Comments on: How Often Do We Donate Our Garbage to God

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:26:34 +0000

Ok, somehow I posted this in the wrong place, so take two. I like my closets fairly clean. I also hate waste. Therefore, I donate often. I think there may be a lot of people like me, who donâ€™t think or realize that there is a cost to the thrift for garbageâ€¦closet needs cleaning out, I get it done. Stuff goes to thrift, out of my house. I am happy. I havenâ€™t considered the other end, just thought, â€œSurely there is someone out there that could use this.â€ I didnâ€™t think all the way through, living too much in my bubble. The point of donations is that it supposed to benefit others. I will do better next time.

By: b/

b/ — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:06:24 +0000

Now I’m just upset with people. I’ve always had these weird feelings when people suggest that we “just take it to goodwill.” Like the other day with a box (half torn up itself) full of half used sidewalk chalk. I’m sure there are some people that would gladly receive this somewhere, but it has just always bothered me. If we care so much about giving to the “less fortunate” then why don’t we just go out and buy stuff new and donate that? Anyway, I’ll think more about it from now on and try to speak my part when people drop those comments.

b/s last blog post..New Blog Site

By: Andi

Andi — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:51:13 +0000

I agree with you on the trash concept. I have seen it from the church sale standpoint and volunteering at the thrift store standpoint. Good thing is most folks at my church donate GOOD stuff for the sale and struggle with parting with it most times. We toss the trash before it goes out to the thrift store when we are done. Another man’s trash is NOT always another’s treasure and it is pretty obvious at times what is trash. Interesting thing is every year I come home to see all the stuff I have and wish I gave more of it away! And I love finding deals at the Thrift store! Why pay thirty bucks for jeans when you can get them for 3? haha

By: Scott Fillmer

Scott Fillmer — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:10:12 +0000

@george this is sometimes not quite so veiled, but, yes, I have seen this to be the case. I think this is exactly why Goodwill Industries started actually refusing “some” donated materials. I think the Salvation Army also does this now, but those are just the two biggies, our thrift store will accept any donation mainly to keep from offending the ones who really are donating what they think is good but will be later thrown away.

By: George R. Eddy

George R. Eddy — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:30:48 +0000

After reading what you have written about how people will donate pure trash to thrift stores, it makes we wonder about how refuse collection in that neighborhood is paid for.
Shortly before leaving Carrollton, OH to live in Columbus in 2001, that small town had adopted a “pay as you throw” system where we paid for refuse collection by buying specially printed trash bags. Is it possible that donations to thrift stores are a thinly-veiled way to avoid paying for refuse collection?

By: Heath Spurlock

Heath Spurlock — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:50:03 +0000

Ok I’m going to go against the grain here. Let me start off by saying yes I agree that if something is truly garbage it should be thrown away and not donated. Here is where the rub lies. My idea of what is garbage is totally different then someone who might be homeless and anything they can use to survive is a blessing. I would not want to throw away something that someone could really use. To me this is like a set of middle class goggles that I wear. I opt on the side of maybe someone could use this when I donate to the thrift stores. I also make sure I shop at the thrift stores. Not sure if I’m doing my argument justice here. All I’m really trying to say is who am I to decide what someone else might need or could use. I also give “First Fruits”, “Middle fruits”, and “Garbage Fruits.”

Heath Spurlocks last blog post..James 3

By: Kyle

Kyle — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:23:26 +0000

I find it funny you blog about this, because I was just talking about this yesterday.

The church rummage sale normally consists of only junk. People think, “hey, the church is having a rummage, we can donate it, because they’ll come pick it up, and afterwards they’ll take it somewhere.” It’s became an easy way to get rid of stuff that nobody would want. In all honesty, it just pisses me off.

We are about to have a rummage to raise some initial money for the church plant, and we have basically told people, WE DO NOT WANT YOUR JUNK. Not trying to be rude, but we are trying to raise money, and if someone wants to help us by donating to us and letting us take profit, then that is fine, but don’t give us something that is destroyed and not even useable.

Okay…I’m finished.

http://www.vagabondrunn.wordpress.com

Kyles last blog post..LIFE & ABORTION

By: Mandy

Mandy — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:18:35 +0000

I was involved w/ my church doing a clothing drive. People donated so much CRAP. I was sifting through the stuff and seperating the junk. Another woman said, “just take that to Goodwill and donate it.” I refused…they got mad. I had EXPLAIN why we shouldn’t donate it. It’s not fair to have someon else pay to dispose of our garbage. They seriously had a hard time understanding that concept….NOT donating stuff (junk)

Mandys last blog post..Works for me Wednesday