid for by donors, I also found it disgusting that charities used "chuggers" short for "charity muggers", who accosted people in the street, and were trained by companies that train in high-pressure sales techniques.
I don't think "chuggers" are still used however I have been housebound for a few years, I would hope not.

They used to really get my goat when I went out. Just as a sideline I found a way to deal with them, by saying "hello" and walking on.

So even though the shop remains closed, people are still donating their children's clothes and leaving them outside, and they are being taken, so it's still functioning, people are still giving and people are still receiving, and that seems to make a lot of sense in a time when there is an awful lot of hardship around. It’s a nice thing to see, even though it looks messy sometimes, and sometimes things get wet, but they can come and take what they need, they don't have to think about money, and there’s something kind of right about that.

For the genuinely needy it does make a lot of sense, plus they are getting free clothes, and there are no profiteering middle men. I am just mindful of the people who may be taking donated old designer clothes and selling them online for profit.

The charity shops that I donate to and frequent are different from the ones you've mentioned so far. It must have to do with the area itself. Most charity shops here sell clothing and donated goods for very little money.

That sounds much better than the set up we had before Covid in the UK.

They will pick up donations by car or their trucks from your premise if you call them. There are also containers where you can leave donations in public place such as parking lots. Local stores accept various kinds of donated goods, hardware stores accept donated electronics for example, and grocery stores have bins for food donations.

This type of thing restores my faith in humanity.

The charity shops have remained opened to the area's residents all along, as well as the food banks which also have donated clothing, footwear and household goods.

Better idea than the UK.

That sounds much better.
Here all the charity shops have closed and stayed closed.

I agree.

The stores that deal in donated goods like clothing, footwear and food were considered essential services.

They should be considered essential services here however for reasons that are best left for another thread, perhaps, the UK thinks differently.

Food banks didn't shut, but every other charity shop did. I think they are essential and yet, they shut. Maybe because they are staffed by volunteers mostly...idk. I never liked that they closed.

Me neither, to be honest I was not aware that charity shops were shut before you let me know here.

 

[SimonSays]

I also found it disgusting that charities used "chuggers" short for "charity muggers", who accosted people in the street, and were trained by companies that train in high-pressure sales techniques.
I don't think "chuggers" are still used however I have been housebound for a few years, I would hope not.

I've never come across a 'chugger'.

 

[SimonSays]

@Mia

They will pick up donations by car or their trucks from your premise if you call them. There are also containers where you can leave donations in public place such as parking lots. Local stores accept various kinds of donated goods, hardware stores accept donated electronics for example, and grocery stores have bins for food donations.

This type of thing restores my faith in humanity.

Yes. I like that a lot. Canada seems to be doing it well.

 

[SimonSays]

There are recycling bins for clothing in Supermarkets in the uk

Not all of us have cars though. I'd much prefer to go to something I can walk to. I miss going in and looking for something I need. I much prefer to reuse or recycle than buy new.

 

[Gift2humanity]

I've never come across a 'chugger'.

I am surprised as they were very common in the UK and very plentiful even in this small town I live in.
I think these salesman-trained people look for people who's space they feel they can invade.
I had a letcherous old man once, I signed up for a cat charity as I love cats.
Another occasion I had one run alongside of me.
Another occasion, I forget who I was with, we listened to the whole monologue, but did not give.
Then, thankfully, I spontaneously discovered I could just say in response to their false cheery "Hello" a "Hello" back and walk on.
I don't know why they stopped them, but I am glad.
I think with you, maybe your energy field protected you, so they felt they could not approach you.
These types do not know about energy fields though, it's all unconscious in the same way that bullies don't pick victims randomly, they select the most vulnerable.

 

[Streetwise]

Not all of us have cars though. I'd much prefer to go to something I can walk to. I miss going in and looking for something I need. I much prefer to reuse or recycle than buy new.

Try a church! as they can still meet with restrictions, so you could look there ,I gave supermarkets as a suggestion!, I don't know where every recycling bin is in the uk

 

[Streetwise]

I am surprised as they were very common in the UK and very plentiful even in this small town I live in.
I think these salesman-trained people look for people who's space they feel they can invade.
I had a letcherous old man once, I signed up for a cat charity as I love cats.
Another occasion I had one run alongside of me.
Another occasion, I forget who I was with, we listened to the whole monologue, but did not give.
Then, thankfully, I spontaneously discovered I could just say in response to their false cheery "Hello" a "Hello" back and walk on.
I don't know why they stopped them, but I am glad.
I think with you, maybe your energy field protected you, so they felt they could not approach you.
These types do not know about energy fields though, it's all unconscious in the same way that bullies don't pick victims randomly, they select the most vulnerable.

Big news article old lady so overwhelmed by charities contacting her becomes very ill