I was getting ready to leave for a trip to Kenya a couple of years ago, when a church emailed and asked if Mercy House had any specific needs. I quickly responded and told them I wanted to give Maureen, our Kenyan Director, an iPhone, so we could communicate during (almost weekly) power outages. I told them if they would buy one instead, we could use the money for other needed items.
On the church’s Facebook feed a few days later, I saw an appeal that said something like, “We want to support a ministry with a used iPhone. If you have an old one you can donate, please let us know.”
I was given an older iPhone a week later. On the ground in Kenya, I realized it wouldn’t hold a charge for more than 10 minutes. The phone was junk.
So, when I left Kenya, I gave Maureen my used one that worked.
The church contacted me after the trip and asked how Maureen liked her new phone? I told them it was useless and said, “Don’t worry about it. I gave her mine.”
“Oh, we feel badly, please let us replace your phone! We want to buy you a brand new one, an upgrade. You deserve it,” I told them I used my husband’s upgrade and already had a replacement phone. “Ok. Instead we would like to write you a $500 check for the inconvenience.”
Give it to Maureen, I said.
And they did.
While the church tried to make it right, I was bothered by the fact they were more than willing to buy me a new phone I didn’t need. I have noticed this mentality permeates the Church as a whole: The poor will be happy with our leftovers. They don’t know any better. They live in Africa or Honduras, they don’t need the latest technology or the best brands like we do. They will appreciate anything we give because something is more than nothing.
Why do we give others-often those in service to the poor or the poor themselves-something we wouldn’t keep or give ourselves?
Somehow collecting clothes for immigrants has become the perfect opportunity to get rid of stuff we don’t want and gathering baby items for new moms is the perfect excuse to toss out stained and worn clothing we wouldn’t dare use again. I’ve packed suitcases with beautiful donations, but mostly I’ve pilfered through piles of junk donated in the name of Jesus.
It’s time to stop giving our crap to the poor.
There’s nothing wrong with used or second-hand. It’s often my first and favorite choice. Many organizations and ministries depend on used gifts. But if we give used, it should be our best. I’m not saying when we clean out older clothes or toys or things we don’t use any longer and donate them–that this is wrong. I am saying if we give it away, it should be something we would use ourselves.
The poor may not have wealth, but they have dignity. I’ve met people without electricity or running water who swept their dirt floors daily, pressed their clothes neatly, walked miles to work on muddy roads, dodging sewage and never had a speck of dirt on them. They value their own worth, we should too.
I’ll never forget meeting a woman in Africa who supported her large family by reselling used clothes from America. But when she held up clothes to show me what was for sale– clothes Americans had donated in clothing drives–they were tattered and stained. I was embarrassed.
Her best depended on our worst.
Just because our donation feels like we are helping, in reality, we could be hurting. Bales of used clothes are sold to African countries for resell and they end up flooding the market and often put local textile businesses and seamstresses out of business.
It’s time to think about not only what we give and how we give it, but also why we give it. Just because it makes us feel better (and cleans out our garage at the same time), doesn’t mean it’s the best for those in need. Perhaps we should look a little deeper into our hearts and wallets when we can say, I don’t have money to give to the poor, but I have a lot of stuff. Maybe we need to buy less stuff, so we have more to give?
“We’re not giving what we’re called to give, unless that giving affects how we live — affects what we put on our plate and where we make our home and hang our hat and what kind of threads we’ve got to have on our back. Surplus Giving is the leftover you can afford to give; Sacrificial Giving is the love gift that changes how you live — because the love of Christ has changed you. God doesn’t want your leftovers. God wants your love overtures, your first-overs, because He is your first love.” -Ann Voskamp
There have been times over the years, I’ve gasped and grinned at the beautiful items I’ve sorted and packed for the impoverished. When we give our best, we are living our best. We are saying with our donation, you are valuable. We are whispering with our gift, you are worthy of the best. We have the opportunity to speak self worth when we give generously.
It’s a promise for them.
It’s a promise for us.
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”- Proverbs 19:17
The next time we have the opportunity to share what we have with someone who is in need. let’s give from the pile we want to keep, not from the one we want to throw out.
One thing that drives me nuts is when people donate expired canned goods to a food drive. Seriously?! Jesus said that what we do for the “least” of these we do for him. Why would you give Jesus expired food or worn out junk?
our family eats expired canned food all the time , i open , smell, taste …..thank God for it and hope for the best 🙂
I agree! And I think this is part of the problem. Some people live very simple, frugal lives. They don’t have money for those fancy things themselves. The things that we use every day would be far beneath a lot of people. Should we just not donate anything at all simply because of the tastes of some? Should we just throw away our stuff that still has life, just because it is “not good enough?”
Nearly everything my family has is used. We don’t have the best or newest of anything.
I understand the idea of not using a donation bin as a way to get rid of our crap, or thinking we somehow deserve the best while others deserve the worst.
But on the other hand, I think there is an attitude of entitlement that permeates this country and others (In fact, Kristen, I have seen you talk about it a lot on this very site!), where we all think we somehow deserve the best. And we don’t. I don’t. It is very offensive to me when I try to offer something that someone else sees as a meager offering, and not good enough…when it is something that comes from our own meager kitchen, closets, etc. When did it become okay to turn up our noses at such things?
Also, I have seen firsthand countries and people who really are grateful for what they are given because they need it and because they don’t have that spirit of entitlement that is so prevalent in our country. And they would be (and have been) appalled if things were simply thrown away because we don’t deem it good enough to donate.
So where do we draw that line?
I totally agree with you!
I just don’t agree with this at all. Especially the way it was written. If you were trying to persuade me to fall into your line of thinking, you did a bad a job. You wrote with a condensending tone. Furthermore, it’s not people’s fault for giving away what the distrubutors (church’s and world mission teams) ask for. In fact, they would rather have to sift though a bunch of crap then risk someone not giving away a good that someone else could benefit from because they think it is “stripping away somones dignity” for receiving. I really don’t know how you could experience real poverty and write a blog post like this. I’ve been to Haiti, served some of the nations poorest individuals, even just the act of being able to give someone a gift, no matter what gift it is, can be impactful.
Well Said! I agree Too!
I agree that we shouldn’t think we deserve the best. We should all approach life humbly and with great gratitude for the items we have, whether they are tattered or pristine. With that being said, I think the author is addressing the issue of giving the poor and disadvantaged our leftovers, while we keep the best for ourselves. For example, we may say we don’t have enough money to buy diapers for a mom in our church that is struggling to afford them, yet we go and splurge on a coffee at Starbucks or buy an autumn-scented candle at Bath and Body Works “just because”. I do not believe she is condemning people who do not have enough money to donate what one might consider a “quality” item—she is mainly addressing individuals who have an abundance of quality items but choose to buy junk for others because they are living a self-centered life. I’m addressing myself here too… I think of the story in the Bible where the widow gave her two coins. Jesus considered her gift the most of all, while the pharisees made a show as they poured their tithes and offerings, more plentiful than the widow’s, into the box. Jesus never asked us to give out of our abundance. He asked us to give of what we have. So if what we have is tattered clothing to offer, that is acceptable and holy in God’s eyes. But if what we have is a closet full of J.Crew and Banana Republic, and we’re not willing to part ways with it, that is what I feel is the issue here.
Perfect response!
Yes, Emily – so well said!! 🙂
Emily, that’s exactly right. It’s about giving out of love, not out to mitigate guilt. When we love we give abundantly, when we feel guilty we make excuses.
This article highlights two facts:
* We should care for other countries industry, development and consider our actions.
and
* The excess of junk we accumulate and feel the need to dump to the poor should remind us how much we are spending on ourselves. If we limit consumerism we’ll find out how much more we have to give.
So much easier said than done.
Our culture is designed to makes us feel like we are the ones lacking and must fill that void (With one more latte, a nicer car, a new nail polish, brand name clothing, a diet pill, a nicer gym, a bigger house, a better vacation, the latest gadget, the next best seller, etc.) letting us forget that indeed we are wealthy beyond belief.
Well said!
I couldn’t agree with you more. You made your point perfectly and it reflected exactly what the original writer was trying to say. She was in no way judging anyone’s heart in giving good gifts except the guilty. Only the guilty and God know who they are so they are the only ones that need be offended.
Well said. I do have to say, though, that I spend very frugally, purchasing clothes for my family at a thrift store or on clearance. I do this not because I can’t afford more expensive clothing, necessarily. I just try my best to be a good steward of what resources I have. I personally don’t feel like it is responsible to spend an abundance of money on clothes that my children will grow out of quickly, or on trends that will change within a few seasons. Even still, I wear most of my clothing for years before donating it. My point is that those REALLY NICE donated items aren’t necessarily donated from those with the truest giving heart. They’re more likely from the over-spender who pays too much for name brand clothing and changes her mind about what she likes.
Just a thought.
Very well said and I fully agree with it.
I agree with Emily.
I believe personally, the right thing to do is…when I donate clothes or food or anything, I donate items I would give to a person face to face. I would not wear something stained or eat a tin of something expired. Why would I expect to give anything like that to anyone else. I believe we are all equal. In fact, I possibly feel strongly about this because someone close to me is always being given second hand clothes/ items. quite often they are faulty so that person just throws the item/s in the bin anyway…!!!…
Exactly. I feel that in today’s ‘entitlement’ thinking, we also live in an ‘offended’ day. Stop being offended. Don’t read more into what is said/written. Love. If convicted, do something different.
Perfectly said!
Well said! I completely agree with you Sally!
I don’t think he point is to throw things away instead of giving it away…I think he point is not to give away junk (things that are broken and can’t be fixed, clothing that is stained and can’t be made clrean again, or clothing that has holes that can’t be repaired) Yes, people in some other countries are grateful for whatever they can get, but that doesn’t mean we have to give them crap! Go through the stuff you no longer use/need/or can’t sell. Make sure it is still in decent shape (would you use it again if the need were to arise? Would you wear it again if you didn’t have others?) Then donate the good and throw out the rest….nobody likes to see things “wasted” but unless you are sending tattered clothes to a known seamstress or broken items to a know tinkerer, then sending it is almost a “waste” as well.
Like I said in my post above, I do understand the premise of not giving junk. But some of the things people have mentioned (‘uncool’ brands, dollar store toys, used clothes) are things that aren’t junk to us at all!
Just trying to share another point of view–sometimes when people give things that aren’t cool, fancy, nice things…they aren’t giving their junk. They are giving what they have and use for themselves. Just because YOU wouldn’t use it, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t.
Let’s not forget that there are many ways to recycle, even sell, broken items. Goodwill employs needy people and teaches them to repair items for sale. There is still value in most broken cell phones when provided to the appropriate organization. We need to stop being lazy about our donations and sort through the items ourselves, so they can go where they’ll be useful. Also, tattered clothing that can no longer be worn can still be used as rags for cleaning or by mechanics. Most items don’t need to go directly to the landfill just because they no longer suit the North American standard of quality or cleanliness.
You don’t have to throw torn or stained clothing away. Check in your area to see who takes textile donations. That “trash” can be recycled.
Leah has this right. Send good that you yourself would wear but no longer use, but not un-removable stained or un-repairable clothing. If you want to get rid of these items, you can send them to an organization like Goodwill Industries that will bundle them, sell them to a company that uses them for rags, and Goodwill makes a profit to teach handicapped and some of our downtrodden veterans skills to have a better life. Then both sides win.
I agree with you too! We we were first married, a “friend” of mine had a baby. I was in school and my husband did not make a lot of money, just about what we could survive on. I bought her a package of diapers, since I was practical and knew she would NEED these. They were not Pampers, she offered them back to me because I was pregnant at the time. She didn’t USE that brand. OK, that’s fine, but she could have donated them to someone who could really use them, instead of insulting me. Sometimes our gifts are junk to people, but let us have the joy of giving, the dignity. People have the right to not like gifts they receive, but they don’t have the right to make someone feel “guilty” because it’s not up to their standard.
Amen!
Just a point to consider: some babies can’t use certain brands because they give them rashes. I have friends whose kids cannot use pampers; mine on the other hand gets constant rashes from any diapers I’ve tried OTHER than pampers. Yes, they are more expensive, but worth saving him the pain of constant rashes! And your friend may have been trying to give them to “someone who could really use them” as you suggested – you. Maybe to save yourself the insult factor, ask what someone needs first. But either way, it only hurts you when you take things like that so personally!
We always found that Pampers leaked. We used LIDL (similar to ALDI) nappies for a long time, then moved on to ASDA (Walmart subsidiary) ones after LIDL changed the design.
Exactly!!! I think this haughty, prideful, snobbish attitude in the face of sacrificial gifts is just as bad as the people who give less than they could.
I think from the tone of your comment you just want to be offended, but let me share my situation with you. I am a single foster mom to twin toddlers, one of whom has chronic diarrhea. We use Huggies because otherwise, the baby will leak through the diapers – causing me to use more diapers, more laundry soap, more water, more time, more clothes, etc. I have tried other brands and they do not work. Pampers tints the liner of their diapers which gives the baby a rash. So we stick with Huggies.
Diapers that cause constant blowouts are not helpful. More things in my house, when the kids are already pulling everything on the floor, are not helpful. Adding another task or errand to my already overloaded schedule is not helpful. This is true for almost any new mother. If you can use the diapers, please, help all parties involved and KEEP THE DIAPERS.
Donating what YOU think the mother could use is not helpful. Asking the mother what she could use makes the giving about helping her, rather than making yourself feel better.
People have asked me what I need for the babies and I consistently say, “Diapers, we use Huggies, size [X]” and feel like a jerk about it except THAT IS WHAT WE USE. It is based on trial and error and finding what works for the kids. Please don’t undermine that so you can feel “helpful.”
Where do we draw the line? Don’t give away something that you wouldn’t continue to use yourself, or that no longer really has any decent value. Good baby clothes are fine, since maybe your child has outgrown them, stained and worn out not so much. A phone that barely works, not fine. But one that is in good condition while you were able to upgrade to a newer model is fine. The comment about used clothing reaching developing countries and displacing jobs is a really good point. We see that in Nicaragua all the time. Ministries donate loads of clothes that reach the open market. Those receiving ministries have an economic advantage because they didn’t have to purchase the clothes to begin with, and that is unfair to those who are trying to operate legitimate businesses.
This article makes some great points when measured in the proper context.
My question is this… why is it that all the so called ministries for the needy end up selling the stuff anyway…. it is given to them free of charge… for people who can’t afford it…which is the impression I get… and they sell it… why..?? If they are needy… we think we are giving to the ones who can’t buy clothes… with the impression it will just be given to them… why do they need to make money off of it… I know it takes money to run these cooperations… but look into how much the ceo of Goodwill and Red Cross makes… they make big money.. at a non-profit organization no doubt… something isn’t right about this.. we give it to you for free… you give it away for free… period.. no market crash.. no one put out of business.. instead they can use the money they are buying donated stuff with and buy food..medicine… or whatever else they may need…
My point is that there are things I WOULD USE, but that others deem “not good enough” and reject it with a haughty, prideful attitude. The point is that it is very subjective!
Why don’t the ministries donate the clothes to local people and help them set up shop? That way they would be enabling people.
Tiffiny–
Goodwill Industries doesn’t do repairs the way they used to. Most of the work is simply prepping the items for sale.
http://www.goodwillnwnc.org/itemsWeAccept.cfm
I think the exact location of the line is unclear, but which side of that line something is on is clear most of the time.
I couldn’t have said it better.
I couldn’t have said it better than Sally. Thank you.
I agree with you, Sally. Entitlement is a huge problem, because we all think we deserve the best. But I’m not talking about poor people snubbing their noses at dollar store toys or clothes that aren’t name brand. Or even missions organizations doing that. We gladly take needed items in good condition, regardless of brand. I’m referring to the heart. It’s the attitude behind our gift–whatever that might be–that counts. I’m talking about this attitude that permeates our culture. I don’t think we toss out what isn’t fit to donate, but maybe we find a place to recycle it…I I don’t know. Thanks for making me think, too.
