No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

[Bob Peale]

So we have a full sized bed we are trying to donate. It's about 10 years old, granted, but it's only been slept on maybe 100 times. I wouldn't buy it, but I would think for a family that's down on its luck or struggling to make ends meet, it would be a great find.

So I call Purple Heart -
Sorry, we don't atke anything that can't be lifted by one person.

Well hell, I can lift it - i guess they mean by one person who's not looking to break asweat - it's a bloody mattress, boxspring and frame - I'm not atlking about an oak sleigh bed here!

Next, onto Goodwill -
If I bring it to their truck, they won't take it, even if I lift it on - takes up too much room (Heaven forbid it displace the 3,000 casserole dishes people are looking to unload.

Ok, well can I schedule a pickup? Sorry, we won't send a truck for less than three pieces of furniture.

Finally, the Salvation Army -
Hah! Fat chance - Currently, they don't have a truck scheduled in ,y zip code, and don't know when they will. Why don't I call back once a week and see if they have an update.


Holy Crap! These organizations were just whining about people forgetting about them in lieu of all the September 11 charities. I'm so glad they've rebounded such that you now have to earn the right to donate!

I'm almost at the end of my rope - one more idea: I'll call the local shelters and see if THEY want the bed. Otherwise, I am going to lug a perfectly good, barely used bed, to the dump.

Ten to one I get calls from ALL of these organizations in the next 30 days asking for money.

 

[morninggirl5]

Before you lug it to the dump, call a couple of churches. They may know of a family that will use the bed and if so, they'll probably find a few members willing to bring a truck to your house and pick it up. You can even get the tax deduction if you keep a record of the transaction, name of the church, etc.

 

[Debbie]

It does seem ridiculous doesn't it? Red tape. *shaking head* I know it is a busy time of year. When I have volunteered for charity organisations I have gone out of my way to collect stuff from people. Everything is gratefully received.
I hit red tape a few months back. Mum in law buys all the magazines there are. So I rang my local hospital asking if it was ok to swing by on my way past and distribute them through the various waiting rooms. Please hold while we put you through to the managing director? WHAT? He had no idea if it was ok? SO I said to him, well how about i just waltz into the waiting rooms and drop them off. No big deal? Sure I guess that would cause no problems. ???
Once a year my kids go through their toy boxes and donate the toys they no longer use or have outgrown. We take them to an organisation they choose and just tip them into the toyboxes.

 

[BlondGirl]

I'm with you, MG--church was my first thought too. I know people in my church that sleep on the floor. Too bad you are not close enough for me bebop over and take it off your hands.

 

[Bob Peale]

Hmmm, church would be fine - I don't need a truck; the bloody minivan will transport fine.

Hell, the deduction is nice, but it's more important that someone get some use out of it - it's criminal to throw it away, but we are at a point where the beds significantly outnumber the people!

 

[modest mouse]

Have you considered an add in the classifieds?

Many papers have a free section that is also free to place an ad. It may generate interest from someone who can make use of the bed.

Good Luck.

 

[Thumper]

A bed! A bed! My Kingdom...

for a bed!

All these lust crazed Lit members and no one needs a barely used bed?

Marvin Tikvah would say...


C'mon!

 

[bluntforcemama]

Mouse's idea is probably the best.

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

Bob,

You and me we are at the opposite sides of the same coin running into the same duct tape from the opposite side.

I need a bed, surrently sleeping on an airmatress, went to the three places you mentioned and thye don't have beds cause no one has given them any.

If shipping didn't cost a fortune I would give an addy for you to send it

 

[Bob Peale]

Todd,

One place you may try is a hotel.

Now before you go crazy, I don't mean a "Bring Your Own Sheets - Alcohol will Kill Anything" place.

We had a small hotel in the town where I went to college that changed its bed stock every two years. As a way to get out of the exorbitant hauling cost for a 150 room endeavor, they would give full sized mattress/boxspring sets to students in return for a $25 donation to a designated charity. Show the receipt, pick up and cart away a set.

 

[lobito]

Hmmm, church would be fine - I don't need a truck; the bloody minivan will transport fine.

Hell, the deduction is nice, but it's more important that someone get some use out of it - it's criminal to throw it away, but we are at a point where the beds significantly outnumber the people!

Bob, I hope you realize that it's only criminal if you tear off that tag.

My worthless input says GIVE it to someone who can use it, whether you get a deduction or not. Everyone here I think knows that YOU will make the right decision on this one.

