We are lucky to be expecting our second child this Winter. We are thrilled....but we have a girl and of course we are having a boy this time around. I know, I know, we are lucky to have one of each. But this means we have to buy everything new for this little boy because everything, including the car seat, was pink.
So I've started my project of sorting through all of the bins and boxes that house all of our girl things. As I have started this process, I realized that I don't want to just give away things blindly to local charities, but really ensure that they have a good purpose. I have done some research, and have found a couple of great options for our gently used baby clothes and gear.
First, online communities and auction sites (like EBay, Craigslist) to sell items that are new or almost brand new are a great. I also have the opportunity of posting sale items on a local mother's club website. For the majority of clothing and some gear, I have visited local consignment stores. They are pretty particular about what they take, but if they want what you have they are can be simple and moderately profitable. You'll split the profit at a designated percent. Last, instead of just sending the more used things off to the Goodwill( I love Goodwill but they are so broad), I have found local donation sites that are specifically for mothers and children. I love the idea of giving directly to the audience that will benefit.
Not only has it been a big project, but just keeping the bags and boxes that are going out organized is a job in itself. All the bags are labeled with contents and destination. Then I use my daily planner to make note of where and when items were donated and dropped off.
