For the sake of this post by donations I mean the things that are already around the house that have been put in the give away pile.
Honestly this is one of the hardest areas of giving for me to talk about. Our rule of thumb when it comes to separating between the donation pile and the trash pile is that it if the item is not in good enough condition that we would use it ourselves, we do not donate it. If the item is missing nonessential pieces we tell the person we are donating it to and allow them to make the decision.
If someone tells us no they do not need a particular donation, we do not take it personally. If we really want to help in a specific situation we ask what that person needs and go from there. Our aim is to help, not overload them with things that they now have to find a way to pass on. Their time is just as precious as mine and I do not want to create the burden of more work for them just because I wanted to help my way instead of the way that was needed.
It is important to remember that when it comes to donations, the conditions are not your ideal. If they were, the people receiving the donations would not need them. I think a lot of people forget this and do not realize how long it really takes put your life back together after things like a fire. I still remember very clearly how it made me feel when I was reamed out for having my toddler present while I was going through some donations for her that were broken to the point they were not useable. Not only was I extremely hurt and angry that someone would even consider giving a toddler who had just gone through the effects of a fire something so broken it couldn't be used, I was in shock and disbelief that people could be so judgmental about circumstances beyond my control. If I was able to have my way, the fire would've never happened and my daughter wouldn't have had to have everything in her home taken away at least until it could be thoroughly cleaned. But here I was a trucker's wife with no babysitter trying to piece back our lives as fast as possible to create the stability for our daughter that had been lost. And any of you with young children know that they love to be in the middle of whatever you are doing.
There were many, many people who blessed us with absolutely amazing donations for whom we will be forever grateful. These people were my light and hope in the midst of a very difficult time.
We donate first to those that we know personally that have a need and then the rest usually goes to an organization like Goodwill.
Who do you usually donate your give away pile to? If it's an organization, what kind of donations do they accept (clothes, toys, books, etc.)?
Read the Rest of the Series on Giving Here:
Giving with Coupons
3 Ways We Were Throwing Away Giving Opportunities
Giving on a Limited Budget
