[Queen Aurora]

This is something I have been thinking about doing for agess... and haven't done anything like it since I used to do the shoebox thing for orphanages in Romania via the church school I went to. I already donate a bit to children's hospices and charities locally but want to help out children who have nothing and have been through too much.

But I have no idea where to start looking.

I want to start donating some of the kids old things to orphanages in 3rd world countries

My children are so lucky and I want to pass on their things to other children that will really appreciate them and this si somethhing I want to involve my children in to. I have been so lucky and call it an epiphany or whatever but I have come to realise there is more to life in general and I want to do something good with mine( I have looked into fostering also and once my children are older this is something I will be doing) and this is something that means a lot to me.

I am just useless with the internet and really don't know where to start. Can anyone help me?

A x

EDIT No rush as I know everyone is busy with Christmas :)

_________________

[Hobbit]

Noble thought, QA.

As you say, a lot of the schools do this one through the Shoebox appeal.

Most of the big UK charities - Oxfam, Christian Aid, etc will do this from donations given in their shops.

This one: http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/ might help.

Mark

[Sparrow]

The chances that your children's clothes make it to such a destination are fairly remote. What happens is the clothes, or other such items, are sold off and converted into hard cash, or they make into the hands of merchants (who are usually very poor) and then finally sold to the people you'd hoped to be giving them to.

I think the best thing to do is sell them at a yardsale and donate the money to UNICEF or other professional charitable organization.

[Queen Aurora]

Not noble at all, I have just realsied how lucky we are and how I want to do something that isn't for me.
I have issues with big organistaions..

I want to send stuff direct and think I may end up hitting a brick wall with that...

Will make some phone calls in the new year and go to the church see if they can help me.

Thanks

[Marian Perera]

The chances that your children's clothes make it to such a destination are fairly remote. What happens is the clothes, or other such items, are sold off and converted into hard cash, or they make into the hands of merchants (who are usually very poor) and then finally sold to the people you'd hoped to be giving them to.

I've heard of that happening too. So when my family donated items to the poor in Sri Lanka, we'd do it personally - when we visited the country, we'd take the clothes, school supplies, etc. with us and give them out to the poor ourselves. But we're originally from Sri Lanka and went back home semi-regularly, plus we knew where to go and whom to meet to arrange the donations. Others are less likely to have that option.

[Chuffalump]

My OH does this when she has a bit of spare time...

http://www.knit-a-square.com/

[Queen Aurora]

My OH does this when she has a bit of spare time...

http://www.knit-a-square.com/

Thankyou for that...I have oodles of spare wool, crying out to be used up :)

[aaliya]

These all links are dam good... Hope that after using these links you'll be able to find evrey solution of your problem,...