I have a loving thoughtful 5 year old boy who wants to donate some of his toys to kids who might need them. He says he wants to "give his toys to kids that don't have toys". I thought about taking them to Goodwill, but I don't want them to go to a "store". I would love for him to take the toys somewhere he could have a better understanding of "giving".....any ideas? Is there somewhere we could volunteer together? THANKs!
If you guys want to volunteer together..I am a member of a group called Random Acts of Kindness...go to meetup.com to find us!
You have a lot of great ideas already. You may want to contact the Family Gateway, a homeless shelter for families with children. They have a lot of volunteer opportunities and they help families that have lost their homes; they train parents for new jobs, give them an address and phone. The kids are scared and just having someone come and play can be quite helpful. Google the name for the web site and you can get more info. I also second the motion for the Collin County Advocacy Center.
Jonathan's House on Gaston and Children's Hospital
Hope's Door is a women's shelter that can always use toys, clothing, etc. Or you could research online other womens/children's shelters that could certainly use your donations!!
The Family Place is a great place to start. Its for abused moms & their kids. Also Dallas Casa might be another place to look into. Hospitals have common rooms in children's wards too that might be a fun place to donate them.
You don't say where you're located, so let me just give you some Tarrant County options in case those are closer to you. The Arlington Life Shelter has a wonderful program for homeless families and would be delighted to receive toys, I'm sure. I'm pretty sure you could arrange to volunteer there with your son.
SafeHaven is the women's shelter that operates shelters in Arlington and Fort Worth. They also have other programs. Again, I'm sure they'd be delighted to have them.
Good for you for encouraging a generous and giving heart in your child! And kudos to him for developing such kindness.
You might try a homeless shelter or NEED. Our church has an outreach department and they take things to people each week. Just some ideas. You might also try dialing 211 and asking them where to donate. They go by your zip code so the items will benefit someone in your area.
GOOD LUCK!
Dallas Advocacy Center in Dallas
____@____.com-ask for Shari Markey- tell her D. Sansone- Korys mom sent you.
Its hard to find a place that he can understand it all and be helpful at 5- but just going there and having him give them is good for now. I took my children to a Catholic Chairty place in NJ when we lived there and having them load up their stuff and then unload when we go there and see the line of people waiting to get in - was a good lesson. You are on the right track-
Come Christmas time- pick angels off the trees and have him wrap the gifts etc- You can even doa pretend thank you letter from the children in a year or so-
Charity at a young age is great!
Shari may have an event you can help with but 5 is tough for the understanding of it all.
kudos to you
PS_ Your church may know of a youth center that can use the toys as well
D.
www.partyangelsus.com
Host Assistants at Your Service
We took toys to Childrens Medical Center in Dallas. You can go on the website and they make it soooo easy! http://www.childrens.com/HowToHelp/GiveToys.cfm
I actually got the referral off of Mamasource!
There is also the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center - toys would go to kids in foster care (Foster parents can "shop" for kids in their care there). It's hard to find volunteer projects you can do together with kids that age. A couple I have done with mine - I help out with a homeledd ministry, but don't usually take my boys because they are a bit young to help, but for our Christmas meal the boys go with me to drop off coats which are handed out at the meal - the boys get to see the people who need the coats, some of them still asleep in nearby sidewalks, and make the connection with where their gift is going ( we collect the coats from neighborhood families via a Moms' club mass email). Another easy one - bake cookies together to take to the fire or police station that serves your area. Bonus - the fire fighters will often show the kiddoes around the truck while they're there!
Kids are so great!!! My son does the same thing! We donate to various sources. We first help family and friends if they are in need. Then the day care he attends. As well as our church or local CCA - benefits our local county needs taking care of children and families.
Good luck - and great job on raising a precious caring little one!!!
contact your local church or call Texas 211 infoline, just dial 211 and they can tell you some agencies, I usually donate to womens shelters, pregnancy crisis centers and orphanages, my daughter is the same way.
Try to Vogel Alcove, a day care facility while parents look for work.
If the toys are in good condition you may want to wait and adopt a child at Christmas!
Plano Childern's Clinic it is on 14th Street in Plano. They serve familys with children that do not have any insurance.
Check out a battered women's shelter. They are usually needing things for the kids/families that turn up on their doorstep.
Definitely to a Woman's shelter.
D.
I second the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center....very deserving place doing much needed work....you do, however, have to have clearance to work there. Also any domestic violence shelter as they never have enough of anything.......good job, Mama!
Child protective services.
