Finally Stepping Up!
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
United States
February 14, 2010 6:35pm CST
Well I am finally going through all my stuff (hard!) and I am getting rid of the things I don't use/look at/bother with anymore! :) I am a big pack rat, but I am going through the nest now and emptying out!
I'll be donating the stuff I find to an abused child center here, called Childhelp :) So far I've found 6 stuffed animals, 2 "How To Draw..." books and lots of stickers! Oh! And a couple posters, but I'm not sure they want posters or not, I emailed them and will know shortly (hopefully!) I'm also asking my friends if they have anything to donate.
I wish I could do more and donate money, but as a non-working college student...money's a little tight! lol. But I'm at least happy I could do this little bit! 
I am going to school to become a social worker for children, so sometime in the future I may take one of he internships this center offers!
I am going to school to become a social worker for children, so sometime in the future I may take one of he internships this center offers!4 people like this
9 responses
@Allie_xoxo (1063)
• Canada
15 Feb 10
I find it really fun to cut down as strange as that might sound. I just think about all the cool new stuff I can get. I don't really like clutter.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I'm that way with clothes, I like to give it away because I can get new cute outfits! lol. But I probably won't be going out to get more stuffed animals 
It doesn't sound strange to me!!! 
It doesn't sound strange to me!!! 1 person likes this
@sunyskies (126)
• United States
15 Feb 10
That's great that you are donating your unwanted items to charity. I do that whenever I clean out closets and drawers. It makes me feel good to know that someone may use those things. I've never heard of Childhelp, but it sounds like a great charity. I always give all of our unused clothing and toys to the Salvation Army because there is one close to my house.
It makes you feel so much better to declutter, don't you think? At first it seems so hard to get rid of things because you think you may use them again or they have sentimental value, but once you have a nice, clean space, it is so worth it!
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I'd never heard of Childhelp before today, but I was looking up where I could donate the stuff and it was there. I looked around their site and it looks really great! I love kids and donating stuff to them feels great! And it's easy!
I guess Childhelp has centers all over the U.S! It's pretty cool :) Here's their site:
http://www.childhelp.org/about
I guess Childhelp has centers all over the U.S! It's pretty cool :) Here's their site:
http://www.childhelp.org/about1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
18 Mar 10
So you were going to be a social worker and now you're going to rescue animals. Way different subjects required.
I think those sound like wonderful and very useful donations. Good for you. You'll have money some day. In the meantime, those things are great. An upset child needs a stuffed animal. Stickers are fun.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
18 Mar 10
Well I just went through a few boxes in the garage and found a ton more stuffed animals to donate--and my mom cleaned them in the washer for me.
I'm kind of confused about what I want to do! I keep going back and forth between the kids and animals--so I figure I'll keep going for my major in social work, but I'll take some business classes for credits too. And there are also a few other things I can do to prepare for an animal sanctuary (a great nonprofit class online, workshops at the 2nd largest animal sanctuary)--so hopefully it'll all work out.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 Mar 10
Well, if you "married" the two ideas, you could train therapy dogs to help children or train kids to do therapy with dogs!
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
18 Mar 10
I love "How to Draw" books, too. I'm a big kid in some ways.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
16 Feb 10
I would think that they would be happy to receive all your stuff. That is unless the shelter is in San Francisco. Many of the organizations in SF want only NEW stuff. Can't be giving out used stuff to the underprivileged. But that is SF for you. When I moved I gave almost all my stuff away. I gave the stuffed animals to a little girl down the hall. I told her mom "por la gordita" For the cute little girl. They didn't speak English yet. I gave everything else to whoever could use it. I was moving out of the country and had to get rid of almost everything. Luckily I knew people who appreciated and found a use for all my used stuff.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
16 Feb 10
On their site it does say "new toys, clothes, etc..." but I emailed them and told them that my stuff wasn't new, but it was all in great condition. I haven't heard back from them, but like you, I can't imagine them turning the stuff down.
That was nice of you to give all your stuff away to your neighbors/etc. Where were you moving to/from?