Kristen, thank you for taking the time to respond.
I think the bottom line of what Kristine is saying is that we should always give our best regardless of whether I myself buy used clothes or new ones (I do both). The point is to give our best, like the poor widow woman Jesus pointed out who put in the two copper coins into the offering box and he said “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44)
I agree! When the hard-earned things my family was using up to the point of donation, and clothing I had carefully stored away for future children was rejected as not-good-enough for handouts to the poor, I thought to myself, “I guess they are not willing to live as ‘poor’ as we do, so how can I be of benefit to them?” I was not willing to take from my family to enable others to live better than we do.
This. Exactly what I am talking about.
Thank you for all you said. I have not been able to express these very sentiments when my donations of “generic” was pushed to the side & not used. This has been very discouraging.
Completely agree with you! And I also donate sometimes knowing that some textiles will be recycled, hopefully for shop rags, insulation and such. I’d rather try to gibe it a second life than fill our landfills when there is some use left.
Trying to be a good steward can be tricky. The LORD knows my heart.
I think we draw the line at heart. At immediately thinking that because something is for the poor that subpar is acceptable because they don’t have anything anyway. The bible says to share what we have, not what we’re done with..
Hebrews 13:16 ESV Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
The bible says that the measure that we use will be returned to us.
Luke 6:38 ESV Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
The bible says, to love your neighbor and to do it in truth.
It’s not about entitlement. It’s about wanting the best for your neighbor.
Where do we draw the line? We draw the line at our own doorsteps. I will accept for myself (and maybe my family) second or third best. But what I give to others? That needs to be superior to what I would accept for myself.
During Lent, I used to give up caffeine. The I got married and we had kids — and I realized that my sacrifice of caffeine was a burden on the rest of the family. THEY were having to suffer because the what I CHOSE to sacrifice. (Now granted, if I weren’t a caffeine-a-holic in the first place, this wouldn’t be an issue.)
So, I try to remember: it’s not a very useful sacrifice if it burdens someone else.
Additionally, this reminds me, yet again, I really, really need to humble myself, and not buy another stitch of clothing for myself unless I have so worn out what I have that it’s useless to anyone else.
So basically, if I can’t afford to give at a level that would be fitting for someone with much superior tastes then I should just not give at all. That is NOT Biblical!
My problem is that motives are being questioned if things aren’t super nice, name brand, expensive things…Not all generic brand, uncool things come from wealthy, stingy people. Some of them come from dirt-poor people who want to help. And just because it’s not good enough for YOU doesn’t mean it’s not their best.
Seriously??? You are whining about not even giving up caffeine because it burdens your family, but you think poor families should sacrifice everything in order to be able to afford super nice things to donate? That is utterly ridiculous and it shows that you and I aren’t even from the same PLANET!
Pam, I get what you are saying. : ) You weren’t whining about the caffeine at all — it was just an illustration (and a good one). You have a humble and kind heart. God bless you!
Amen, Sandy! I understood this completely, and I did not take it as ridiculous or whining.
Yes! Thank you for saying this.
your heart is in the right place you see usefulness and God uses those things, Love your nieghbors as your own selves. give to others what you would for yourselves. be fair with your money. if you go to walmart and try to seek only for yourself. what good have you done for anyone. when you have not concidered your neighbor or others or the other employees, they may not work at your business but they are employees as well. When you give to others things you would not use. its not giving at all its cleaning out your garage. if you don’t want it what would make you think someone else would. Instead give to others things that you would use. share. loan freely expecting nothing in return. dont just give everything to earn love. don’t give away your childs food, but share your own.
I absolutely agree with you. If you are looking for a freebie then don’t look for the best, that is what I am spending my time working for.
I don’t think the article was about what those receiving “should” be looking for, but rather what sort of heart those giving should have.
I 100% agree with you!! This article is offensive to me and I absolutely wouldn’t read anything else she has on her blog!
Bye.
I completely agree with everything you’ve said.
I was helping at a shelter in my city for the first time. I was raised in a middle income family. Both of my parents worked multiple side jobs to give us what we had. We didn’t waste. We always ate the crusts of bread. In fact, I always enjoyed it. When I was making sandwiches at the shelter, I used a crust. I was berated for doing that. I was told that I must not value the people I served that day. I was hurt and saddened by this view. I DID value them, I saw them as just like me. Now I will throw things out that I probably would still put on my kid’s backs if they still fit them, stained and all… instead of giving them away for fear that someone will think this of me again… Now it’s more in the landfill… great.
Very sad! I do think to an extent that there is an issue with the hearts of the givers.
Also, I just want to make this point as well. Sometimes, those people who are dirt poor are the most giving. Maybe that’s why there is so much “junk” given. Because the things are given from those who want to give, but don’t have a lot to give, while the wealthy are too busy thinking that the poor should get a job instead of handouts.
The other issue is the entitlement of the poor (I grew up in absolute poverty, and I’m not far from it now…I have seen this firsthand!). Just like in this example. The people in this country have lost the ability to “make do” that our grandparents lived on. We are so entitled and spoiled and used to having everything exactly what we want that we just won’t settle for anything else. It’s completely ridiculous.
Thats truly bizarre, I have never even heard of adults who don’t eat crusts. It sounds more to me like those people considered the needy as children and treated them as such. As if being poor made them less of a normal well-thinking adult.
The thing about giving expired food to a food drive is that the ones who run the food drive then become liable in case the food is bad or even poisonous. It’s one thing to give worn clothing or books or electronics. They may be unpleasant or at least less pleasant but they aren’t going to kill someone or send them to the hospital! Please use a little common sense!
The author’s focus is on SACRIFICIAL giving. While $2 may impact 1 family’s budget, it may take $200 for another. BOTH gifts are fantastic examples of sacrificial giving. Likewise with our possesions. If my child has toys spilling out of his room, why am I only giving half broken ones to those who have none? Regardless of how much a person has or lacks, everyone knows a broken toy when they see one. If you thin your coat closet of your extras, not just stained or ripped leftovers thinking that it will still keep someone warm, whether they are new or used, these are the gifts that count in His eyes! I think the author wants us to look at what we can sacrifice, not JUST what we’re done with anyway.
Widows Mite – enough said!
Very well said, and I agree totally. The furniture in my house is 15- 25 years old. I buy mark-downs at the grocery store, and clothing stores. When I donate used goods, I have two piles; the trash pile that I don’t donate, and the good pile that I do donate. Sometimes the “good” pile includes nice clothes that no longer fit me. I am thankful when someone donates a item to me, and I don’t turn my nose up at it.
AMEN!!!
Honestly, having next to nothing to spend myself, often makes me really think about what I really Need, and what I just want. Certain things, like I buy off the dollar menu more than at a high scale restaurant, just because I don’t want to pay more than I need to for a hot meal. Actually, I’ve noticed that the dollar menus in some places aren’t even hot food… But more than that, I’ve noticed people more, there’s a lot of people I see daily, whom are decent people, but they get treated badly, due to their kindness, or they even get taken advantage of, kind people often get taken advantage of – even by the poor in this country. I kind of don’t want to give more, because I’ve had people steal from me and family. But I probably will look for the extra $20, as a ministry toward people who struggle with suicide.
I think that’s a good question.
I have to say, I don’t think donating expired food, even if you yourself would eat it and hope for the best, is a good thing. For one thing, the person receiving it has no way to know that you’re giving them something you would use yourself, rather than using them as a place to dump things you don’t want.
Secondly, there’s definitely a health risk there, and I would be too worried about the food safety issue to anonymously give potentially unsafe food to someone I don’t know. Now, if someone came to your door and said, “Please, I’m starving. I don’t care if it’s expired, I don’t care if I have to scrape mold off it. I’ll take any bit of food you have, just give me something,” and all you had to offer them was an expired can, that’s different. They know their situation, and they said they were okay with it.
But if you’re donating to a food pantry, you have no idea who that food is going to. Is it a pregnant woman, or someone with a compromised immune system? Is it someone who’s truly starving and will take what’s offered because they have no choice, or someone who will throw that expired can out because they’d rather go to bed hungry than risk getting food poisoning and being too sick for work or an interview? Does the food pantry give people pre-divided boxes or let them “shop”?
Aside from the safety issue, I’d say the way to tell if your heart’s in the right place when donating something is to think what you would do with it if you weren’t donating it. If it’s food, would you feel comfortable serving it to a guest in your home, who you like and respect—maybe your pastor or a beloved aunt or a favorite teacher or professor? If it’s clothing or other goods, would you happily wrap it up and give it to a friend as a gift?
I think if you can say “Yes” to those questions, you can feel comfortable donating anything that meets the stated requirements of the organization you’re giving it to. If you can’t honestly say “Yes” to those questions, then I wouldn’t donate it, at least not generally to a charity. (You might know someone, for example, who’d be thrilled to take stained torn clothes for their kids to play outside in, so they can save the few things they have that are in good shape for school.)
Well said Sally Webster, I agree with you whole heatedly. I am a single mum and don’t have a lot myself but when my children outgrow their clothes, I donate them to charity, They may not be brand names or very expensive but if someone else can benefit from them that makes me happy.
We have volunteered at the food bank a few times and were told as long as a can is not dented at a seam or where there is a potential puncture, it is fine for use. We also have received outdated and appreciated having it.
I used to work at a church whose pastor was also on the board of a local foodbank. That foodbank distributed canned foods (non punctured/dented) to locals in need as long as the cans were no more than 6 months out of date.
I’ve been told that food banks can take (and are grateful to receive) canned goods up to five years past their “best-by date”, as long as the can is not damaged and the label is intact.
…and I have a friend who gave herself a vile case of food poisoning this way.
It’s not cute or quirky. It’s gross. And it’s not remotely comparable when you are CHOOSING to do it with food you purchased, as opposed to being given expired food and being forced to “hope for the best.”
Be wary about expired canned food as proteiny kinds of foods may develop botulism and it’s not something you can smell (or cook away as the toxin is still in the food).
Lena Cook, I agree with you. I also eat expired food & canned goods all of the time and have for years. If someone is not going to use it, donate it to someone who will. All of the clothing I wear was donated by someone to a thrift store or to a direct service place, as was all the furnishings in my home. I don’t like the word “crap” being used in this story. It demeans those who share with others.
This story isn’t about you. ANd it’s not an attack on you.
I buy ALL my clothes second-hand. Most of my furniture is second-hand.
This story isn’t demeaning this practice. It’s not even demeaning donation. It’s saying don’t donate stained clothes.
Have you ever bought a shirt at the thrift store with a huge coffeee stain on it? I’m betting not…so, do you see how you’re talking about something else?
Have you ever purchased a second hand dresser with rotten wood in it? I’m betting not…so do you see how you’re not talking about the same thing as this article.
Have you very purchased an open can of food? A 90% used bottle of shampoo?
All my examples are things I have seen people donate. That stuff is crap. And that is what this article is about. It’s not about “the poor deserve Prada”. It’s that don’t deserve trash.
The article is not saying second-hand = trash. It is saying trash = trash. Donate things second-hand. Don’t donate trash.
Exactly.
I heard a healthcare person just this morning talking about expiration dates on food. He says they are totally misunderstood and people throw out perfectly good food just because of a date on a can or jar. I agree. I taste, then toss if I detect something is bad. My son used to say: What happens when sour cream expires? Does it go good? That is not to say it can’t go bad (mold) but until then, don’t toss just because of the date. Also, I work art a church service center and we get a lot of good used items, sometimes even newly bought items. We have a saying: If we wouldn’t use it, throw it out.
Hi, Angel. I work at a food bank. The date on canned goods is not an expiration date. It’s a sell by date, or best if used by date. That is set by the manufacturer not anyone else. They manufacture uses this date to set lots. The product is good for YEARS after that date. Only perishables have a true expiration date.
I would not donate expired goods, but I have no problem using them at home within reason. My children just drank two containers of fruit juice that were past their best by date.
I also throw out any stained/ripped clothing before it enters the donate pile. If my next child would not be allowed to wear it then its not fit to donate.
Canned foods that have “expired” are still edible.
Many foods can be used past their use by, sell by an expired date.
My family is on a budget and we regularly eat these foods so there is nothing wrong with donating expired foods.
Many food banks receive pallets of food that is about tYou can Google for food safety information.o expire or has recently expired because it is still safe to consume.
It’s funny that you should say that…I met my husband making sandwiches at the Salvation Army (yup, that’s our romantic story) …the meat was expired and slimy. The person in charge of us said, “just wash off the slime, it’s fine”. I thought, “Man, so these people are homeless and we’re giving them food that might make them sick, too?” Crazy!
Angel – I agree 100% with you
Broc – You are wrong – not ALL food is good for YEARS after the expiration date
botulism is an awful way to get sick and possibly die. If you want to eat expired food and serve it to your family, that is fine, but many if not most, people in need also have the need of health care and don’t have the best health, so providing food that could possibly make them sick, well that is just wrong
Kyla – Goodwill does do training programs, but they don’t necessarily hire “the needy”. They are a FOR PROFIT company, they ARE NOT a charity. They rely on the charity of others TO MAKE A PROFIT. FACT
My husband and I once attended a small church of a handful of members. The pastor and elder of the church both visited the local food pantry on a regular basis for their own households (not to give or volunteer, but to get). They found out we were on one income. The elder brought a bag full of what she would not eat from the food pantry, because she didn’t like the items. In the bag were three jars of peanut butter that was 5 years old!
I was quite amazed at the entire situation!
Or ramen and cheap items. Poor people can afford Ramen. My parents used to run a bingo hall and gave a discount for food donations and had to ban ramen because people would bring that in to give, this was when it was 3 cents a pack. Canned vegetables and grains are much more useful.
I would give Jesus expired food.
It’s Jesus, and he would make bad good.
Just sayin’.
Tone-deaf responses like this…and people wonder why folks are leaving the church like crazy.
I don’t have an issue with canned goods; I’ve been the recipient of these. On the issue of foods, what I find amazing are when grocery stores will essentially dump their expired dairy or more-than-day-old baked goods. I have brought such donations home and have had to turn around and throw them out. Not good.
If I gave expired food to Jesus, he could make it new again, just like everything else he does. He turned water into wine and I am sure that if the food was expired, he could make it new and make more of it like he did with the fishes and the bread… 🙂
When we are in Ghana, W. Africa, we notice the expired Great Value items (Wal-Mart) which no longer can be sold in the USA. The first time I saw it, it saddened my heart. At the same time it made me realize even more our country’s throw away mentality.
Canned food is still good for a year past the expiration date. Also maybe people don’t look at the expiration date when they are donating, and you don’t need to get so upset about it.
I think the most amazing thing I saw many years ago was when a friend went to collect a parcel from the Customs. It contained used tea bags!! We grow tea here in Kenya.
I am often the leader of collections/drives for missions at our church. Another thing that bothers me is when people buy the cheapest possible item they can to donate. I’m all for the Dollar Store and buy many things there for my/my family’s own use. However, I have had boxes full of junk toys that broke before we were even able to send them. What child wants to open an OCC box, their first Christmas present ever, only to receive a toy that is already broken or breaks that same day? How heartbreaking! Give to the poor as you would give to your own children/family/friends!
I think this is the problem. Some times that’s all we can afford for our own family too! Just because you may have more money and expensive tastes doesn’t mean these people are trying to shortchange anyone on purpose. Yes, maybe sometimes they are. But maybe sometimes they are robbing a few dollars here and there that would be important for their family and giving less expensive things (the same types of things they give their own family).
Comments like this make me not want to give anything, ever, knowing the spirit in which it will be received because we are poor and can’t afford to give (or have for ourselves) expensive, fancy stuff!
I give by robbing a few dollars here and there as well. And we give the same types of things, as well as from the same stores, what we give our own kids. Our own kids do not have new clothing, ever. I give the clean and nice things of our hand-me-downs that we have been wearing all along. I check very closely for stains and rips. If I see/find them, they do not get given, though my child may continue to wear them.
