Thank you SO MUCH to everyone with the generosity to donate! I am shocked by how many people simply throw away things when they are done with them. Inspired by a question on the board asking for places in Kitchener-Waterloo to donate, I decided to start a fresh thread with my suggestions, and please, please, let us know where you donate food, clothing, and even your time. Let's keep adding to the list until it is a comprehensive thread on charitable giving!
1.
Canadian Diabetes Association allows you to schedule a
FREE donation pick-up, right at your door, and you can schedule by phone or even online! I give to them a few times a year, as soon as I get four fair-sized boxes of clothing, books, magazines, small housewares, and shoes. All you have to do is mark the boxes/bags with the letter "D" so they know what to take (as in, not your patio chairs, hah!) and place them out on the date they tell you in the morning (leave it out overnight if you don't think people will steal it -- I have the benefit of a covered front porch) and by the time you get home from work, they've picked it up and you've done nearly nothing! It's my favourite method of donation as I do not drive, and schlepping boxes of coats on the bus in the dead of winter is a little slice of hell on earth to me.
http://www.diabetes.ca/get-involved/...-promise-form/
2: Several
grocery stores have wire bins at the front of the store or by the cash checkouts for non-perishable food donations. Valu-Mart in The Shops at Waterloo Square (Waterloo Town Square, 75 King Street South, Waterloo) comes to mind, as it's the only place I've personally donated. They are open every day until 10 pm.
3:
Worth a Second Look employs disabled and those working toward a better life in their store as well as for pickup, as they are part of
The Working Centre. If you call them, they will pick up all sorts of things, free of charge. I donated a gigantic wall unit I otherwise could not have moved. It is also an awesome store to shop, as they have all sorts of art, SO MUCH furniture, toys, fabric, and exceptional housewares such as vintage glasses and china. They also accept donations of toiletries.
Give them a call at 519-569-7566. They are located at
97 Victoria Street North in Kitchener.
http://www.theworkingcentre.org/worth-second-look/166
4:
Bibles for Missions (BFM) is hand-down the BEST thrift shopping experience I have ever had, here or in London or even in Toronto. It is AMAZING. The prices are so low to begin with, but they also have colour tag sales so you are in for a bargain, no matter what. They have high quality clothes, great shoes ($4 usually!), housewares, books, lots of fabric and crafting supplies, as well as a lower level accessible by elevator for hardware, large electronics and furniture and the like. I love to donate to them when I am in the area because it is also helping those of us who can only afford to thrift shop by enhancing our shopping experience.
Drop off at side door after hours, or in-store during store hours Monday-Saturday 10:00AM 5:00PM, Sunday & Holidays CLOSED
27 Scott Street, Kitchener
http://www.bfmthriftstores.ca/kitche...-thrift-store/
5: Last but certainly not least, in addition to always needing financial donations, the KW Humane Society has a Wishlist for care of animals awaiting adoption. They do not require food donations anymore, but things like your used towels that would not be appreciated for humans can give comfort to homeless animals. This is also a great place to give excess vegetables, as you can see from the list below of this Wishlist, from their site. They are located at 250 Riverbend Drive in Kitchener.
http://www.kwhumane.com/
Gift Cards
Walmart Zehrs Canadian Tire Home Depot Pet Stores
Animal Daily Needs
KMR (kitten milk replacement Small nursing bottles for kittens
Non-clumping litter Carefresh Rabbit pellets Rabbit and small animal food Aspen shavings Soft dog treats (for training)
New or used blankets and towels Timothy Hay (for rabbits)
Field Greens salad mix Apples Carrots Peppers Celery Broccoli
Silkworms Hygrometers Thermometers
Calcium Sand Treats for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
Light Bulbs for Reptiles (Red & White, under 150W)
Decor for Reptile Tanks Dome Light Fixtures Basking Bulbs
Care Guides for Birds and Reptiles Cricket Food and Cricket Quencher
Chew sticks/toys Vinegar (for cleaning small animal cages)
Battery-Operated Digital Kitchen Scales (for weighing immature kittens)
Grooming
Standard grooming scissors Oster & Whal clippers Pet shampoos
Clipper blades sizes 5, 10, 30, 40 Scissor-type nail trimmers
Training
Nylon martingale collars Kong toys Strong nylon leashes
Flat nylon leashes & collars Books on dog behaviour
First Aid for Animals
Preparation H (brand name only please) Bandage material/vet wrap
Mineral oil for cleaning ears
We also accept Canadian Tire money and Zehrs tapes.
KWHS no longer needs dog and cat food donations as Iams
generously donates all nutritional needs for the KWHS dogs and cats.