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
17 Feb 10
Some places think used isn't good enough as charity. Those types really make me angry. I have tons of secondhand things. I have all my adult life. I appreciate people passing on to me there older stuff when they get something new. I then pass stuff on when I finally get something new also. My last big move was from California to Israel. I couldn't bring an entire apartment of things. Electricity is 220v here, so my electrical stuff was almost all useless. Converters are really only good for small things, like hair dryers and coffee grinders.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
17 Feb 10
Yeah, I think as long as things are in good shape and not useless then charities should accept them (ESPECIALLY in this economy!)
Wow! That is a big move, no wonder you had to get rid of so much of your stuff! lol
@yugasini (12893)
• Secunderabad, India
15 Feb 10
hi lily,
i appreciate your interest and affection on pets,thats give you a good to you,regarding donation also i have for gotten to send you one dollar of donation to your account,let me know how to transfer the funds to your paypal account,have a nice day
,regarding donation also i have for gotten to send you one dollar of donation to your account,let me know how to transfer the funds to your paypal account,have a nice day@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
15 Feb 10
Well I donate to the animals as much as I can, now it's the kids turn lol
I'll send you a message with my paypal email and you can donate easily through that.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I sent the message and I hope my steps were clear!
Thank you!!! :) 
@yugasini (12893)
• Secunderabad, India
15 Feb 10
hi lily,
thanks for the response,and will see the message and try to send the money that little one,i will transfer it to your account soon,if i have not sent the little one,plese inform me,i think it is not necessary to me to remember,have a nice day
,and will see the message and try to send the money that little one,i will transfer it to your account soon,if i have not sent the little one,plese inform me,i think it is not necessary to me to remember,have a nice day
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
15 Feb 10
You are doing a great thing and killing to birds with one stone, by cleaning up and donating to needy children. Once you are done you will feel so good because you got rid of stuff that you were not using and you were able to give to an organization that will be grateful to you. Great job!@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I would donate my books..but I'm trying to sell them to help me pay for college 
. Kind of running low on money and won't know for a while if I'm going to get any scholarships.
. Kind of running low on money and won't know for a while if I'm going to get any scholarships.@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
15 Feb 10
Yeah that's exactly what I'm thinking! My room is so cluttered right now (mostly with books that are not appropriate for the place I'm donating my other stuff) but I figure getting anything out would help! lol
Thank you!
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
15 Feb 10
The books could be donated to a library. They would gladly take them or even a used book store if you have any in your area. What I have done in the past too is just have a yard sale. You get rid of alot of stuff plus you make some money. Which you can then donate if you wished.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
15 Feb 10
lilyofthethorns thats really a smart idea to work with donating stuff
to the Childhelp if youy might be taking an internship there later.
sounds very intelligent to me. I am also a pack rat and have a large box in my closet that I do need to go through and weed out anything that I w will never use. I am in a retirement center and only have this room I share with a roommate, so space is at a premium here.Stick to your college courses and one day you will be able to get that internship. good luck God bless.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
15 Feb 10
Thank you Hatley! I think volunteering there, and then taking an internship would be a good start to my social working career! Plus, I just love helping children sooo...donating my stuff and time wouldn't be very hard!
I understand space restrictions! lol
@celticeagle (168163)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Feb 10
I went through and threw away/gave away alot of stuff afew years ago. It was cathartic and felt good to get rid of alot of stuff. But, I have thrown out stuff in the past that I wish I hadn't. I remember giving away all my writing books and then about three years later I was so bummed about it.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
16 Feb 10
Yeah it defiantly feels good to get rid of clutter...but I am very careful about what I give away! If I think I'm going to regret not having it some time down the road, I keep it. But everything I have to donate now I'm pretty sure I won't miss...which is good!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168163)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Feb 10
Ya, I just thought I wouldn't use them again and then things changed. Trying to downsize and books are heavy and combersome to carry around.
@sublime03 (2339)
• Philippines
15 Feb 10
I wish I can do the same since I am a bit of a pack rat myself. Since I am living with my in-laws I want to get rid of some stuff because our things cannot fit already. Hopefully once we find our own place I can send out other things to charity or something.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
15 Feb 10
That would be good! You could probably find stuff to donate all over the place, and not just to one charity.