That’s what we do as well Charity! We give the best and keep the worst. The only problem is that our “best” is still not good enough for many others.
I think you need to ask yourself why you are giving then. To meet your need to be charitable, or to meet the child’s need for a quality toy. I understand completely being broke…….there were many times that I bought my children toys at the dollar store. I also knew that they were going to be in the trash a couple of days later. I shop at thrift shops all the time since I am frugal, but I would never buy anything that was stained or ripped.
Having volunteered at the intake of many charitable donations it is a waste of the charitable organizations time, money, and volunteers. There is usually a huge dumpster where almost half of everything donated is thrown away. I think the author is trying to point that out.
Same with food past its sell by date. I eat it at home because I know that I can look at it and tell. But most food pantry’s by law and the fear of being sued will throw it away rather than use it and possibly make someone sick.
No one said, new, fancy, or expensive. I think the idea is clean, quality, and working. None of those things have to be new, fancy, or expensive.
Everything is subjective. I was thinking about a particular cotton dress I bought at a garage sale for $.10. It has a pen stain on the front and I’ve used it for 3 years 2 kids for jammies and is still going strong. What I would do is sell it cheap at a garage sale or free box. Help out people in the community! How Goodwill or another thrift store uses my donations is also out of my control. This article felt a little judgy. I think most people are just trying to help or just didn’t sort through their boxes, just gave away all the boxes of kids clothes.
I agree with that- they didn’t sort through it. And I think that’s the point the author was making— if it’s in a box you couldn’t even be bothered to sort through, is it really sacrificial giving?
I was convicted by this post – in the best possible way- to make sure that my giving is about the recipient and not about me. Is it about checking off “donate” from my to-do list? Or is it about finding out what someone’s need is and trying to meet it? I hope we all continue to seek out things and perspectives that convict us and mold us into better humans and better neighbors.
You can easily “give” by volunteering of your time. You don’t have to buy items to give. Volunteer at a local school, food pantry, etc. Your smile might just be what someone needs most….
When did donating become a right?
You are putting your need to give over the needs of and respect for the recipient. How very charitable of you.
No one is doing this! They are criticizing an entitled culture where we are accused of disrespecting the poor if we don’t (can’t!) give them brand new, name brand, stylish, expensive items…instead of the serviceable items that our own family uses.
I do understand the idea of giving our best. I even understand the idea of sacrificing to give others even better than we have (though I think that is interesting coming from Kristen whose family has a Lot of material things).
My complaint is that it feels somehow very wrong to criticize a family and say “yes these things might be good enough for YOUR family, but you’re selfish if you give them to the poor…they deserve better than that.”
This whole idea is just completely beyond me. It’s not about trying to make ourselves feel better. It’s about people who understand need trying to help others who might understand need. Except that if you can afford to be super picky, do you really understand need that much??? Because I have been there. We, as a culture, need to relearn the difference between needs and wants. We need clothing. We want nice, new, name brand clothing. that is a big difference.
Oh, Kristen! YES!! This is something my family has been working on for a few years…giving what I would use/wear/want etc. Thank you for this post. You always make me think and I thank you for that too.
By the way, we had black beans & rice last night a la your post from a week or so ago. It was great! Thank you for that inspiration too!
Amen! I couldn’t agree more. It doesn’t have to be a race of materialism, but it’s like you said, used is okay as long as functional and something the giver would use as well. Great post!
Lord, thank you for sending Kristen to play my “big sister.” Saying the things that need to be said. Having the character to make me stop and think about what she says. Bless her.
I work at a children’s home that survives off of donations. While, I am very grateful for all that is given, often we receive donations of stuff that actually ends up costing our ministry money to dispose of. It also takes many hours to sort through to find things that are actually usable. Used is perfectly fine, and my kiddos love being the beneficiaries of found treasure. But digging through stained, broken, tattered can be discouraging. Thank you for the reminder that we are called to give our best.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes! Amen sister. It boggles my mind that people do not comprehend this!
We have a big family. Many people would consider us poor, though I never have. Sometime last year, well meaning folks from the church we went to began to drop random boxes of things on our door step. At first I was overjoyed at the outpouring of generosity. Though we never asked anyone for help, the very intention I found to be wonderfully sweet. Soon, we were finding close to a box a week of random things, usually clothes on our door step, often times with no idea who had brought it by. 95% of the clothes were ripped/torn/stained etc. I felt guilty throwing them away but I thought, most of these clothes are unsuitable for anyone to wear. I finally got the courage up to ask people to stop bringing us their stuff. We were overloaded with things we didn’t need, and didn’t ask for. We were told, “wow… beggars can’t be choosers!” — I was shocked at how to respond to that. We had never begged for anything, although it certainly made me realize just exactly like what you were saying– people have dignity. No one wants to suck it up and worn clothes that are torn and stained up, no, not even poor people. A friend of mine recently had a baby and I went through and picked out only the best hand me downs we had in our tote of baby boy clothes. I have thought long and hard about what to do with the rest. While its not stained or torn, it’s not exactly the best looking stuff I’ve seen, hence why I felt it too shabby to give to a friend.
Anyway, thanks for posting this!
Thank you for sharing this. I’m sorry that you were treated so poorly. I will remember you as I give, that I not only give clothing, but dignity along with it. God bless.
With the stuff that is too worn out or stained you can make a memory blanket for your kids. Cut it up into quilt size pieces and make a quilt. My sons jeans that have holes in the knees become shorts for next year.
I agree, when did it become what we were giving, it’s that we are with a loving heart. Don’t blame Apple, this is apparently a it’s “not good enough attitude’that you are having.
We all struggled with this, be it our selves our kids, our households. I have read and felt your humble heart, in the past. What we need and what we NEED are very different.
Sometimes the thought doesn’t count.
Warm fuzzies don’t keep people warm. Warm (not threadbare) blankets keep people warm – no matter how full of love your heart was when you donated it.
Giving should be about the recipient. Not about how it makes us feel. Not about our state of mind or feeling when we’re giving. If I gave you a plastic bag of dog poo with smile…it would still be a bag of poo no matter how lovingly I gave it.
Totally agree. Truly loving giving puts the recipient first.
That is good for your own clothes that have been used, but not so much for clothes randomly dropped off.
A memory of someone else’s clothes?
But that just adds more time to her plate, which can be another form of waste. We need to be willing to let some stuff totally go (to the trash) in order to save time. It is not always virtuous to make use of material items, just because they exist or have been given. We need to think about time and energy as well.
This.
We can also spend a little of our own time and energy (instead of oh-so-charitably taking up someone else’s) and find places where cotton is recycled, or reused, for example.
When I have clothes that are beyond wear, I’ll often cut them up for rags – good for dusting, messy cleanups, etc. If there are pieces that still look nice, I’ll toss them in my fabric bin for future use.
Hmmm…I’ve had my toes stepped on in a good way. Thank you for speaking the truth in a very necessary way. The things I give are usually outgrown, but sometimes, they do have small stains. I will think and rethink what I donate. Thank you for THEIR view. It wasn’t my intention to not give the best, but I also didn’t think about dignity. You are so right! Can’t thank you enough!
Great reminder not to be a miser! Thanks for the much needed perspective.
I give only the non stained clothes. With baby clothes, that can be hard, but I try to do my best with minimal staining. I have been blessed beyond words with baby stuff as a single mother, and try really hard to only donate other items in good condition.
Isn’t there a verse that talks about how we dare not sacrifice that which costs us nothing? (Psalms maybe, I’m pretty sure David said it). So maybe an issue is this: are we seeing this as a sacrificial giving or not?
However, the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
2 Samuel 24:24
That is what I thought of too.
I read an anecdote about this kind of thing years ago. A mom, in a hurry to contribute, threw together a box of non perishable food her family didn’t like and some old clothes that weren’t in good shape and donated them. She felt like she’d done her part and was able to cross that off her ‘to do’ list. A week or so later, her family suffered a horrible house fire. The local aid organization brought them a box to help them get back on their feet and it was…her box. All she had to offer her family was the food they didn’t like and some worn clothing. Most likely not a true story but still makes a good point.
I love that story, I am going to use that while teaching my kids to treat people how they want to be treated. Thank you for sharing.
This is absolutely phenomenal. Truly broadens my perspective on giving. It stepped on my toes for sure, but exactly what I needed. Thanks so much for posting this it is truly Amazing. God spoke to me greatly. -Amber Jones-Holmes
There definitely Is an attitude that if you’re poor, or down on your luck, you should be grateful for anything you receive. We went through a hard time a couple of years ago. Many people were willing to help us out, but many times it was boxes of food that they had deemed unhealthy to eat. “We’re not eating the crap anymore, Amy, do you and your family want it?” Ugh! After accepting it graciously and throwing it away months later, I started declining graciously. My mama always said “if you don’t want to eat it, chances are other people won’t eat it either”. After that lesson, I started giving only what I would eat myself.
Funny, I have always given “healthy” stuff and wondered if people used to the standard American diet would even eat it.
I give of the same sources and quality that my family has. It is very often dollar store and hand-me-downs, but that is exactly where our stuff comes from. The most new clothes I buy in a year are for Project Angel Tree.
Hi, I liked your article so much. May I translate it into Spanish?
I used to give my stained baby and toddler clothes to a friend who had an in home day care. She would dress the kiddos in the stained stuff for messy crafts and outdoor play and then change them back into their good clothes after nap time. Parents loved it and she didn’t worry about ruining their clothes and could just concentrate on having fun with the kids.
Great idea! 🙂
It is unfortunate Apple continues to make devices which the battery cannot be easily replaced by the user like many Android devices.
Best comment!
Yes!! planned obsolescence is such a problem.
…because that’s the point of the post.
Thank you for writing this. I am sharing it because to be totally honest, it convicted me, and I want to put it out there not to convict others but to be honest that I needed to see this. I don’t always give of my best. It’s easier to give of what is my leftovers and feel like I’ve done my part, and that is not the reason to give.
The Lord convicted me of this several years ago. We had befriended a family who had returned home from being missionaries in Russia for 10 years. They had nothing…where struggling to make ends meet and had one very broken down car, that had been given to them.
I had recently returned from a conference where they was much talk about generosity…and not giving our leftovers but our best. I went to my husband and asked if we could give my car to them, my very favorite car, he was shocked but said if I left this was from the Lord, then yes. That car was paid for, so we gave… that act changed everything for our family. If it’s in your power to act…act!
We see the same, its sad really. Broken toys with missing pieces, scribbled/torn books. A whole lot of rubbish. Love this – the world needs to get that its not “charity” but we are to bless.. I’m humbly learning as I go. If we can get away from constantly accumulating stuff; always wanting bigger and better, we will have loads of good gifts to given Jesus’ name.
When I was a child, after opening up our handful of gifts on Christmas, my sister, brother and I would give one of our new presents for our parents to send to a missionary to give away. When I was 5, I received xylophone and I loved it! Because I loved it, I knew another 5 year old, somewhere in the world, would also love this gift. My parents taught us how to give. We never questioned. We just gave – our best. 50 years later, our family still gives. Without questioning, without counting the cost…we give. Because of Christ, who gave His all – we joyfully give!
Last summer, a local family’s house burned down. They had four kids, and another on the way. They had been working and making ends meet just fine, but now they lost everything, one adult was in the hospital (transported to another state because of his injuries), and Mom was due any day. They lost absolutely everything. I let my summer readers know, and donations started pouring in. Four truckloads full! I learned quickly, though, to go through every box and bag before sending it on. Musty clothes – okay, no problem, i washed everything and repacked it. Dirty toys: most could be cleaned up. But then there was the box of toys with something strange and crusty on top. I dumped it out on my kitchen floor and realized that a) it was cockroach poop, b) it was throughout the box, and c) they were still alive. And now all over my kitchen. Really??? Thank goodness I didn’t just ship it on without looking, they would have been in everything! And there were plenty of broken toys, stained stuffed animals, etc. Those just went in the trash, sorry people!
What a refreshing article from the recipients’ POV. As a volunteer for Salvation Army ministries, we collect a lot of things for the homeless and needy on a regular basis, from food to clothing to everything else. Generosity is NEVER discouraged- but I believe the point of this article is addressing not what is given, but the thought that goes into it. Really– when you are donating that expired food that nobody in your household wanted to eat, is your heart in the right place? Would you even consider buying your best friend a gift- that consisted of a stained blouse that wasn’t fit to wear? When we give, we should do so joyfully because it brings someone else pleasure or hope, not because it coincides with a household chore of cleaning out the closets or the cupboards. Generosity is about the contents of your heart, not about the contents of your checking account.
Well said Lee! I think you nailed exactly what the heart of this article was about
Sally Webster, You said what I wanted to say better than I could have said it.
Kristen, I love you and what you are doing. And I understand why Maureen needed a better phone, and your frustration at what she was given. But I used my daughter’s hand me down used I-phone for a year before I felt like I could buy a new one for myself. And even then, I did not get the newest latest greatest phone on the market.
Yes, we need to stop buying so much stuff, so that we can afford to give more. But I also know lots of people who work 2 jobs, barely have enough to buy their own children clothes, but still want to give something. If all they have to give is their “crap”, then use those rags to make quilts or other crafts.
My grandmother would be appalled at how much we throw away these days.
Obviously, this hit a nerve with me. Guess I sound a little harsh. Here’s my story. Some friends had custody of two children whose parents were in prison. They treated those two the same as they treated their own kids. But several times a year, the two girls received gifts from a prison ministry group, along with Angel Tree at Christmas, and even a few other ministries. It was very obvious that they dressed much better and had better “stuff” than the other kids in the family. That seemed okay. I mean, no material goods can make up for being parentless, right? But fast forward 12 years later. These girls were still turning up there noses at Wal-Mart clothing and used furniture. They ended up living with one man after another who could give them the things they felt entitled to.
So, that’s my story. Personally, I prefer to give money to my church, because I know they (we) will use it responsibly to help those in need.
But, Kay, she wasn’t asking for newest and best with all,the bells and whistles, she wanted functional. This was a donation to someone administrating a mission, so really, it was an investment. If the whole point was,to use it when there were power outages, so there could still be a source of communication, having an old phone that only stayed charged 10 minutes at a time would have been worthless.
…what else do those girls even have?
You sound very resentful of two young girls who are essentially orphaned. I really doubt that their relationship problems stem from their dislike of “Walmart clothes.”
This is not your topic to be resentful about. It’s not even your friend’s topic to be resentful about. They chose to help children. CHILDREN. Ideally because it was the right thing to do, but the tone of this makes it sound like they did it for something in return. Gratitude? Good feelings? That’s not a reason to help somebody. Help those who need help and let go of expectations, because that’s not why you should be doing it anyway.
Kay, the phone DID NOT WORK. I have given old iPhones away also but I always make sure they work. It has nothing to do with it being the latest model or not. Read the post.
IPhones that will not hold a charge are not crap. I’ll take all you can send me. They can have a new battery put in and still be valuable to someone. I don’t have an I phone, I’d take a used I phone that will not hold a charge in a heart beat.
I am so glad you wrote this. When I go through items I No longer need, if they are not worthy of being used again, they are not given away. They are used for scrap here or toss out, or recycled, what not. Maybe even a free pile for someone who can find use of what I feel has pretty much lost it’s use. I won’t give to others my junk, unless my “junk” is actually usable, non-junk items that happen to just be something I have no use for. Even when I donate clothing, they are never the holey worn clothing – those are used for sewing scraps or tossed. I cannot imagine how much that would hurt the pride of someone who needs items to be handed something that they cannot even use. Beautifully written, we need to give better or not at all. I agree, even people with nothing have dignity and pride!
This is a heart issue. God is looking at our heart and knows our motives. Is it to give of what we have, or is it to offload what we can’t get rid of anywhere else? Only us and God know the real answer. I appreciate the risk taken by sharing this post. It was well said, and hopefully will check our hearts the next time we give.
