Donating unwanted Christmas Present

[joestifff]

I know, it hasn't even been Christmas yet, but hear me out.

I heard a while ago, and I have no idea where from, about parents that would buy each of their children a gift for Christmas, but then also buy them each another (maybe the second gift came from Santa or something). Therefore the children would end up with two gifts the same. The idea then is to get the child to donate the gift to another child that would appreciate it.

Now I have two children, one just over two, and one a few months old. I would quite like this to be a thing in our house in the future. Doesn't have to be this year, maybe start next year, but would like to get my children used to this.

Rather than just taking the duplicate gift to a charity shop, and them not really understanding the purpose, is there somewhere else we could take the duplicate gift? I am thinking a children's hospice possibly? We live in the depths of North Yorkshire, so there are not many about.

Would a hospice accept a single gift, with the difficulty of who to give it to, do they even accept donations like that, I appreciate money is better for them, but the idea is the child is giving something they understand up to another more needy and appreciative person? or is there a better network to go through, where my daughter and eventually son will see them potentially put a smile on someones face? After all, it is the season for giving!

Does anyone do this, heard of this? offer any advice on where to go, don't mind a bit of a drive, but not the other end of the country!

[randlemarcus]

If it has to be a hospice, your choice is going to be limited. I suspect your local decent sized hospital has a childrens ward though, and they are awful places to be on Christmas, so your idea should brighten someones day up. I doubt you'll get to see the happy face of the actual child, but I reckon throwing in a box of biscuits for the Ward Staff will get a smile for you and your children when you hand it over.

[Truckosaurus]

Contact your local hospital or food bank, they'll either take it or would know who would.

[Shakermaker]

Last year my nephew got a present from his aunt which was a kind of subscription service where he got sent a "toy" each month which he then had to decorate and then send back, for it to be sent on to a child in need somewhere else, maybe at an orphanage or something. One month it was a teddy that he had to clothe and colour in, another month some kind of model kit

I can't remember the name of it but that could also be something you could do?

(However, i thought the whole thing was BS because his aunt didn't buy HIM anything, a 5 year old boy, got given something on Christmas that he couldn't actually enjoy or play with. F*ck that... - I recognise and appreciate that you would be getting this in addition to an actual gift)

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

You should post this question on Facebook...

[anonymous-user]

Kids hospice's tend to attract a shed load of donations for obvious reasons, perhaps a battered wives refuge would be a better option.

[SeeFive]

Our local radio station has something called Mission Christmas. Basically you donate a present at one of many drop off centres. Here is our local example, maybe a station near you does something similar? I guess the snag is that it is done before Christmas, and not after something is unwrapped.

https://planetradio.co.uk/wave-105/charity/events/...

[tim0409]

A few years ago I ordered a Fire tablet from Amazon during "black friday" for the sole reason it was really cheap (circa £30) even though I already had an iPad Mini. I never opened it and was going to send it back but thought I would give it as a gift instead. Nobody sprung to mind, and then I remembered a children's home I'd visited in my previous occupation (also featured in Neil Morrissey's care home kids programme). I dropped it off and they were delighted; they had a specific kid in mind who wouldn't otherwise be getting anything decent. From my previous visit the children at the home all had serious issues/tough or non-existent upbringing to deal with (as you would expect), and I remember getting up on Christmas morning and hoping that the kid receiving the Fire was enjoying it.

Worth a shot OP.

[henrycrun]

Local Church for help or info ?

[David A]

Local hospital children’s ward.

We were stuck in frimley from the 15th dec for 6 weeks so had our Xmas dinner and New Years On turtle ward. They gave donated presents to the kids. Quite a few in there for a long time or even short time but not nice over Xmas and it was a nice gesture for the kids.

[Truckosaurus]

henrycrun said:

Local Church for help or info ?

Although be wary that some of the 'presents for 3rd world kids' schemes are used for evangelical purposes (eg. they add in religious leaflets and insist the kids attend their church services before getting a gift), which may or may not be what the donors had expected they be used for.

[red_slr]

Wickes are taking in presents this year some sort of charity scheme

[LeadFarmer]

Oxfam have various things you can buy for deprived communities.

https://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/oxfam-unwrapped/view...

The recipient gets a card informing them that you have purchased a drinking well/tools/clothing etc for a deprived community.

I once bought my brother-in-law a goat for Christmas. I keep meaning to go to Africa to check that the goat exists, but haven't got around to it yet!!

Edited by LeadFarmer on Friday 30th November 18:46

Edited by LeadFarmer on Friday 30th November 18:51