Yes, that is right; it is indeed that time of the year again. Bah. And Humbug.
However, I promise it really isn’t any reason to despair. Indeed, this article is here to help de-clutter your life and all for a good cause.
Many of the enthusiastic among you will be preparing to clear out the house for Christmas. Many of the less enthused may be preparing to undertake the delayed spring clean…in time for Christmas. But whilst we trudge our under-bed hauls to the bins (or skip?), take a second; is there anything in there that others can use?
In every room of our homes there are a range of products we would happily throw out; they are no use or not wanted by us, therefore they are of no use to anyone else, right? Wrong. Many items we discard – like clothes, books and toys – are in good condition and can mean everything from a valued gift to one person, to a treasured possession of another. Whilst we happily throw out perfectly good products, here are three alternative options that ensure you can really, truly, make a difference to someone’s life…whilst tidying out the house before Christmas rolls around.
1. Charity Shops
We all know of the charity shops; perhaps we all love to meander around the charity shops. Charity shops are the number one stop for many of us who bypass our bins when clearing out the house. For Oxfam, shop donations raised £23million to support those living in poverty last year alone [1]. Charity shops gratefully accept everything from those summer clothes you bitterly swore you would fit into, to the inherited furniture that matches nothing else in the house. The things you think are worth the bin can be worth a lot for individuals or families elsewhere. You can find your local charity shop right here:
http://www.charityshops.org.uk/locator.php
2. Support Our Troops
Here’s an opportunity that is a little bit different. We all see the news, the television reports, the newspapers and perhaps even know of some friends and relatives out on the frontline. For Britain’s troops out “on the field” over Christmas, it can be a harrowing, lonely and heartbreaking time. Support Our Soldiers is one of few organisations officially recognised to provide donations and support from home. Whether you donate loose items from home – such as magazines or toiletry sets – all of these items can bring a touch of home and a sign of support for those facing dangerous situations at a difficult time. The range of accepted products is varied and shown below:
So here’s how it works. There are two options. Firstly you can gather up loose belongings and take them to a collection point – found here:
http://www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk/
Or, you can pop your goods into a shoebox and have the Royal Air Force deliver it to a soldier out on the fields. If opting for the shoebox option, you are welcome – indeed encouraged – to include a letter to the troop giving a bit of feedback from home. The gender of the recipient is also your choice. It is a simple and rewarding way of helping others by passing on the products you would otherwise discard.
3. Samaritans Purse
The Samaritans purse allows you to gift items to children in some of the World’s most challenging communities. From those ravaged by floods to those torn apart by civil wars.
Just like supportoursoldiers (above), you can either donate and shop online or pack up a shoebox and deliver it to one of many local collection points – which can be found through the website below. Samaritans Purse accepts a range of products including magazines, colouring books, sweets, toys and hygiene products. If making a shoebox with your child’s belongings, you can ensure that box goes to a child within a particular gender and age group. A unique feature of sending a shoebox with Samaritans Purse is the ability to track your box allowing you to see where your box ends up in the world!
For more information: http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/about
Finally…
As you rummage through the wardrobes and cupboards – on your ruthless mission to clear space – it is truly worth taking a moment to consider if those belongings can make an enormous difference to anyone else before popping them in the bin. Making a Christmas box for either a soldier or child can be a highly educational and rewarding activity for young ones and helps significantly extend the lifespan of your goods. When you do start making those all important purchases for loved ones presents, why not consider an eco-friendly present such as our lovely range of soaps?
See, Christmas clearouts aren’t so bad after all, are they?
References
[1] https://www.oxfam.org.uk/donate/shops/index.html
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