I think this article is missing a totally legit form of giving that has nothing to do with the heart or sacrifices or giving our best. I believe it is wasteful to throw away something clean and usable just because it isn’t my best or I don’t like it for my child. I’ve given away new things with tags because I didn’t like it. There are times to give your best and times to find a home and a use for a decent item. There’s nothing wrong with cleaning your closet and giving away usable items. I believe that has nothing to do with the sacrificial donation you give a charity later that month or a tithe to your church. It’s just a shame to waste items that could help another even if it’s not something fancy or what you yourself would enjoy. I agree that is is horrible that some people donate broken or dirty unusable items but that doesn’t mean anything that isn’t your best should be trashed. Give your best but also give anything that might help, sending unfashionable but clean and well made baby clothes to the dump just because you wouldn’t put your own baby in them is silly .
This post is about giving things that are clean and usable. What are you talking about? No one has mentioned fashion except the people who are terrified someone expects them to not donate expired food.
yes.
We are giving to Jesus when we give to others and he wants our heart sacrifice.
Ann Voskamp said it much better than I on her Oct 1 blog:
“We’re not giving what we’re called to give, unless that giving effects how we live — effects what we put on our plate and where we make your home and hang our hat and what kind of threads we’ve got to have on our back.
Surplus Giving is the leftover you can afford to give; Sacrificial Giving is the love gift that changes how you live — because the love of Christ has changed you. God doesn’t want your leftovers. God wants your love overtures, your first-overs, because He is your first love. “
Why do churches give to missionary’s and others outside the church and will not willingly give to help their own congregation? It makes no since to ignore those that are part of your everyday church family that have needs. I’ve been down this road. I’ve seen churches fall apart because the church board and elders won’t step up or step out to help people within their own church. Do we somehow think that everybody in this country lives well or should find outside help first before ever burdening the church which they belong too. What is it to give to the church for if that money sits in the bank and grows. Or it is rather used to improve the building or upgrade it. Future build fund? Is not the members the future?
I learned long ago that much of what gets donated to Goodwill ends up in Africa on second-hand markets, thereby killing the textile industry there. Goodwill routinely keeps only the best stuff and ships the rest overseas. I try to find a homeless women’s veteran charity when I go through my closets and donate to them in an effort to give women veterans a nice “professional” wardrobe so that they can find jobs and have nice things to wear outside of work. I don’t keep ratty, nasty things – those just go to the rag pile or to the trash – if I won’t wear them, why would someone else? I only donate things I would wear but that either don’t fit or that I haven’t worn in some time. I also try to donate my gently used household goods to military families who need them rather than just dropping them at Goodwill where who knows where they will end up. As far as Christmas donations, I pull a name or two off of the Angel Tree every year and buy the child what he/she wants. Last year, the child wanted an iPod. I bought her a pink iPod shuffle, an iTunes gift card so she could put some tunes on it and an Old Navy gift card so she could buy some new clothes to go back to school. Some of my friends take underprivileged kids on shopping sprees at Christmas and let them pick out their own gifts. Growing up, I had nothing so now that I can give back, it’s nice to do so.
This post made me stop and think. That stuff that’s too ratty and worn out to donate? It’s what my family lives with, mostly because we buy it new and keep using it until it’s just too far gone to even exist anymore.
Until a couple of weeks ago, I was using a hand-me-down phone that wasn’t good enough to be donated to the crisis center. They’d turned it down five or six years earlier saying that it was too old and they didn’t think it would hold a charge. So it sat in a family member’s drawer until I needed to replace my phone. Turns out it held a charge just fine and I used it without incident until it fell out of my purse one afternoon and broke on the pavement.
To be fair, I wasn’t relying on it as a lifeline to call 911 and escape an abusive relationship. But I was relying on it if I ever had problems while I was on the road with my kids and needed to call a tow truck. (Happened one, the phone worked.)
Maybe it’s more a matter of getting things to the appropriate places.
I shop at a store in Canada that sells used clothing shipped in from the US by the bale. The clothes Americans donate to charity are sorted for quality and auctioned off. The best are purchased by resellers and sent to the stores that I frequent and so I get amazing deals on quality used clothes. The worst clothes (and the ones at my store that don’t sell) are sent to poor countries. It is not that people do not donate quality clothes, but that those clothes may not make it to the third world. Just my $0.02
Which store is this? I’m also in Canada.
It seems to me that a lot of people here misinterpreted the spirit of the article and became offended because they felt it was a condemnation of their giving practices. But it’s common sense; it doesn’t matter if you make six figures yearly or live on a very tight budget. You KNOW the difference between what is an acceptable gift and what isn’t. We are not talking about brands. When donating clothing, would you put your child in that outfit? The article is talking about stained and torn clothing. We would all be offended if someone said to us, “Hey, I was thinking that maybe your family could use this,” and handed you a piece of clothing that was stained and/or torn. SO the question to ask yourself is, “Would I be offended if someone offered me this?” If the answer is yes, then DON’T DONATE IT!
Yes, people in other countries are suffering, but like the article says, many of them still hold on to some sort of dignity. I was born and raised in a third world country and some of the items I’ve come across in donation piles here would have offended me back then, even while my family struggled to make ends meet.
I would argue that a large majority of the people who are angry, either misunderstood the post or have been guilty of the offense mentioned. Bottom line is; If you wouldn’t wear it or put it on your child or you wouldn’t eat it, then don’t donate it. You donating that item is an indication of the value you place on the person receiving the gift. If you give anything less than what is acceptable to you, then you think less of that person. Period.
Thank you. If that’s all you have to give, DON’T GIVE. I don’t see why that is difficult. I get offered in the mail asking me to donate sums of money I can’t afford, so I don’t give. If you literally have nothing but stained clothing or expired food because you need the rest for the survival of your family, please, don’t give it away.
The point is to do to others as we would have done to us. I agree with the article and even saw an article in the newspaper, a second hand shop in town , asking people not to use the second hand shop as a ‘dumping ground ‘ for everyone’s unwanted items that are not in good condition . We can all be guilty of this and this article was a kind reminder to be generous . I worked in a third world country were even my kids’ stained clothes were wanted so even though I didn’t want them anymore, others did. We had to be careful throwing away food as people would pick through the garbage for any scraps. There were times when I gave my best and times when the items weren’t so good. I always apologized if things weren’t in good condition but at times that was all I had to give as we were in a remote location. It’s about the heart attitude as has already been mentioned!
As the lady above mentioned, Goodwill does ship their unwanted clothing overseas. After having read your comments, I am not sure how I feel about those who have companies that make clothes losing business because of Goodwill. I always thought it was a good thing as in better to have something than nothing at all. I have seen pictures of people who were wearing odd mixtures of clothing that were obviously acquired from the United States. I don’t think stopping that acquiring of clothing, etc would necessarily fix the problem. Outdated canned goods is ok to check and then go ahead and use but not so for boxed items such as brownie or cake mixes. Those outdated items need to be tossed because of the lung problem it can create…nasty! I guess my final comment is two fold. There will always be reasons to sort through donated items prior to resale or future donation. Second, for the person like many folks who posted and myself, how you came across did sound like Dollar Store donations were just not good enough. A simple reminder of what to do as you go through your personal items and how to decide what is donated and what is thrown away and why, without all of the negatives such as “Don’t donate your CRAP!” would have been totally sufficient.
I guess maybe I am one of the few offended by this read. Let me explain why. We do not have much money. There are 4 kids plus the two adults and we do the best that we can. A lot of times our kids get dollar store toys and they are grateful. Most of their clothes come from the thrift store while some school clothes come new. Not having a lot to offer, we do the best that we can do for others because we always know that our situation could be worse. We can’t buy name brand stuff for our family so how would we be able to for some one else? I don’t donate what time feel i feel is trash but I guess to others my contribution is insignificant because it’s not top of the line. I want to share a true story that happened to us. We had purchased a dinning table with 6 chairs. It was a nice table, served it’s purpose but it was simply to large for our little space. We picked up a Used table from a thrift store that met our needs abd it was in okay condition. We planned to sell the table for $40 to pay toward our bills until I came across an ad for a single mom needing furniture. She asked for a picture abd then said it wasn’t in good enough condition for her to take for FREE! I ran into this for a month trying to give my table and chairs. I stand by the fact that we would have no problem using it. It was not broken. It had normal wear from being used. So instead of sellingit we Opted to give it to someone in need but what we had to offer was not good enough. Pretty much my take away from this article is that I , personally shouldn’t even bother giving what I have because it will be judged abd likely condemned as not good enough. I know there are people who do it to unload abd they give us a bad name. But there is no way to know those that give with their whole hearts , the best they have from those who could do better.
Heather, I’m really sorry that you’ve taken away a message I wasn’t intending to send by writing this post. The Bible gives us examples of the widow’s mite–the woman who had nothing, but gave what she had-gave more than the very rich man who filled the offering plate. God looks at our heart and he can take our sacrifice and multiply it and bless the receiver. This isn’t about name brands or expensive donations, it’s about sacrificial giving.
It is natural to feel inferior when someone rejects something you think is valuable or is of good use. I’ve ran into this a few times with giving nice clothes to friends, only to find that they had given all/most of the clothes away (after giving me the impression that they had liked what I had given them). If I had known they would have given these clothes away to the thrift store, I would have just kept them and given them to someone else who could receive them for free. However, I reflect about that method of thinking now, and I realize how prideful it was of me to think that way. I was mostly offended because I thought my style and taste in clothing was good, so I believed everyone else would be eager to take what I had to offer, even if it was my second-hand stuff. I also was offended because I had “sacrificed” giving my clothes away vs. selling them on eBay or consigning them in our local consignment sale, and if I’d known the clothes were going to be tossed, maybe I could have just kept them and made some extra cash. After reflecting on this just now, I’m realizing that my giving clothes away to a friend who could use some new work clothes revealed a lot about me. I was actually expecting something in return, which giving isn’t about. True giving does not expect anything in return. I was expecting gratitude in the form of my friend wearing my clothes regularly. Not really so that she would have something to wear, but so that I could feel good about what I had given her. I don’t know how to explain it, but my thinking and motives were pretty messed up. I can only say that the human heart is twisted and I’m so grateful for God’s grace. I think in my “giving”, my heart was exposed by a Holy God. I hope that many others are exposed for their true motives in giving too, through reading this article. I think that’s what Kristen wants for all of the readers here, regardless of what the quality of the items are that they are giving, or what brand/how old the things they’re donating are. I was offended that my friend didn’t like my stuff but God was offended that my giving wasn’t done out of pure motives. I am thankful He is continually refining me. Thank you Kristen for posting this! This article really reminded me of my need to evaluate what I am giving to others.
I love this post. I wondered though, have no you noticed it’s the “church” that decided she needed not just a new phone, but an upgrade? The best? Not her? “You deserve it.” I think the issue is also somehow the “church” has groomed Christians into thinking if it’s “from God” it has to be the best (in first world terms, “expensive”)! Christianity does it’s good job of setting the belief that ordinary isn’t good enough! Walmart is for low income “people”. Instead of shame on anyone here, maybe think about how western definitions of Christianity largely influence how we see “others” in the developing countries–i.e. less. Just how Christ taught us NOT to think.
You make a good point. However, some things stand out a bit. There is an attitude of entitlement with which we have grown so comfortable we dont even see it in ourselves. I have encountered more than one homeless person who, when offered water(the only thing we had at the time)turned it down because it wasnt cold enough, and another to whom we offered a freshly made deli sandwich from a restaurant and he sneered and asked what kind it was and turned it down. Interesting…. As for donations, why and how can we look down upon what is given when we have no idea of the story or heart of the giver? Only God sees into the heart and He loves a ‘cheerful’ giver. The final thought is the ease with which it appears you replaced your phone. Could you not have gone without? Why are you upset with the church, like they owe it to Maureen? We really can only speak for our own hearts when it comes to giving, so do the best with what you have doing your willing acts of service as unto the Lord and not man.
I worked six years plus sorting donations for a thrift store that supported a Christian ministry. I can can testify that many donations were great, and many donations were an insult. Yes, some people gave out of their abundance, and it was quality stuff. Others offloaded their garbage. Frankly, some of the donations were hazardous waste. Some seemed to be intended as an insult to the ministry and to the people who worked there, and to God himself. An appalling amount of money was spent on disposal fees. Still, enough came through to support the store, to provide job training, food, housing, medical services, legal services, housing, etc. The point is, we could have done more for the needy, had we not had to deal with the rubbish. Give of your best to Jesus!
Great read! For those wondering what to do with stained/ripped clothes, you can donate then to a humane society or animal shelter. They are always looking for old clothes, sheets. blankets, and even old ragged bath rugs, they can make a bed and keep and an animal worn.
I find it humerous that you write a well meaning post, and furthermore clarify your stand, and people can still take it the wrong way.
Give your very best, whatever that is. Where is our heart at? Are we holding back?
I find so often I do this with the Lord. He wants my very best, and I give Him my leftovers. Same principle applies here.
If our heart is right, the only proper and natural response is sacrificial giving. It becomes like breathing, we don’t need to think about it… Love you.
We have 8 children and have never had much, but we have always tried to teach our children to give to those who have even less. I thought this article was hurtful. I thought it was tactless. I was offended on behalf of all those families who’s “good” stuff seems like crap to the rest of society. The thoughts behind the giving outweigh the stain on the shirt.
How is it thoughtful to give away a stained shirt? If the shirt is fine, why not just keep it and wear it?
How shallow is it to judge a shirt’s utility and value for all people on the basis of whether or not it has a stain?
How thoughtful is it to dispose of a shirt that can still provide modest cover, protection, and warmth for a fellow human?
While I agree God deserves our best in every circumstance, let’s not discourage those who don’t buy “labels” from giving, and let’s not encourage more worldliness regarding fashion. Modest clothing is still worth donating, even if it’s not the latest brand name. At a local thrift store that funds a medical clinic for the under-insured, the manager (a pastor) tells folks to please bring him everything that isn’t outright trash, and the store provides pick-up on weekends for whatever remains from yard sales. He says used clothing that is not appropriate for sale in the thrift shop can be sold for rags, and he has volunteers who find the best ways to recycle electronics, etc. for as much cash as possible. He also has folks who post odd contributions on auction websites. His point is that much of what we consider trash still has value if you know where to sell/recycle it and if you have a large enough quantity of it to merit doing it. So let’s not waste, and let’s not be afraid of contributing those things we no longer need, while remembering to give generously and give our best (even if it is used).
This post said nothing about fashion or labels. It mentioned giving clothes that were clean and in decent condition. Take your straw man elsewhere.
I think your comment is a little harsh.
While the post may have said “nothing about fashion or labels”, perhaps cheapandhappy is worried that some people will misinterpret the post as “if I can’t afford THE best, then I shouldn’t give at all”.
That would require a severe lack of reading comprehension, which I realize many are choosing to pretend they have.
NONWORKING PHONE ≠ WHY DO YOU HATE MY LACK OF STYLE
When the hurricane hit New Orleans, I took a van load full of clothes down to one of the churches that was collecting. As I was hanging them up inside, I heard one of the women say “they’re not going to get these clothes, they’re too good and too expensive for them to have”. I let them known in uncertain terms that they were to be sent. Yes, they were very expensive clothes. I had lost some weight and they were hanging in my closet and others could use them. Just because someone is homeless doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the best.
Lets pad the wallets of apple some more instead of spending $20 for a new battery that would have made the old iphone like new. Lets push consumerism on the poor third world shall we.
iPhone batteries can’t be replaced. Working phones are not consumerism. I’m sorry you don’t have an iPhone, which is apparently a sticking point with you, but that has nothing to do with this post.
So well said.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+replace+iphone+battery
(Spoiler: they are replacable)
There are countless (inexpensive) external battery packs that can be used to charge and operate phones with end-of-lifecycle/failing batteries during a power outage.
My point is that is that old iphone had plenty of value and utility that seems wasted via ignorance. I can’t help but wonder if the person who donated that iPhone that held merely 10 minutes of charge expected better stewardship of his/her gift.
