Jordan and I have decided to do a purge of anything "extra" in our house we don't need. Generally, we pride ourselves on trying to keep the excess material goods to a minimum, but come on, who doesn't have too many? So room by room we're cleaning out closets and donating everything we don't use on a regular basis. It feels really good!
Included in this cleanup is our never ending stock pile of the boys' outgrown clothes. We previously donated all 0-3 months to the NICU social worker, but now they have outgrown their 3-6 months and are quickly working their way out of 6-12 months. Literally every time I do laundry I am putting something else aside that is too small for them. In addition to clothes, soon they will start outgrowing gear like their bouncy chairs, activity mats, etc.
As I have said many times, we have been very lucky with the amount of stuff that has been given to us for the boys. Between our own hand me downs from Rio, endless hand me downs from friends, and gifts, we have been pretty much stocked up until now. So because people have been so generous with us, we want to donate everything the boys have as they are done using it. Since we are likely not having more kids there is no reason to hold onto anything once it is outgrown (we can have the half of our garage back that has been full of kids stuff for the past 4 years!). And we don't feel as though selling it is an option when most of it has been given to us - so time to pay it forward.
So readers, I am wondering if anyone knows a Victoria family in need that could really benefit from our hand me downs? My plan is to take it to Women In Need if no one knows of a specific family, but if anyone does can you please send me an email and give me the details? I know most families, impoverished or not, like hand me downs, but if there is anyone that really needs it, I would appreciate knowing that and would love to pass it on to them. A family with twins would be ideal! Everything I'm saving is in really great condition (anything less than ideal has already been donated to charity in bits and pieces, or it has been tossed).
Thanks all, and even if you can't think of anyone right now, please keep us in mind if you know of anyone in the future. Clearly there's going to be hand me downs coming out of this house for years to come!
I would also give a heads up to Dre(if she is still the NICU social worker?)and let IDP know, IDP up here is more than happy to put things into the loaning out library (both our swings went to them) had I known about the library it would have made things easier! I remember the white board int he NICU having a list of items available that they stored with the OT at the hospital! If Jeneece place was open they could probably use the big items, but the house isn't built just yet!
ReplyDeleteHave you thought of St Vincent de Paul? My mom volunteers with them in Ontario and they are always getting calls to help women/families in need.
ReplyDeleteAnn D