The Thanksgiving we know today, is all about showing gratitude and making memories with friends and family. Growing up, I distinctly remember that the week leading up to Thanksgiving, my parents would pull a large brown box out of the garage and write “gratitude” in big, bold letters. As soon as I saw that box I knew it was time to get to work, and that meant purging time. My siblings and I were VERY competitive so we turned it into a game- who could find the most clothing to donate? While going through our clothes, our parents would explain to us the importance of donating. They would explain that even though we may not like the color of last year’s coat, there are underprivileged children who would be extremely grateful for a warm coat each winter. I remember feeling so guilty for complaining about the color of my coat and wanting to give as much as I could.
Now that I am a mother, I have carried on this tradition to my children. As a mom, I understand how quickly our kids grow out of clothing, including necessary seasonal items such as rain boots, winter hats and winter coats. The first step in deciding to do a Thanksgiving purge is choosing a nonprofit to donate to. Below are a few in our area that are more than worthy of your under-utilized clothing items.
An east-of-the-lake nonprofit in the Seattle area is the Eastside Baby Corner. “Baby Corner helps children have what they need to grow, play, learn and thrive.” Baby Corner accepts clothing for children birth through age 12, maternity clothing, children’s shoes, bottles, toys, diapers, etc. If you check out Baby Corner’s website, you can find their 3 different donation hubs and what days/ hours they accept donations. Baby Corner’s website is: https://babycorner.org/
Centrally located in the Seattle area is Mary’s Place, based out of King county. Mary’s Place “provides safe, inclusive shelter and services that support women, children and families on their journey out of homelessness.“ Mary’s Place accepts seasonally appropriate clothing for men, women, and children, twin bedding, maternity clothes, towels, diapers, wipes, etc. On their website you will find the address to their donation drop off location. Mary’s Place accepts donations Monday-Saturday 8:30am - 4pm. You can find their website at https://www.marysplaceseattle.org/
For those on the north side, Clothes for Kids, which is based out of Snohomish county. “Clothes for Kids provides free school clothing to lower-income students. Any child who attends school in Snohomish County or the Northshore School District and requests help qualifies for Clothes for Kids.” Right now they have a high need for sweaters, sweatshirts, light jackets, and heavy coats sized kids 6 through adults 2XL. They have one donation location in Lynwood and a contact-less secure donation bin. You can read more on their website: https://clothesforkids.org/
Now that you have your nonprofit picked out, find a large box and let your kids decorate it. Once your box is decorated it’s time to get to purging. Taking this time to talk to your kids about needs vs. wants will help them fully grasp the idea of what being grateful looks like. This is a perfect activity to grow closer as a family while teaching your kids an invaluable life lesson.
Cheers,
Kyla Lopez
National Nanny Agency Owner - The Nanny Consultant
Homeschool Mom of Three Littles