I phone batteries CAN be replaced. My nephew does it all the time.
Oh but it’s so much more fun to publicly call out a church whose donation wasn’t good enough. Yes, I know she didn’t mention the church, but THEY know who they are and she has sufficiently let them know exactly what she thinks of them in a harsh and cruel manner.
We might be able to take the clothes that are too stained to be worn any longer and make crocheted rugs, headbands, or baskets out of them. They could be sold to raise money for donation. If they are fleece or flannel, they could be made into cloth diapers that could be donated. Or with a bit of clever sewing, you could refashion two stained shirts into one nice one by cutting an applique piece from one and stitching it over the stain in the second. But these tasks take time, and it is easier to give the items that are too used to donate to the charity that does not need them or to the landfill.
Great idea!! I guess I can find more in the internet in how to do these things.
Thank you
Kristen,
Thank you for this post…the title definitely grabbed my attention. I think you stated it beautifully when you stated “when we give our best, we are living our best.” And because they are considered “poor” why would we give them anything that we deem as no longer acceptable to us?
Poor or rich, we are all God’s creation. Whatever we can afford to offer, let it be the best we have. A thought provoking post Kristen. Blessings.
I think the best solution is to examine your own heart when giving. Are you giving as a sacrifice or just to make yourself feel better? We should not judge what others give, we should just be sure we are giving with a pure heart, a heart for God.
I am sorry, I can’t let the expired food drop. Yes, at home, if you choose to eat expired food, that is your choice. But canned goods on whether or not they are still good depends upon a LOT of factors. How was the food stored? Was it in extreme heat/cold? Was the can dented, which can cause damage to the inside product over time? Is it a highly acidic food. The list goes on. Giving something YOU WOULD NOT eat just to give is not giving from your heart. Even if you would eat it, you should know that many Food Banks toss out expired food because it could put them at risk for being sued for poisoning, if that happened. I am not from Iowa, but they have a really great guide from the Manufacturers of food, and it does not say food is good for years and years after the expiration date! (oh by the way, I do use expired food, just not too expired, I regularly look for beef that has been marked down also) Here is the guide http://www.foodbankiowa.org/Portals/0/New%20Images%202012/PDFs/Food%20Shelf%20Extended%20Dates.pdf
I find it interesting that the author complains about the church offering a used iPhone, while many people in the congregation may not even have a smartphone for their own use…..then SHE offers a USED phone to her friend instead of purchasing the friend a new one. If iphones are used in Africa, I’m sure it’s possible to also buy new ones there. She buys a new one for herself, then publicly disparages the church in her blog because they aren’t as “enlightened” as she is. Kind of sad if you ask me.
I agree. I don’t have an iPhone. I get by on a little hand-me-down flip phone. I can’t even begin to buy an iPhone. I wouldn’t support a missionary that just had to have an iPhone. The difference in an iPhone and a usable phone could be used to buy the poor something they truly needed.
I think that since you don’t have an iPhone, you may not understand the uses of it. The device isn’t used only for speaking on the phone, it’s used for email, messaging, and internet access. If the two people communicating are both using the iPhone, they can use iMessage to communicate with one another without using data. Since an iPhone can be charged, it doesn’t depend on an active electrical connection to work, like a computer does.
Also, the author said she gave her friend her own phone after she realized the donated phone was bad, when she was in Africa already. Maybe she didn’t have the money while in Africa to buy a new device.
Missionaries need reliable connections to the outside world, which an iPhone can provide much more cheaply and conveniently than a computer and internet connection – especially in countries where broadband internet may not exist or electricity is spotty.
I agree that an iPhone isn’t a necessity in everyday life in America, but in the developing world, for the purposes of Mercy House (and endless other missions organizations/missionaries and the like), an iPhone is very helpful. All of my friends who have went to serve with the International Mission Board have asked for old iPhone donations before leaving for overseas (they didn’t even have iPhones before—they used basic phones in the US, and I am speaking for 4 different missionary couples, 8 people total) and the reason being is that you can talk with friends and family in the US for free via Skype (if you have wifi) or text for free on apps like Viber (there are endless other free texting and free calling apps out there). Using an iPhone versus using a landline phone in an internet cafe is a much more secure form of communication in a part of the world where communication and networks are not secure.
The author has no problem with used donations- the question is the usefulness of the item. The donated iphone was not useful for the missionary, and was likely a donation given to make the giver feel better rather than having thought about the needs of the recipient and given accordingly.
I second the other comment here explaining the usefulness of an iphone in those circumstances. How thankful I am that God doesn’t withhold his best- his grace- from me just because I am so poor in spirit.
Jean, think on the positive side here. I highly doubt someone would give the way the author has, only to intentionally shortchange Maureen. My guess is the time, personal funds, or other circumstances didn’t allow for the gifting of a new phone. If you haven’t read Rhinestone Jesus yet, I highly suggest you pick up a copy. You’ll see the world in a different light and possibly become a source of light, too.
Years ago I heard a formerly homeless woman speak. She said, “it is a sin to give homeless people clothing that you would refuse to wear yourself.” I have never forgotten that.
I have given away plenty of brand new items or gently used in great condition that I don’t want to wear, use, or put on my kid. It’s a sin I don’t like all styles of clothes or got tired of an expensive blazer? If I haven’t worn it lately and it’s in good condition I give it away. This has nothing to do with sacrificial money I give to charity. A family was very happy to get a nearly brand new toddler bed because we decided to get a twin. I didn’t want to use it but it still had worth and could be a blessing.
…no. That is not what she said at all. Go get angry about something that matters.
I’ve heard people say, as they donate old cans of food, “If they’re hungry enough, they’ll eat it.” Disgusting. And with clothes, I say, “If you wouldn’t give it to your sister, don’t give it to the poor.”
As a missionary in Honduras, I can certainly appreciate this article! Thank you for your insight.
Blessings!
Loved this article. The many comments show that a nerve has been hit. It’s uncomfortable to need donations from other people, and it’s also uncomfortable to be told that our giving isn’t good or sacrificial. Bring it on! Make us uncomfortable!
I don’t like it, but I really do want to ask myself if I’m receiving in a godly way AND if I’m giving in a godly way. As a missionary living in Haiti, I am sometimes disappointed in a U.S. church’s measly donation. It’s wrong for me to judge the gift. And I am also asked daily – sometimes hourly – for things from people on the street. I often give something just to end the asking. It’s wrong to give without a joyful heart. Thank you for making me step back and think about how I both give and receive.
THANK YOU for the comment to bring it on! Too often things on the internet are contentious with no real frame work for expressing it. Anonymous posts or hiding behind a name without having to look someone in the eyes, allows us to forget our basic manners that we would have in any other circumstance.
But we SHOULD be challenged. God forgive us if we’re ever NOT uncomfortable when examining ourselves and the way we could and should do things.
Applause from my little corner of the web! 🙂 And….a new follower here.
When Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast we gathered up lots of clothes at my church. In the first few weeks, the condition of the clothing didn’t matter at all. People needed clothes they could work in, get filthy, and if necessary throw away because of no laundry facilities. Tons of rags were needed, too. Of course, that was not a usual situation. However, a thrift store I go to has a rack marked “work clothes”. They have a lot of life left in them, but they may be stained or in some way damaged. They sell them for $.25 a piece. It’s a great resource for people working construction, or other valuable but dirty jobs.
We are donated some really nice clothes for the homeless people here in Jacksonville, but what I am finding out is the sizes are either too big or too small. So what we did was rented a booth at the local flea market and sold the items 4 for $1.00, so the clothes ended up being a double blessing because the money we raised purchased much needed food items. I thank God for those who are willing to give what they can to help others in need.
Lets put it this way, everyone who does donate clothing , should atleast go through them, sort them out, if there really bad, trash them, others give them out to the poor, salvation army local drives and so on………… same goes for other items you maybe getting rid of , chairs lamps n so on… be respectful, you wouldn’t want it in your house or wear it .. So why would you think someone else would………………. Now if anyone does not see it fit to wear those clothing or put that lamp in there home, they have the right not to ……………. just that………… what did I just say………… they have the right not to wear or use those items……….. and as far as jobs goes…….. I think we need to take a bigger look at the whole picture………. like the people in your back yard, sort of …………………. just my opinion… @tisonlyme143
When you donate torn ,stained, stretched out clothes , broken, dirty toys you mind as well add a note that says your trash so I thought you could use this. I brought home twin premie foster babies on machines from the hospital last year , someone donated a bedding set covered in mildew and mold , same with clothes I could not believe my eyes. These kids will never dress less than any I have given birth too. If it is not good enough for goodwill ( stained , worn, faded etc ) it is not worthy of giving .
When you’ve been on the “other” side of this (the one on the receiving side), you tend to be more thoughtful about what you give. 🙂
Right?! It’s stunning how many people are DEMANDING the benefit of the doubt for their “giving” (to the point of it being a tremendous stretch – all I have are these stained shirts!) and yet refusing to even begin to offer that same courtesy to those who happen to be poor and/or in other countries.
I have not seen anyone say “I want to give stained stuff.” The point is that standards are subjective. Some people live simpler lives. They have simpler stuff without all the name brands, hip styles, and bells, and whistles. And we are being told that the poor “deserve” to have a more modern materialistic standard and that we aren’t worthy of donating. That is ridiculous.
Bravo….”the poor have dignity” This is a truth those on high horses often over look…..Great article.
Bickering and judging abound… Everyone trying to feel better about where they are on their personal timeline of philanthropy. Sorry I read it, even to halfway.
God has always given us the best….that is how we learned to give the best :):)
I agree, it’s definitely a heart issue. We shouldn’t see an opportunity to donate as a way to just unload things we don’t deem worthy of our own use. But if all someone has to give is a shirt that has seen better days, or a skirt with a stain on it, is that gift worthless? Someone mentioned that animal shelters would love old clothes for bedding. I don’t think we should just toss things which may be deemed “unsuitable” for use. Wouldn’t it be better if we took the time to see who could use it before just labeling it ourselves, like the old clothes for animals? Maybe there’s an organization that could use broken electronics for parts, or that could take stained and ripped stuffed animals for the fluff inside. I think we need to be more considerate of who we send stuff to so the people who get it can make the best use of it, instead of just plunking it into the donate box. It takes more time, but hopefully it’ll help us to make the most out of the resources God’s blessed us with.
You don’t know how worn out the clothes were that weren’t given, perhaps they are wearing the worst of the two options. I get that people are perhaps not giving their best, and we all need to evaluate whether we do give out best. The widow gave her last two scheckels. Perhaps this was some one’s last two scheckels. It is not our job to judge other’s charity.
It’s great when y’all give your stuff away. I really appreciate it since I go to the Catholic Charities, Goodwill and other resale shops and buy your stuff. Then, I go on EBay and sell it for $$$. So far, I’ve been able to buy a new pick-up truck and another car for my daughter. I’m not rich by no means but what some people think is junk or broken, can be easily fixed and resold. Why don’t we teach these countries how they can be better business people and more savvy. Regarding expired canned items, you must be kidding. The expiration date is just marketing, so you go back to the store and buy more!!!
Spoken like someone who has never accidentally drank spoiled milk.
“Bales of used clothes are sold to African countries for resell and they end up flooding the market and often put local textile businesses and seamstresses out of business.” So are we supposed to donate our clothing or not donate it? This message is confusing. Also, what was the African woman doing selling “donated” clothing for profit? Sounds fraudulent.
i understand the point of this article, and i agree, but i must add a piece of knowledge that most people don’t know about. When you ship a container to some other country, you shouldn’t expect that everything you shipped will actually arrive at the final destination. Case in point: I was asked by a certain organization to have “that conversation” with a church who had donated a bunch of junk, and you know what turns out actually happened? They had donated really nice, new things (and some junk), but the container had gotten raided, while it was being held for no reason. The African ministry that was the beneficiary thought that Americans had shipped junk, but the fact was, the good stuff had been stolen before it reached them! It’s sometimes better to buy “it” there when possible, especially when “it” is expensive!
Feck Jesus, I follow Jaysus!
I’m really fascinated by the tons of responses to this article. I think there are a lot of prideful Christians who like to show off how “frugal” and poor they are, as some sort of badge of holiness. If you are so poor that you cannot give decent, clean, quality donations (not the same as expensive) to others, than you are in no position to donate. And that is ok!
My family is not poor. When we donated to the local children’s orphanage, we bought the children a brand new Wii and some new games. At the time my children had an old game system that was breaking down – but we spent the money on a new one for the orphanage. I think this concept is quite simple, really. if you get offended over it that says more about you than it does the author of this piece. Cain’s offering was probably perfectly “serviceable” but God didn’t like it…. hmmm… must have been something about the way Cain selected that offering ???
See, I think there are a lot of prideful Christians who like to flaunt their money and brag about how they donated this and that and it was brand new…but it wasn’t sacrificial at all because they give out of their admitted abundance. Hmmm. which is worse?
Who are you to tell someone they shouldn’t give? That is completely unbiblical.
ANd this makes you BETTER then others ?? Im pretty sure this isn’t a question God will ask when we enter heavens gates !! SMH
No. Most people do not do things as a personal attack on you.
Yes, this exactly. This is probably the least offensive article I have seen on the internet in weeks.
So my question for the author-
Throw stained/holey clothes on n the landfill OR donate to a thrift store that you know sends items to a recycler. Some of those clothes may end up overseas, some as shop rags, insulation, etc.
I buy used items so by the the me my family is done with them, they are typically ready for recycling or the landfill.
Your take?
One more point… Can one give both sacrificially AND leftovers (in your words “crap”) or must it only be sacrificially?
Even after the feeding of the 5,000 the scraps (” crap “) were collected, although the Bible doesn’t stay for what purpose.
I disagree that leftovers = crap, or that the author made that leap. In fact, she specifically says this:
“There’s nothing wrong with used or second-hand. It’s often my first and favorite choice. Many organizations and ministries depend on used gifts. But if we give used, it should be our best. I’m not saying when we clean out older clothes or toys or things we don’t use any longer and donate them–that this is wrong. I am saying if we give it away, it should be something we would use ourselves.”
Certainly, if we can donate our “leftovers” and also have it be something that meets the need of the person receiving it, that is a joyous thing! But the priority should be the latter.
Here’s am example from my life:
Child wears a hole in an article of clothing.
Nonprofit thrift store where we donate accepts worn and stained clothing and is paid by a textile recycler per pound for these items.
I donate because it benefits both the organization that I support and keeps the clothing out of the landfill.
I have no control whether the textile recycler ships item to another country, uses item as a shop rags or shreds for insulation or filling.
My donation has met a need of the organization receiving it, has not gone into a landfill, yet it might become the “crap” that the author rails against.
Note: I recognize that the particular donation was not a sacrificial one. However, I give sacrificially in other ways.
It’s impossible to determine tone over the internet so you have only my word that this is said with the utmost kindness and love. Your real life scenario is not, in my eyes, in any way related to what the author was talking about. In that scenario you are actively giving what is needed by that organization and they are able to use items that are torn or stained. That’s wonderful!
That’s very different than donating those same items to a friend who needed clothes and calling it a day. Certainly not all our giving need be sacrificial, but I read this as the author convicting those of us who check off “donate” from our to-do list without thinking about the needs of the recipient. In your case your donation absolutely fits the need of the receiving organization. Kudos!
I had some stained clothing that I didn’t want to throw away once. I called the local Goodwill and asked them if they knew of a place that took clothes to be recycled. They told me they would gladly take it and asked that I separate it from other donations and mark the bag “for rags,” which would save them time as they would just put it straight into their recycle bin instead of sorting through it.
Wow! A lot offended folks on here. Really? She’s not saying every poor person should have an iPhone given to them. She’s simply saying if it was so crummy and gross you would have tossed it, but decided to donate it….you should probably toss it instead!!!!
