Recycle and Donate — Kids’ Stuff

Stuffed Animals. Oh my God, it’s like those things multiply when the lights are turned off. I’m always throwing them out, and while I know how expensive they are, I also know that they’re usually pretty biodegradable so will often just chuck them or give them to Goodwill. But now there’s a much better option.

There’s a great organization called SAFE (Stuffed Animals for Emergencies) that donates gently used stuffed animals to places where kids will most likely need a stuffed friend to hug — homeless shelters, hospitals, ambulances, etc.

Musical Instruments. If I had a dollar for every new musical instrument that my child would promise to play and practice…. Okay, well it probably wouldn’t get me that far, but I have a feeling that when they leave the nest I will have a few violins and maybe a guitar or two to donate for a good cause. Here’s one called Music in Schools Today in San Francisco that donates about 200 instruments annually for schools in need.

School Supplies. From small ticket items like pencils, papers, markers, and notebooks to big stuff like furniture, backpacks, cameras, space heaters, etc… I Love Schools keeps your kids’ schools flush with all those little things that often slip through the budget.