After a recent decluttering session, I had three bags full of clothes, toiletries and household items, and I was wondering where to take it. Where do you donate your unwanted stuff?
Do you always donate to charity shops? I must admit I normally do, but on this occasion I just felt the need to do something different with it. So I checked for local refuges and rang around to see who would take my items and was thrilled to find one just 5 miles away who would happily accept it.
![three bags full](https://perfectlyorganised.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/three-bags-full.jpeg)
What You Can Donate To A Refuge
Most* refuges are happy to receive clothes, bedding, towels and toiletries (full and lightly-used products). You can also donate Christmas decorations, toys, and household items like cutlery, crockery and cookware. They accept soft furnishing such as blinds, curtains, wallpaper, etc. Some will even take part-used tins of paint and rolls of wallpaper.
In most cases, women and children living in refuges leave home with just the clothes they are wearing. Can you imagine how difficult that must be? And how courageous they must be to make such a decision, despite the circumstances which lead them to it. So when it comes to being re-housed, these brave people need every household item to start afresh, and every little thing we can donate helps.
It’s a small thing to in the grand scheme of things, but if you’re anything like me you’ll just love knowing that people in need are going to hopefully benefit from your unwanted stuff. Why not consider donating your unwanted items to your local women’s refuge next time you’re decluttering?
For me, Operation Declutter continues, day after day, month after month, and year after year.
Gill
*Always check with your local service provider as this does vary from council to council.
If you’ve been affected by anything in this article, or you’d like more information generally, contact Women’s Aid.
Suggested reading: About PerfectlyOrganised