It is wonderful to send things to poor countries around the world but we need to care for our neighbours and the poor right here in North America. Whether in U.S.A. or Canada there are people starving and going with out. Clean up our own backyard then go abroad. We in such a rush to travel around and be heros to needy countries. Our own country has lots of needy.
Or, just serve needy people as you can, when you can, wherever they are.
Kristen,
I read the comments. I should know by now to never read the comments.
It’s been a rough few months of ministry for us, and I laughed when Matthew 5:11-12 was Bible Gateway’s verse of the day last week. It was a good reminder for me, and maybe you’d like to be reminded, too.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
We’re that family, too.
Jennie
NEVER read the comments. Side effects include: depression, losing all faith in humanity, headache (due to repeatedly banging your head against the desk), and the urge to through tech devices through a window.
I agree, I’ve found myself sucked into reading comments tonight with sort of a morbid fascination. 🙁 Many people with good points, but also many hurting other’s feelings. People being harsh in response to someone who has earnestly shared her heart. May the Lord bless everyone who has read this article and may He help us all to grow in the ways we need to grow, without judging others. Amen, and I better get myself off-line pronto! <: )
Goodness gracious people can be sensitive! I totally got the point of your article. The church saw fit to provide you with a brand new phone, but only saw the missionary as deserving of a used phone. No she didn’t need the latest and greatest, yes there are many American Christians who don’t have i phones, but it is sad that the church wasn’t willing and eager to bless this missionary with more than just someones hand-me-down (which obviously means that someone in the church did indeed have a newer model). Thanks for sharing this and for the reminder that we are to give sacrificially rather than of our leftovers.
Enjoyed the article and I wish I could have everyone read it. We collect clothing in our church for clothing give aways to a local trailer park. Every piece of clothing has to be examined to be sure it is not stained, tattered, or ready for the trash bin. By doing this, we at least know we are not giving the poor, beat up clothing. This last clothing give away we had, we even had some clothing that had the tags still on it. Most of the clothing was in great shape, but there are still some people that think you only give the poor trashy clothing. NOT TRUE!!!
We have another group in our church that makes quilts, knitted/crocheted scarves, hats, and gloves to the poor. When people donate items, they sometimes give us tattered material and expect us to make decent looking quilts out of this fabric. Also, they sometimes donate yarn that is not fit to look at, let alone construct a nice pair of mittens out of. I am saddened that people have this concept that the poor only get trash. Again NOT TRUE!!! Wake up people! If you would not wear the clothing or construct mittens out of the yucky yarn, then please don’t give it or donate it to the poor. They deserve new things just like working people do.
Just saying!
I think it’s important to point out that one of most valuable things we can give is our time. There are so many organizations looking for dependable adults to help out even an hour or two a week. While it is great to give what we can in material possessions, we should think if we are being miserly with our time and talents as well.
Well said, thank you for bringing that reminder to our attentions
I love that there is even talk about this we need to follow what we believe God wants us to do. And Love openly and with out an agenda! Thanks for Sharing.
I love the sentiment this article conveys. We live in a world of excess – and shamefully we have too much that we hoard/covet. On the plus side – when our family donates…it’s quality items that we would/should wear…but just don’t. We set up 3 piles…trash, donate and keep. if it has holes/is stained/unwearable it goes in the trash. I always wondered if our items actually make it to those in need…I hope they do.
Thank you so much for this message! I have been convicted over and over about giving. My husband and I used to work at a program that had a “Christian” mission. We were disheartened over and over by how overflowing their storehouses were and how stingy they were when people entered the programs (or paying their staff)! I felt most strongly about women’s underwear. Women would come to us with no change of underwear. The program had a ton of money they were doing nothing with and they wouldn’t buy a package of Hanes Her Way! It was a HUGE issue because if a woman is trying very hard at something (like staying off of drugs) and yet she can’t even do it in clean underwear, she will find provision in a relationship- often an unhealthy relationship. We were saying you may not be in a relationship and we aren’t giving you clean underwear. Don’t worry. I purchased underwear for them. But, there was NO WAY we were loving these women like Jesus! We lost the opportunity to tell them how precious they were in His sight, by our actions.
My husband and I serve in a lot of very different roles where we can encourage people to give. The donations always have to be sifted through by us first. However, we have come across people who are willing to give the best of what they have, people who have new, or gently used items that truly are a blessing to those who are receiving them. For those people we are so thankful and it is because of them that we don’t mind sifting through the donations first.
Another side of this story however is that those that receive are sometimes on the receiving end from numerous sources. In such cases, when something that is truly new, or gently used, something that is good quality and could truly be helpful to the receiver – the value is not understood or appreciated and often the items are no longer around when we next visit because they have been broken. I believe that this is partly because of the attitude of many givers, and partly because many NGO’s in the same area don’t communicate with one another. Refugees have very real needs, but sometimes too much giving of things of little quality downplay the value of the gifts that could really benefit the community or the individual.
I imagine that this is not the case everywhere, but in some villages this has certainly been our experience.
I take hand-me-downs. I have four children and many clothes make it through all four. I take care of our clothes as best I can so they last as long as they do. I don’t ask for anything, but sometimes people approach me and offer their ‘leftovers’, just knowing that kids go through clothes. What strikes me is that lately, people who have offered these items seems so worried about offending me by offering them. The relief that comes over them when I say, “Yes, we accept hand-me-downs” is very noticeable. Even more so, later when I thank them or if they see the kids in the clothes, they have a genuine emotional response. I feel articles and attitudes like this one seem to be contributing to the problem. Shaming people into not giving (or pressuring people to give what they can’t afford). Sure, there are times when some of these donations include items that are just too far gone. I quietly dispose of those items and keep what I can use. What you consider ‘crap’… I might consider play clothes, quilting squares, rag wool for rugs, etc. But you will never, EVER find me declining a gift because it doesn’t meet my standard or because it’s not the brand I use or any of that other nonsense. Didn’t your mama ever teach you… it’s a GIFT, say “Thank you!” Just because you didn’t register for it doesn’t give you the right to humiliate someone who was just trying to do something nice. Poor people need to be charitable too. Poor people still have something to give. This might be the most twisted article I’ve read in a while – Stop giving us ‘crap’ because we want to give the poor nice things but the poor can’t give because everything they have is ‘crap’. Locally we have a winter coat drive where you can donate winter coats to those who can’t afford one. The catch is the coat has to be brand new, unworn, with tags preferably (the kind of coat my kids have never had). I guess manners is a thing of the past. I guess it’s not really the thought that counts. I guess it really is the gift that matters, not the intent in which it was given. How sad.
Exactly! As I said above, sadly sometimes the reason everything is crap is because so often the poor are the most generous.
Not sad at all. I don’t take things from people that I won’t use or need because I don’t want to take on their burden of throwing it away OR it cluttering my house. Something that is free or cheap or on sale isn’t good enough reason to take it on. That, to me, seems way more materialistic than buyingbuyingbuying and I can’t help how gross that sentences sounds because it is true. If I’m not going to use it, why take it?
A gift is something someone purchased with me in mind. It is not my responsibility, and certainly not the responsibility of the poor who don’t have houses to store all this junk in, to take on the burden of everyone else’s junk.
What do I DO with it, though? We donate some pretty nice things, and I’ve got friends that hand clothes down to me. When a dress has been through four kids, all of them chocolate lovers, what do I do with this dress that no one wants, that I’m fairly sure no place would even give away? I feel bad throwing it out, so I’m at a loss for what to do with it. Ideas?
Throw it out. Don’t feel bad about it. It is a thing that has been used up, more times than most would use it. If it seriously bothers you, and I don’t know how to say this in a way that isn’t unkind, maybe consider asking WHY it bothers you and possibly find someone (professional?) to talk to about that? Because honestly, this sounds like hoarding, or something close to it. It is okay to throw the dress away. I promise.
Please do not throw it away. Textile recyclers can use that fabric. Our landfills certainly don’t need it.
And please do not confuse your desire to make good utility of resources with any psychological disorders.
I understand we all want to give. I think I understand what the author is saying here. People have given my family plenty in the church while we were growing up since my mom was a single mom to four kids, with no education and worked her butt off to do the best she could. People gave clothes, money, meals, free baby sitting so my mom could go to work. The things that touched her and us the most was when people gave things not only what we needed but they took the time to find out or think about what we’d like as well. Nothing hit my mom harder was when someone wanted to give us a dinner and they asked her what our favorite meal was, that meant a lot to her. My old babysitter that was helping her mom out with finances did baby sitting for free for us even though they could have used the money just as much. I’ve also heard many stories of missionary families receiving things like used dried tea bags in a care package (seriously, who does that!?) Please stop and think what you are donating, when I go through my clothes, I make piles, keep, donate and throwaway/rags. If it’s got stains or holes, make rags out of it first, if you wouldn’t sell clothes/items at a yard sale, why do you think it’s good enough for a charity? Give out of the depths of your heart not your trash can!
While the point of giving sacrificially is valuable, I find it ironic that nobody has really addressed the part of this article that seemed to turn it from something instructive to something really stupid, and from a quick scan of the comments only one or two here have touched on it.
First the author writes about how somebody in some part of Africa is making a living reselling these junk clothes. Now, I personally only give away decent stuff that I do not use( I usually wear until it is useless, and my wife makes me toss it) but if somebody is able to make a living selling this crap, then somebody is willing to buy it. And if somebody is willing to buy it, they consider this crap more valuable than not having it, or the money they pay for it via free exchange, so just not giving crap helps nobody.
Secondly, the author complains that there is so much of the stuff that it makes it hard for local seamstresses to make a living. If that is indeed the case, then again, the junk clothing is more valuable to the customer than the labor of the seamstresses and there are too many seamstresses, and not too much junk clothing. These seamstresses should be applying their labor to something more valued by consumers.
Very excellent points. And it highlights the chasm between what needy people need and what others may think they should use.
However maybe those seamstress jobs are more important than the old-clothing-reseller jobs.
As a pastor I receive gift and offerings from time to time. One of the most disappointing times was when a guy was going to give us some steaks from his freezer. When the wife put some on to cook I found out that what he had done was cleaned out his freezer. Often with poundings (the providing of food to supplement income. A practice carried over from early of the last century) the date on the items are out of date. I think that we as a whole have forgotten the term “as unto the Lord”.
I’ve just read thru all the comments (so far) and have another thought to add to the mix. I am a missionary myself, living overseas. Even before I left the U.S. 12 years ago to serve in SE Asia, I was always a thrifter, happy to find second hand “treasures”. Nothing much has changed. Generally, this means that when I’m done with a clothing item or the like, it is DONE for. But if I throw it in the garbage, the poor in my area are more than happy to retrieve it and use it for their purposes. While I wholeheartedly agree with the point of this article of not giving crap in the name of Jesus (my rough paraphrase), there are actually people who WANT our very-overly-used items. My house helper is APPALLED if I throw anything out without asking her first if she would like it. In fact, I insult her dignity if she has to dig thru trash, rather than taking the time to inquire if she is interested. She doesn’t take everything, but there is a lot that can be re-purposed.
This thought probably doesn’t help most people in the U.S. struggling with questions raised by the article, but I figured I’d offer another perspective.
Let’s give a crap – not give crap!
For those who are wondering what to do with clothes are genuinely worn out:
There are places that take clothing, and it is used for rags. Our local color guard has drives for clothes just like this.
Personally, as my youngest child grows, I donate the stuff that is too small, but I would still put on him.
I rarely buy new clothes, and when I do they are marked way down and I wear them til they’re worn out. However when I travel on mission events, I generally buy new clothing to take with me as gifts for house guests, enterpreteres etc. If going in the winter the sweaters I wear are generally new, and I leave them. These people have less than three changes of clothes and are thrilled with any clothese as long as wearable and not torn or stained. I do understand not giving torn, worn out clothing and a used i phone that wasn’t check to see if it worked before being sent for missionary use.
Good post. As someone who has been living in India for 16 years, and has virtually adopted 46 children…we rely heavily on donations. I’m posting this article now, maybe I should make it required reading for visitors and teams 🙂 Thanks for writing it.
I understand what she is saying. We should not give junk. However, I disagree that everything should be top of the line. I make sacrifices, myself. I do not have the newest. I cannot continue to give much more to others than I would allow myself. Also, if I can get 2 decent pairs of jeans, it is better in my opinion than a much more expensive pair. Again, I do NOT mean junk. Just be realistic. Just as I do for myself, and my family does – you need to pick and choose your priority in spending. You can’t always have the best of everything and reasonable sacrifices need to be made. I would suggest that she should have been clear and explain the importance of a newer phone, over an older one, when initially making the request. Communication is the key. We do not always understand.
“However, I disagree that everything should be top of the line.”
Disagree with whom, because no one, certainly not the author, ever said this.
I completely agree! No one is talking about expecting someone to wear ratty, torn, stained clothing. We are just saying that if we buy used for ourselves, why is that not acceptable to donate to others. But the fact is that there are some poor, who do turn up their noses at used, non-name brand stuff.
How DARE anyone tell someone else what to give or not give?? You are posting a judgment about others ???!! I have 17 children they wore beautiful clothing many items that where tattered torn and stained were thrown away .Not because because we where rich but because we felt why would anyone else want them UNTIL we saw a woman going through our trash .She saw me watching her came to the door and asked if it was ok to take the items I told her YES but they had seen better days she turned red and stammered ,But I can wash stains out or make blankets from pieces . The greatest gift I got from this was humility .She humbled herself to ASK for our throw a ways .Im sure she was a PROUD woman as well your over seas friends .How dare anyone TELL someone else what is or isn’t “WORTHY ” to donate !! I am appalled that a Christian site would post such nonsense !!!!!
*groans* coming from someone who works at a Thrift Store I can attest to the bales of clothes that we give to poor countries. A lot of times it’s the stained/ripped clothes that we should honestly throw away.
And I’m sad to say it, but they do the same with the purses/hats/belts. In ACC where I price I am told that any that are stained/ripped/”unwearable” must be put into recycle. I end up throwing away the ones that I deem unwearable by anyone, the really heavily stained ones, the ones that are broken, that kind of thing. I also do end up tossing a few in there that are nice too. Just because I felt…well dirty giving people my to be honest trash. Basically, what I put in there are ones that I look at and go: would I wear this? If the answer is yes, I’ll put it in my recycle. If the answer is no, I throw it away.
This article was insightful, and I appreciate it. I didn’t know how my Ghanaian friends get the clothing which they sell. And it is very sad that many of our own countrymen have this mindset of giving our worse to those in need.
When my family and I go to Ghana, W. Africa, we try hard to purchase from the local merchants and not from the bigger stores or tourist markets. We also purchase the used towels or used clothing for some of our needs. But we also purchase the newer items. Anything which we purchase we leave with different families. We also try to leave things which we have brought from home for those with whom we work or see have certain needs.
For most of my life I have had to live from a “church box” or something similar. It was very frustrating to look through a box that someone gave to us and find all of the things that needed mended or that were stained. But it was a good lesson. I don’t give what I am not willing to use myself. And I have also learned that not only do I not have to keep those items, but I can toss something that is not good. I am no longer enslaved by the “Someone can use this” or “It’s not good to be wasteful” mindsets. I no longer get upset when someone gives me badly worn things, I just say, “Thank you,” and throw it away.
Wow. I “got” what you were saying completely! I make “littledresses” for girls all over the world who otherwise would have nothing new or modest or beautiful of their very own. My model is the non-profit ministry http://www.littledressesforafrica.org and I’d urge some of your readers to check it out . . . and several other similar organizations that “get” it. We are giving a gift. I’d never sew a dress that wasn’t good enough for one of my granddaughters and no, I am not wealthy (but U.S. standards) I buy my fabrics on sale and sometimes at Goodwill stores (and gratefully, with donations from friends and supporters) but the work is my own, the dresses provide protection from traffickers, allows them to go to school and gives them BEAUTY, DIGNITY and JOY. It’s my pleasure to give my best offering to any of God’s children. Thank you for an insightful, bold post!!
How about buying a phone you can CHANGE THE BATTERY in? Hm?
