To whom to donate . . .

[Lee Scoresby]

For many years I have donated to the Oxfam shop and bookshop, over in Half Moon Lane - for which Oxfam gets gift aid. I first took items there because staff always thanked me, simple as that - whereas elsewhere one might encounter incivility or even a blank refusal to accept what one had lugged in. I continued to donate throughout Oxfam's recent self-generated scandals.

I took items over this afternoon. The lady was polite as ever . . . and yet, I feel I'm approaching a tipping point, not just with Oxfam but with similar major charities. They have 'boutiqued' themselves out of my affections. I am fed up with feeling that THEY are doing ME a favour by accepting what I bring in.

I understand that people (not least in London) are ever more picky about 'pre-loved' items. I recognise the reported phenomenon of middle-class donors whose super-abundant sense of self-worth extends to the filthy tat and broken rubbish that they simply cannot bear to bin, insisting that 'someone' will want it. And yet --

This has been going on for years. I suggest that lousy, delusional management is to blame. Think of the advantages a charity outlet enjoys: Most of their staff are unpaid. Most of their stock is free. They often rent their premises on very advantageous terms. And they can allude to an ethical narrative beyond simple retail transaction. And yet . . . it seems their bosses yearn to manage 'real' retail. All of the self-importance, almost none of the real challenges.

In a rational, human-based society - rather than the muppetocracy we endure - local government would run recycling depots in every neighbourhood, where one could look, not just for the items typically found in present-day charity shops, but surplus paint and building materials, refurbished electrical and electronic goods (shunned by charity shops, as we know), and offers of barter or simple assistance. Social good would be the point, not pathetic managerial ego.

Lee Scoresby

[Castleton]

IMHO I would donate to Salvation Army because they seem to take just about everything!

And I won't say who but I volunteer for a charity shop and we have increasingly had to say no to donations. It's not always pleasant, it's not always easy...

[malumbu]

You are covering multiple issues, including whether we should have charities in the first place. Personally it should not be for individuals to support hospitals, hospices, social care, overseas aid, schools etc, and even veterens, that is for the state. You can argue otherwise for say animal welfare. But no point in being purist on this, and we need the McMillans and St Christophers of this world.

As for donations, Oxfam still have a vital role irrespective of recent serious issues. I would donate at Xmas to them, but it is easier to send gifts to my wider family using WWF. As for shops I don't understand your problem when you have St Christophers and Mind in East Dulwich

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

Having sorted donations for multiple organisations: unfortunately, books, CDs, and DVDs are basically worthless now. Clothing is worth little and often poorly made. Punters do not hesitate to dump obsolete (a 1997 A level textbook?), dirty, and useless (a broken plastic toy?) items on you, and it takes time and money to get rid of them. Thieves will steal donations from shops and bins. It is hard to whip unpaid volunteers into the Customer Service Automatons that "consumers" expect these days. If you sell the stuff too cheap, you can't fund the object of the charity; if you sell stuff too expensive, people moan that it's not affordable for consumers.

If your target for "pathetic managerial ego" is the local charity shop, then you're gonna be really disappointed when you find out who runs multibillion dollar organisations like Twitter or FIFA or the Department of Health...

Thank you for your donations. You are doing good by your donations. It is more equitable and sustainable than binning them. A song and dance to thank you may be a bit out of reach for the moment.

[KalamityKel]

You are covering multiple issues, including whether we should have charities in the first place. Personally it should not be for individuals to support hospitals, hospices, social care, overseas aid, schools etc, and even veterens, that is for the state. You can argue otherwise for say animal welfare. But no point in being purist on this, and we need the McMillans and St Christophers of this world.

As for donations, Oxfam still have a vital role irrespective of recent serious issues. I would donate at Xmas to them, but it is easier to send gifts to my wider family using WWF. As for shops I don't understand your problem when you have St Christophers and Mind in East Dulwich

 

Eh?

Do you even read what you write before hitting the "submit" button.

At risk of diverting away from the main topic here , you're really edging on the trolling level these days.