 

[Bob Peale]

Bob, I hope you realize that it's only criminal if you tear off that tag.

My worthless input says GIVE it to someone who can use it, whether you get a deduction or not. Everyone here I think knows that YOU will make the right decision on this one.

Me don't need no steekin' deduction!

I just want somebody to use the thing - we have to get rid of it, seriously - we have a queen, two fulls, two twins and two cribs in the house.

And we only have 4 people! I need to reclaim some real estate!

 

[Rubyfruit]

Bob,

I hear your woes sweetheart.

I've had the same trouble in the past.

I think the main problem is that we live in a disposable society. There is just too much crap (not that you don't have good crap) to get rid of.

Try getting rid of a sofa that isn't in perfect condition. Nobody will take it.

You can try what we did in CA. We put it out on our driveway with a free sign. It was gone in 3 hours.

Or, if you live in a nicer neighborhood, you might want to just put an add in your local paper (do you have the Recycler?). Put it in for $50 and somebody will buy it. Nobody wants anything for free because they think it's crap.

xoxo
Miss our chats hon.

 

[Thumper]

TWO CRIBS!

Methinks you need to get rid of all the matresses for awhile, Bob.



Really? Go to Kentucky, preferably near a trailer park, and set it out the night before trash pick up. It'll be gone by midnight!

Just ask Jeff Foxworthy

 

[AStormyOne]

I wish I lived closer to you BP. My 2 boys are currently sharing a couch. I need a bed for them desperately . They have definately outgrown the couch.

But, since I don't, or assume I don't.... where do you live??, I would have to agree with the suggestion about calling the churches. I am sure they know a family that would be grateful to have it.

Storm

 

[Barb Dwyer]

Bob, I am surprised they told you those things. Those same charities here have a policy of not taking sofa beds or regular bedding. For health and sanitary reasons.

Several years ago I tried to donate an unused sofabed and a good condition regular mattress/box spring and bed frame. No one would take them. I told them I had them professionally cleaned, but they said they were afraid of liability issues and therefore, never accpeted those kinds of items.

Ruby had a good idea, but I can go one better. This works EVERY time. (And doesn't cost you a cent) Put it out with the trash. It will be claimed hours before the garbagemen get there!

I cleaned out my house a few years ago and took several loads to the curb. At one point I saw a car parked in my driveway. When I got down there, the guy was still loading stuff into his car. Instead of being embarrassed, he asked if I had anymore tvs or vcrs or lamps! LOL

 

[daughter]

LOL

Been there, Bob.

Churches are great option. They don't always have a way of picking up items, but they have no problem giving them to someone who needs them.

Debbie, my kids do the same thing. Every year before Christmas I tell my little one to pick out toys she no longer wants. We clean them up and donate them. Anything that is too worn or broken, we throw out.

This year, I adopted two sisters. Money got low(unexpected income drop) and I was afraid I didn't have enough for them. (Thank God I shopped early and I'm a major bargin hunter). Anyway, I called their father after wrapping the gifts. Boy, I was glad and relieved to see what we had managed to do.

I also purchased single items for older siblings(3). The dad called me on Christmas day. Said the girls were ecstastic. They couldn't believe Santa made it to their house(They're homeless. The mother, who has custody, isn't working. The father took them in. )

He found a tree late Christmas eve and strung popcorn around it. They had a tree, toys, new clothes, and books.

My own daughter had plenty, too. Despite a stressful year, Christmas morning was grand. Babies were happy, and for a few hours I didn't think about adult worries.

Peace,

daughter

 

[Vanyel_Ashke]

You could also try ....

Battered womens shelters. The shelter where I used to work was always needing household items for when the women and kids were ready to go out on their own. It can be tough for a woman running and hiding from an asshole to get on her feet, and every little bit helps.

 

[Gingersnap]

I called Catholic Family Services to get rid of some things including a daybed. They were out ther there the next day to take the stuff to a single mom who had one kid and was pregnant with twins. They were so happy with the stuff. Shelters and churchs tend to be more realistic about getting thing to the people who need them.

 

[Bob Peale]

Well, Salvation Army at least agreed to take it if I brought it to them, so that is an option. But now I like the Catholic Charities possibility - I really want it to go where it will do some good.

We donated about 11 cel phones to battered shelters last year solely because they program them with emergency numbers and give them to victims of abuse for emergencies. At least that way, tey really do do some good...