The iPhone is the most expensive phone there is, and not by far the most technically advanced or easiest to service.
I have read all the comments, and many good points have been made. However, what astounds me is that NO ONE has pointed out the difference between “sacrificial giving” and “responsible stewardship!” Cleaning out your garage and donating all the things which you can’t, don’t, or won’t use is NOT sacrificial giving! It is ALSO, NOT WRONG! It is RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP. We OUGHT to donate our “crap” instead of throwing it away if there is potential value in it. It is the RIGHT thing to do! I don’t think the author intended to discourage that.
The flip side is that recycling is NOT CHARITY! Charity is LOVING and VALUING someone enough to DELIBERATELY bless/serve them. It’s discovering an actual need and seeking to fill that need. If your heart is right, THAT is what is pleasing to God. If it’s not, it doesn’t matter what you give or how much of a sacrifice it is! The question to ask oneself is “WHY am I giving? What do I hope to GAIN or ACCOMPLISH?” If the answer is merely “get rid of clutter,” that does NOT make the act WRONG, it DOES however mean it doesn’t fall into the category of “sacrificial giving.”
On a personal note, I am GRATEFUL to be so blessed that I can choose not to eat the sardines in my food basket from the food bank! To just throw them away however would be wasteful! Thus far I have kept them on my counter as a constant reminder of how SPOILED I am. I know there ARE people who wouldn’t reject any food item, people who don’t just know hunger, but STARVATION! And, actually, for that small lesson alone I am grateful to have received that can of sardines!
Bless you!
I cannot believe some of these comments.
I for one totally get this post and think it is a great one. I make a habit out of giving good things away. If I would throw it away, I won’t give it to someone else. I think of it as finding a second home for my stuff. And I try to do my best to finding the right match. I always think: Who can I make happy with this?
But still, I am grateful for the reminder. The example of the phone was really striking. I can’t believe how fast they offered to replace your phone, but never once thought about donating a new phone. I think that is a lesson to all of us, to change our mindset about what giving truly means.
When in doubt, donate tampons and maxi pads and new underwear. Those are things that no one thinks of, but that it would be horrible to be without.
Many places are requesting reusable items instead. Especially if heading to areas with little sanitation.
Thank you for this post! I was sorting a bin of donated clothing for girls (little girls) rescued from sex slavery in Cambodia. Most of the clothing was so bad I would not even use it as cleaning rags (and I am not a fussy missionary). I had met homeless kids in nicer things. I was furious that people honestly thought so little of these precious girls.
Thankyou for this post! I live and work with sex workers in Durban South Africa. Whenever I need clothing and donations this is the reality. I sort through bags and bags of clothing and come away with maybe one bag worth that is acceptable to give to my girls.
It breaks my heart.
My girls are treated like garbage on a daily basis. To then have the church give them their garbage is beyond me.
Didnt Jesus say ” whatever you do to the least of these you do to me?” Surely therefore we should actually be giving them our BEST?!
I love your heart and your generosity.
I pray that He continues to use you to bring love to others.
The best “gift” that we can give according to me (and the way I also would want to be treated) is fair trade. How many local clothing (and other) business did we destroy by our send left overs? This is not an argument to let people perish. But why not take each other serious?! And pull down trade barriers, so that instead of being burdened with our left overs, people there can do business and earn money in a fair way. That might mean that our prosperity comes down somewhat. But if we really care…?! Therefore I would suggest to find local business and buy the stuff that we want to share.
As an American living in India, I see this in a few ways. Living here, we have a maid who has three daughters and can easily use my daughter’s old clothes. Even if they’re slightly the wrong size, or if they’re slightly dirty, she can use them. She’ll also take my real junk – plastic take out boxes, old pieces of plastic toys, etc. She can resell them to a scrap dealer. This makes her money.
Then we have orphanages who seem to have an abundance of clothes they take on… but then when ask to volunteer to “do” something, I don’t get a response. Their websites indicate they only take on people who will LIVE with them? I wish it was easier to volunteer. I wish he value was seen for what it is. But you do bring up a good point here… don’t give crap when you have more to give. My maid will take the junk, but she’s much happier when I give her a few extra rupees on a non-pay day – it goes further and may just ensure her kids get a protein other than lentil that day. Or maybe not…
I heard stories of missionaries in my church years ago who would received recycled tea bags – for the missionaries. I’m like really? You can’t buy a 20c tea bag to give to someone who is doing God’s work – you send one that you’ve already used? Same with soap. Disgusting.
This is an excellent article and much needed.
We are a family of six making less than $40,000 a year, so I think I can shed some light on the comments that seem defensive. It has to do with how hard it is to be low-income in whatever country you live in. We would be rich in the third-world, but here we cannot go to restaurants, take vacations, go to amusement parks, go to a movie or a concert, or buy anything but underwear that is new. Even though we have everything we need to survive, we have a lot of financial stress when things break down and we can’t fix them in a timely manner, etc. I am not complaining, mind you, but only trying to shed light on how low-income, first-world people feel when they read an article about an item (iPhone) that they wouldn’t be able to buy and/or maintain monthly service for. It is all another reminder–and there are a lot of these reminders–that they are the have-nots, and that most people around them live in relative comfort. The defensive-sounding ones don’t mean to be petty or to discount the good that Kristen is doing. Understand that poverty, even in American, makes you feel like you don’t matter. It’s a feeling all low-income people have to fight, even if they are choosing low-income status to be home with children, etc. Sometimes the less-than feelings are easy to fight because Jesus doesn’t have the same idea of success the world does, and it is Jesus’ perspective that matters, and that we gladly cling to.
But there are days when the old van breaks down and the electric company sends a 15-day shut-off notice. It is harder on those days to feel grateful and give thanks for the messiness of life and all that it teaches us. So if you are reading these comments and not understanding the hurt feelings, it is likely you haven’t yet experienced what these people have. Remember that it doesn’t matter whether you are poor or low-income in a third-world country or in the first-world, it is still going to mess with your psyche. It is still going to be a battle to feel grateful, and to remember that our salvation is enough.
I was given out-dated can goods once as part of a Thanksgiving basket, and since then, for food drives I always give the cans that I personally need, even if it means going to the store for those black beans I needed for chili the next day. I remember that dignity is important and that even dirt-poor African mothers work hard to keep their clothes clean, and that when you send castoffs, you are confirming that the poor person doesn’t matter. They work so hard to fight that feeling, and yet it comes flooding back many fold when some well-meaning person offers their junk.
I am thankful for people who donate their clothes to Goodwill, because that is the store I rely on to cloth my four children, my husband and myself. We wear nice clothing because the good brands always have a lot of use left in them–good brands don’t fade and I even donate them in excellent condition when my own children outgrow them. I wouldn’t be surprised if clothes that are tagged Old Navy, Children’s Place, Gap, Oshgosh, etc, aren’t donated at least three times before they look too shabby to be given away. If it weren’t for the durable clothes from these companies, we would look as poor as our bank account suggests. It saddens me that quality donations aren’t sent overseas, even as I lament what that might mean for my own children trying to feel like they matter in the first-world.
If only there were enough good donations to meet everyone’s needs…and not thievery before they make it overseas! I am aware too as I shop at Goodwill that some people are snatching up what is excellent to sell on ebay, not clothe their family. But maybe that pays bills they couldn’t otherwise pay…I don’t know. I do know that God provides the world with enough. Our hearts need to grow so that the distribution of the Lord’s blessings improves, and so that we all fight entitlement in our hearts (even low-income people fight this).
I couldn’t begin to buy an iPhone, but still, I see Kristen’s point easily about the iPhone given to Maureen. While many people use them for trivial purposes–just to have the latest gadget–that doesn’t take away from the fact that iPhones are very useful for traveling business people and for those doing ministry in third-world countries. Now does the mom at the park really need an iPhone as she pushes her child in a swing? No, but iPhones are still a nifty invention, and I agree that Maureen should have a reliable one.
You are an inspiration, Kristen. Thank you.
Thank you for this beautifully-written piece. As a disaster worker – who herself shops thrift stores – I have been dismayed to see the carelessness of those who donate unusable items, thinking that having less money means one will accept anything.
That said, these donated clothes *could* be upcycled or recycled, whether in the U.S. or even in other countries, where doing so would give seamstresses the interesting challenge of creating unique items by using the cloth. It’s important to note, though, that upcycled chic doesn’t have the same sense in other countries, where it’s not always perceived as an item of beauty.
You highlight such a strong point with your iPhone illustration. I’m glad you helped your church to understand better how they could channel their goodwill.
Kristen,
Good post. I just returned from Haiti and I am a military chaplain. I have seen the mentality that you are referring to.
recently I was talking to another chaplain and he said that the American response to mission work and working with the poor is that they will “Pray for it, Pay for it, and Stay away from it.”
I brought a suitcase of clothes with me to wear while I was in Haiti, washed them in Haiti and left them in Haiti (minus my underwear, I kept those). I remember being homeless in Buffalo, NY. I remember being really hungry.
So giving is an important part of our Christain walk. but maybe we need to focus less on the verb and more on the adverb. Yes, you can “give” but “How” are you going to give? Intentionally? Sacrifically? Superfically? Thoughtfully? Courageously?
Maybe it is more about the adverb than the verb……
I want to say thank you for writing this post! I was really touched by it. I work in disaster relief, and I will never forget sitting with a family whose house had burnt to the ground the day before and they were left with the clothes on their back and nothing more. A bag of clothing was delivered to them by some of their friends and a lot of the clothing was significantly torn and stained. I was furious! It made me wonder if the girl who had given the clothes would have replaced the torn jeans for herself and given away the crap ones. You are giving this to a girl who has lost everything. Will she justify buying herself new jeans because she got rid of the crap ones?
Now, I don’t actually know the girl, and I will never find out her specific situation or motivation, but it certainly made me think.
And in regards to the girl who received the bag of clothing, she was beautiful and gracious, and extremely grateful but in her moment of weakness she remarked to me how humiliating it was to receive other people’s rubbish.
It’s not about top of the line stuff, it’s about our heart of giving, its about giving what is practical, and it’s about being loving in our giving. Are we giving our rubbish that we will then replace in our own cupboards (could we buy it new for the person in need?), are we actually being helpful?
Thankyou for this article.
How incredibly selfish and arrogant we spoiled Americans are. From the original post on down the line, many of the replies are just like this one. This self righteous attidute is cultural based. Do you even take into consideration the circumstances of the giver. Maybe the clothes that were given were not replaced with new. Maybe the financial situation of the giver didn’t allow them to replace what they had that was “good enough” and wasn’t “humiliating”. The girl had nothing, the gift gave her a change of clothes. The gift was something to get them by until they got back on their feet. I highly doubt it was intended to be her new forever wardrobe. And as far as what is sent to other countries, many of them are naked. They praise God if they find a fruit on a tree that they can share with their family, which might also be their only meal for the day. They are so much “richer” than we are, because they are rich in spirit. They trust God to provide their NEEDS. Don’t judge what is sent to them when they don’t judge what they receive. If they do it’s because they have been Americanized. The people of those “less fortunate countries” are as innocent as Adam and Eve before they ate of the forbidden tree. They don’t see stains like we do, we are their forbidden fruit. From the original article, the woman didn’t “need” an iPhone, a flip phone would have bee fine. Let’s not blur the lines between need and want, greed/vanity and necessity. We need to give what the Lord calls us to give, and then let Him sort it out.
Here’s a novel idea…we don’t own anything. God owns it all. If we are not willing to give away anything in our possession, it is a barrier between us and God.
Our problem is not that we give away our “junk.” It is thinking that we cannot give away our most dear possessions.
We give sacrificially with our money, however I’ve always believed it was better to donate an item, though it may not be in ideal condition, then to see it end up in a landfill. Perhaps the fabric can be repurposed in some way? The negative impact on local textiles is new information to me. Still, I hate to throw things out.
This outlook seems very ethnocentric and paternalistic to me, and is quite frankly insulting to the poor. Should we impose our overflated, highly materialistic, wealthy lifestyle on the poor of the world, because we want to ‘help’ them? Denying them of much needed help because it is just not good enough in our eyes? Should WE deem what is good for them, in some paternalistic fashion, or rather, shouldn’t we just ASK them, letting them decide what they need or want? I would love to know what the poor truly think of these clothes. I imagine it is different than the views expressed here. Of course we shouldn’t give away trash. But we live in such a wealthy, materialistic society that our eyes are skewed; how can we truly deem if something is good enough for the poor v. just not good enough for us? Why don’t we try to meet their needs by asking them what is good or bad with our clothes donations? You just might find that they do not think clothes you presume are junk are infact junk. And vow, ourselves, to not donate things that are truly shredded and trash. But to continue to donate things that are useful to them, even if they are not useful to us anymore. And can we please STOP being the voices to the poor. It is very egotistic. They are in need. They don’t need some rich american telling others what NOT to give them for crying out loud.
Oh, and the poor don’t care WHAT your intentions are in giving, so long as you give. If you give something away because it helps you, and you don’t give a crap how it helps anyone else, it is still GOOD if it is something useful someone can use. I gave away a vacuum that I only used 1-2x times. It was good for carpet we had in a temporary rental, but not for the hardwoods we just installed. I didn’t do it for some altruistic-feel good reason. I bought a new vacuum that works on the floors we have. I gave away a perfectly good vacuum mostly because it was taking up space in our house and not getting used. I imagine someone that has carpets scored big time the day they saw a nearly new vac at the goodwill. Should I feel bad because I was just clearing out my closet? Because helping someone was not the primary goal of the donation? Should I not give it away next time? The reasoning here is lunacy. Poor don’t care WHY you give-they just care that you are giving!
I think some people give away their torn and too worn clothes because it feels wrong to put them in the trash. A local charity in my town told me that they recycle fabric. I didn’t even know that existed. Now I donate in separate containers. One is nice enough that I would sell it at a garage sale. The other is too worn and I just put it in the recycling bin. 🙂
I give all, because I don’t know what people can use. I don’t want to throw something in the trash that might possibly be used. I don’t want to risk the waste. Even the Iphone…..what is the receiver of the phone had access to a battery, or could fix it? You never know how God can use something. I get your basic idea, but the argument has holes. I let the receiver decide if it’s trash or not.
Thank you for a most provocative article.
I especially liked the Ann Voskamp quote. I thought it was so powerful, in fact, that I hope you would be able to make two corrections to it. The appropriate word that should have been used is “affect(s)”, not “effect(s)”. Affect(s) is a verb; effect is a noun. The thought Ms. Voskamp shared is simply too powerful to be marred by poor grammar.
Thanks, again.
John
I truly couldn’t agree with you more! I have traveled extensively to many third world countries, and it struck my heart when you said that their best depends on our worst. Ouch!
When I have traveled on missions trips, I have made it a point to clean out my closet of wearable, nice items and wear them on my trip and then leave the clothing there. That way, it gives me less to bring home, less in my closet, but also creatively leaves useful items there for ladies to enjoy.
Thank you for writing this post. Very inspirational and thought provoking!
While I agree with everything in this article and the perspective you give about giving our best to the poor, I think that there is another perspective that you have missed. The poor in most third world countries haven’t experienced the “best” and “worst” the way that we define them. They have learned to see potential in everything. As a result, they don’t see a stained, torn, tattered shirt, they see a resource for something else or something new. Old clothes are made into quilts, blankets, carpets, aprons, etc. It is amazing what they can do with empty pop bottles, broken machines, damaged furniture and more. In our ego-centric first world arrogance, we think that the rest of the world defines usable and unusable the same way we do, but in fact, we have a lot to learn from them.
I am appalled at the attitude of the church that you mention in your article, and I agree that this is often typical of churches today. I also agree that we should be giving from the top, not the bottom. However, that doesn’t mean that something we think is useless should end up in a garbage disposal site when someone else can make something beautiful out of it. After all, that’s God’s business too. He takes the garbage we are, and turns us into something beautiful.
As purpose driven business, I see this issue A LOT. I run a thrift store that funds plans for a homeless shelter and food distribution center for whole dual parented homeless families and we run purely on donations. I get broken items, stained ripped and dirty clothes (often mixed with trash) and a lot of well wishes. Now, as someone who has lived as a homeless family, I was grateful for the donations that were often giving to my family; however, I also secretly resented the “throw offs”. I felt that those who gave (even with the purest intent,) felt that I was not worth the nice things that permeated their closets. Granted it served the purpose of clothing and feeding my family and I during our hard times, but shouldn’t providing for the neighbor mean more than providing the necessities to be clothed and full? What about helping rebuilding the self esteem that is ever so needed in order to overcome the emotional destruction that is often accompanying homelessness/poverty. If we have nice, we should share those nice things! We should be quick to act on the law of sowing and reaping. In addition, if we give truly from our hearts, we would want our neighbors to have some the nice things we have, but more importantly we need to honor the fact that our God is about par excellence and serve in that capacity.
I agree, we shouldn’t give anything to the poor, especially in foreign countries! American’s should keep everything until it is slightly used and then toss it in the trash and get something new.
I agree! If our junk ain’t good enough for them foreigners, let’s stop sending it! And they need to stop trying to come to America for our jobs!
As I sit in our home in Zambia, your article reminds me of items we have received on containers to help our ministry. Many things have been wonderful. However, there are those things that you just shake your head in disbelief. Another problem here is that there is no recycling, no trash pickup, no way to dispose of the “overly used” items people send. A friend who has helped collect and send containers to ministries around the world says that he gets so angry when he hears people say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” If it is one man’s trash it is probably another man’s trash as well. Thanks so much for this article.
My sons got the Christmas gimmees a few years ago, so I arranged a week of all-day volunteer service at a local ministry that serves the poor. They spent close to 40 hours sorting the end-of-year “donations” that came in and learned this lesson! Their indignation at the number of broken dishes, moldy clothes and outdated electronics (some with frayed cords and most obviously not safe) led to a long discussion over dinner the first night. The second day, my second son was literally moved to tears at the way people used “donations” to dump obvious garbage. My older son is now in college and volunteers at a homeless ministry in his college town, and my second is saving up for his second mission trip this spring break as a high school junior. I say that not to brag, but to support everything you say. IF ONLY we all would step into the world of the poor for a day or a week, we would see things so differently. Thank you for sharing this important post — and for saying it so well.
Cash For Clunkers did this kind of damage to people in the USA. For people who could afford working vehicles that were 10 years old or more, the price increased greatly because they were taken out of the market to be destroyed. The price of old suburbans tripled! We had to buy a minivan for what a year earlier would have bought a suburban. Our nice stroller broke a wheel when we tried to close the van’s trunk. We needed seats AND cargo room. Thanks for destroying the used auto market America!
Although I am trying to understand and hear what your saying, I am a bit bothered by this. I have walked out of stores with people having their babies and children with them asking for diapers and baby formula.. I have taken the diapers and formula out of my own grocery cart to give them and they have declined… Brand names of diapers and formula.. Fast forwarding to the here and now we have chickens and have wanted to donate eggs weekly to a church food closet.. I was a bit taken back when I was asked to give, wash each egg and package… Maybe it’s me but I thought maybe they could do a little to help themselves by washing the eggs themselves as long as they were gathered and put in egg containers.. Seems like a lot of people want the silver platter treatment…
I agree that people very quickly and readily get rid of their junk to the poor, but what is one person’s junk can be another’s treasure. Who’s to say what is worthy of donation? I am REALLY bothered though about asking for an iPhone. Really? Why does it have to be a REALLY expensive brand name item when any phone should suffice? I would rather my church not spend $500 on a phone when they could have spent $150 and did something else with the other $350.
I agree with it not necessarily needing to be an iphone, yet at the same time, I do not know the entire situation to know what was/ is needed in this case.
While I feel the author’s heart is in the right place, I don’t think anyone’s donations should be judged as not good enough. Most of the time when you donate goods to a place like Goodwill, you are not actually donating your goods directly to needy people. These items are sold to people from all walks of life to raise money for programs administered by Goodwill. As someone who sells vintage and antiques I often frequent thrift stores that are stocked with donations and buy things that others might see as worthless junk, because I find interest and value in them. In our disposable culture many quality items end up in landfills because people think they are outdated or that no one would want them, when this simply isn’t true.
The problem is not about something being expired or outdated. The problem is when we give something that’s **useless**. Like giving away pieces of technology that nobody uses like software from the 90s, or floppy disks that computers from the last ten years don’t even support. What good are these types of items (for example)? Yet I’ve seen tons of these things given away and all they do is cause the volunteers more work in throwing them away when they could tend to other things.
I respectfully, still disagree. I think it truly depends on the scenario which the giving takes place in. If you are directly donating to a family that needs clothing and household goods, yes there are lots of things that are useless, and yes, of course, they are blessed by and deserving of things that are in good condition. While no one wants to waste a volunteer’s time, when you are donating to a thrift store, what is considered “useless” is very arbitrary. For example, I purchase old cameras that are broken and don’t work. Some would probably wonder why I would want a “useless” camera, but I am purchasing it, and my money is used to support the programs of the charity. I have several friends who purchase broken items and use them to create art, which is their livelihood, so I do find it hard it deem things useless in a general context.
This is why I’ll still donate my crap: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/12/10/247362140/the-afterlife-of-american-clothes
People can still make a living grinding up the worst clothes for stuffing and selling that. It’s a whole industry that is allowing people to support themselves and economies grow.
EXACTLY!!! And I want to weep when I see all of these posters talking about putting stained clothing in the trash and filling landfills. And this article, intentionally or not, encourages the mindset of “throw it away, if it’s not good enough”
What poorly written & rather silly article.
You are really full of yourself.
Talk about condescending …… Excuse me, I have an I-Phone that is my husband’s outdated one because he has a new one …… Really? The truly poor rarely bother with phones and the like because they are more concerned with feeding their family Get off your high horse. You wouldn’t know what real hardship is like if it hit you around the back of the head. This is one of the reasons I left the Christian church – far too full of do-gooders like yourself who want to preach to others but don’t really walk the walk.
This is where your understanding of “true poverty” is lacking. I live in Peru and we work with a lot of under-privileged and guess what, they ALL have cell phones. This is because they are reasonably cheap, and don’t get me started on the black market of stolen phones (including iphones and smartpones).
One of the biggest reasons yes, the poor do use (and often need) cell phones is for various reasons like when they are applying for jobs that need a way to be reached by places they’re trying to get hired by. I know people who don’t have a place to live but yet have a way to be reached.
I think this is beautifully written. Having grown up as an MK in Africa, we can tell many “Junk for Jesus” stories. Maybe she is not talking to you. Maybe you are not the one that sent the dresses that had been stapled together instead of sewn, the used tea bags to my friend that lived next door to the tree plantation, the bra straps (yes, bra straps to Africa), and I could go on and on. If something is still useful, by all means give it! But do not give your pans you wouldn’t even take camping, your torn and stained clothes, your coloring books that are half colored and your broken crayons. She says she has received some beautiful items to take, but it is amazing how much junk is also accepted. Just because an organization here in the States in asking for certain items, doesn’t mean they don’t end up useless after expensive shipping is paid. One that really irks me is sending English used Sunday School literature around the world. Really? The recipients can’t even read it. Now the beautiful Bible pictures that are often included are useful, and occasionally there is a great game where language and culture don’t matter. The whole point of the article is to not give trash.
Thank you! When I went to NIcaragua, I had this realization. I went through my son’s clothes and picked out a suitcase full of barely used or new NICE clothes that we brought down there–slacks, collared shirts, long sleeve dress shirts. Why haul junk across the globe? I was going to give them to the housekeeper but the house manager scooped them up and said she’d take them to the church orphanage. Perfect. The housekeeper had a great job and food, and her son is well provided for, so I am grateful for someone who could get the clothes where they were needed.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE people don’t throw away old stained, holey, smelly clothes. There are BETTER options out there!
http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/08/donating-and-recycling-old-clothes.html
I am from Africa and Yes you are spot on. I love the annalogy you give that they were willing to give you a new phone but not the african lady that needed it. So many times we experience poor donations because Americans think its better than not giving at all yet here when one give , they give the best of their closet as hand me downs to neighbors. in response to the ladies who said they use expired goods and used clothes, but when you give, always give the best of what you have and they would be lying if they say thats the best. im sorry yes, people need to treat the poor better, africans better
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This story says a lot about the way people donate and it is one of the reasons why we built GOODdler platform. Poor and even homeless people, who many might think should be happy with everything that is given to them, regain their dignity when they are presented with quality gifts. Consider giving a gift as a donation here: http://www.gooddler.com
Can’t say I agree with the author on this point, but ESPECIALLY with the tone of the blog. First, a privileged American can not hope to put herself in the place of a poor person living in a 3rd world country so pretty please, don’t pretend you can share their personal opinion for them. Second, Yes, a poor person can value their personal worth (although many don’t, however that is a heart issue that only Jesus can remedy), but these precious people do not find their value in the brand name of their shirt or the quality or quantity of their “stuff”, that is a sad, sad, 1st world trap we fall into. Third, I can’t have my seamstress make something for less than I can buy it used, so from where I’m sitting (that would be Honduras), my seamstress is plenty busy with projects that the author of this article knows nothing about (school uniforms, formal dresses, curtains, parade garb) At our feeding program the mothers and children are happy to have a game or toy we would have normally thrown away (yes even broken ones are given new life with little imaginations that can’t read the English instructions anyway) …Additionally, a stained dress or shirt is better than no dress at all. But the author has clearly not been faced with this problem. You know the one where you leave your baby naked because you only have one outfit that you save for special occasions 🙁 Personally, I remember getting hand-me-downs from my cousins and while they may not have been perfect they were new to me and it was exciting. The same is true for many poor people given a used (yes even stained, article of clothing) for their child who has NOTHING. The reality is that I can’t throw away an empty formula can or a broken rolling pin without one of my (very well paid) staff taking it out of the trash. Yes I said, OUT OF THE TRASH. As for a iphone that won’t hold a charge, I had one a while back and donated it to one of our workers. Yep, I did that… It made his year. After 5 more months it couldn’t even be used to make calls but STILL he HAPPILY used it for games and music. Mind you he wasn’t the director of an organization but it had VALUE to him. Had it been newer it would have been a temptation to sell or increased the possibility of it being stolen. Remember the Bible story of poor women who gave what she had? It was just a penny but God recognized that it was even greater than those who gave much much more. Giving what we have to the poor is a gift of the heart and only God can see our hearts. When we give what we have out of love it is a blessing for the giver and the receiver. It might seem like junk to you but I just can’t resist pointing out that “one mans trash is another man’s treasure”
This article rubbed me the wrong way from start to finish. If you could afford to give your phone away, you should have done it to begin with rather than asking a church for an iPhone. Really? The church money going to buy an iPhone when there are so many greater needs in the mission field. My God, what were you thinking….convenience so you and she could chat? Then, you have lost your way. Your theme would have me not give nine used coats to the Salvation last winter. How would that have helped the nine people that received those winter coats. You have some nerve trying to make me feel guilty for giving used items, just because you chose to give your iPhone away and now want everyone to know what a big-hearted thing you did. NOW, we all know your good deed….hope you are satisfied with the attention. Stop dumping on the rest of us.
The quality of many new products–particularly clothing–has deteriorated over last few decades. If the things we buy for our families to use are crap to begin with, of course the used items we donate are going to be crap. It is what we have. It is what we can afford. It is what is sold in almost every town. If charities do not want to receive donations of crap, then perhaps they should say Dear Big Business: Stop flooding our country with poorly-made crap.
You definitely have an interesting point of view! May the Lord bless you as you serve him and bring a smile on his face as you show respect and give dignity to those who need it most! Thank you!
I have a pile of clothes too ratty for most donation needs. I think it would be an excellent source of fiber for an artisan paper-maker. Hmm…. sounds like a business model for an export business for Africa with love.
Andy
As someone who considers himself an atheist and who often sees religion as a way to denounce gays, different races/religions etc, this article was incredibly refreshing to read and I commend the author.
Here’s an idea for all those worn out or stained t-shirts. Instead of throwing them in the trash, cut them into smaller pieces. Then the next time you need a cloth to dust, clean the bathtub, clean a spill or wash dishes, grab one of them. Then just throw it away after use. I have a box full and it saves on paper towels and laundry.
When I was in Ghana for a work meeting related to transporting agricultural products, my guide pointed out the folks selling bananas on the side of the rode. He explained they weren’t good enough to sell in the Western market (for export) as the grower had hoped/planned, so they were hoping to sell them locally, but would not get as much money for them. They looked perfectly fine! But they weren’t “perfect” for our market. It is hard to find a balance…we can afford the best and supply is large. The free market works on supply and demand. I do not want a regulated market. Anyway, makes my mind swirl trying to figure out how to do my part in the “demand” side of it all causing a ripple effect in other countries…
I understand the point the author is making, but just to play devil’s advocate: I don’t have a iphone. I have a prepaid flip phone with no internet capabilities. So, would she call that junk and say I was donating my worst if I gave that to the poor? It works for me, so why wouldn’t it be good enough for them? What some people think is a necessity (an iphone 5, for example), I think is unnecessary.
I actually thought this line was one of the most interesting:
There’s this idea that we need to buy more, more, more, and the problem may lie earlier on in the cycle. We buy more than we need but are sometimes reluctant to get rid of something even if it doesn’t fit or we just don’t wear/use it anymore. We’re more than happy though, to give away what we deem as junk. Perhaps if we’re more frugal with our purchases and careful with our current belongings, we’ll accumulate less, give away items in better condition and have money left over to donate. Because let’s face it, people/charities often know what they need, why not let them decide what to buy (new or used) instead of making them waste countless hours sifting through whatever is given to them?
This article reminds me of 2 things. In the Catherine Marshall book, “Christy”, the women’s missionary society sent all kinds of things that the rural people had no use for. That was interesting.
It also reminded me of an article I read a few years back about a family that spent their summer “vacation” helping people in a 3rd world country. You would think good for them, right? Nope. People posted all kinds of negative remarks and criticisms about this family doing what they did and also where and how they did it.
My point? No good deed goes uncriticized. No matter how you choose to donate, there will be someone who will disagree with how/what/when/where, etc it was done. I wonder if that is one reason the Bible says to not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing? Hmmm. I’m not disagreeing with the article..I’m just saying…
I agree – cash donations are best – they cost almost nothing to transport and can be used to stimulate the local economy. Don’t spend so much of your allocated funds on MORE crap to fill up your house, then you will have a portion to donate!
This is golden! Oh man, I can’t tell you how perfect this is for me right now! I had a conversation about this same sort of thing with my parents, hung up and then saw a friend linked to this post. Perfect, just perfect. I wrote a follow up to your post on my blog and linked to you. I hope this goes viral! Must read for everyone!
I have always been convicted against the idea of offering damaged or shoddy goods to the church and/or to the poor in God’s name by what God says to Israel in Malachi 1:8.
“When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.”
I figure if Jesus said that when you do a good deed to “one of the least of these, my brethren you have done it unto me”, that means we should give to the poor as though we were giving to Jesus, himself.
One of my dear friends in college told me how their family received used tea bags all the time in Missions boxes. I also know personally of someone who dried tea bags after they used them so they could share with the missionaries. Pitiful stuff.
I’m sorry but I completely agree with the author. As a survivor of hurricane Katrina, my family received many donated items. Many of the items were brand new and we were astonished at how generous some people were. Other items were not new but, gently used items were also appreciated. On the other hand, giving someone a television that does not work, or a chair with a leg that falls off every time you sit in it, is basically the same as telling a person that because they have lost everything or they don’t have anything, garbage is good enough for them. That is just not true. While it’s the thought that counts, actions speak louder than words, and when you give people your trash, it says what you think of them and you give them plenty to think about you.