by As we fast approach December, most of us are anticipating the season of merry-making and gifting. For many of the less fortunate however, the festive season can come and go without much cheer, but we have the power to change that, even without having to spend a single cent.
We give you a rundown of the places you can donate your unused and pre-loved goods that will go to those who have greater need for them.
Photo credits: Pixabay
1. Pass-It-On
Pass-It-On is a non-profit project that connects the general public to the needy via Voluntary Welfare Organizations (VWOs). VWOs request for items on behalf of their clients that can range from infant milk formulas to refrigerators which appear on the website’s “Wish List”. The public can fulfil these wishes by donating the requested items, or list items they’d like to donate on the website and wait for a VWO to contact them directly if the item is of use.
What types of items:
How and where:
Visit www.passiton.org.sg to see the latest wish list or put up the items you’d like to gift on their website.
2. The Salvation Army
Singaporeans should be no stranger to The Salvation Army. I remember being taken to the Praisehaven thrift store at Bukit Timah when I was a child and being bought their one-dollar books by the stack. Around since 1935, their thrift store is part of the organisation’s comprehensive network of social services that range from child care centres to counselling, all catered to serve the underprivileged in Singapore.
What types of items:
How and where:
The Salvation Army has seven fixed Donation in Kind Booths where you can drop your items off. Their locations can be found at www.salvationarmy.org/singapore/dik_fts.
If you have bulky items, you may arrange for a collection service by calling +65 6288 5438, booking online at www.redshieldindustries.com, or emailing donor@SMM.salvationarmy.org with a brief description of the items you wish to donate, your collection address and contact number. The organisation will appreciate a contribution of $60 for every collection, which is optional.
Photo credit: The Salvation Army, Singapore
3. MINDS Shop
MINDS, or Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore, runs four flagship thrift stores that not only carry a carefully selected range of wares from furniture to collectibles, but serve as avenues where their intellectually disabled clients learn how to interact with customers.
What types of items:
How and where:
Drop off your pre-loved items at any of their store locations at www.minds.org.sg/Shop.html or contact Ms Linda Yusop at shawalindah.hq@minds.org.sg.
Photo credit: Pixabay
4. Uplift Project Singapore
A volunteer group founded in Australia, Uplift Project collects new or used bras and sends them to women in developing countries where bras are often unaffordable and unavailable. Countries where the Uplift Project has sent bras to in the past include the Philippines.
What types of items:
How and where:
Drop off points are kept updated on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/UpliftProjectSingapore
5. Dignity Mama Stall
Dignity “Mama” Stall are pushcarts that sell pre-loved books, which are managed by young adults with special needs and their parents. These kiosks are found at three hospitals, National University Hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Ng Teng Fong Hospital.
What types of items:
How and where:
Notify at least 3 working days in advance on their online form before donating books at the drop off locations found on dignitymama.sg/contribute/. Donations for Dignity Mama Stall @ NUH are welcome anytime.
Photo credit: dignitykitchen.sg
6. Tzu Chi
Since 2006, the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation has made every second Sunday of the month Tzu Chi Recycling Day. Recycling points are set up at 37 locations across the island where residents can bring down their recyclable items to, and encouraged to sort their items according to their different categories.
What types of items:
How and where:
Find the nearest recycling points to your home on their website www.tzuchi.org.sg
Photo credit: tzuchi.org.sg
7. Angel Gowns Singapore
Angel Gowns Singapore is a volunteer group that provides parents with hand-sewn burial outfits for their premature babies, stillborns or infants who have died. Their outfits are repurposed from donated wedding gowns and formal outfits, which are cut and remade into various dress sizes to fit even the smallest baby. The angel gowns are thereafter hand-washed, packaged and delivered to hospitals in Singapore.
What types of items:
How and where:
If you would like to help make the gowns, the group meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Email angelgowns.sg@gmail.com for more details; no sewing experience is required.
To donate your outfits, arrange an appointment with the volunteers via email or send a private message on its Facebook page www.facebook.com/AngelGowns.SG. You can also mail your outfit to Angel Gowns Singapore, My Mail Box 884383, Singapore 919191.
Photo credits: ST Photos - Nivash Joyvin
8. Willing Hearts
Run wholly by volunteers, Willing Hearts is a charity that operates a soup kitchen that prepares, cooks and distributes 5,000 daily meals to over 40 locations island wide, 365 days a year. Beneficiaries include the elderly, the disabled, low income families, children from single parent families and migrant workers. The charity employs only six full-time staff and relies on their 200 daily volunteers and donors for electricity and food supplies.
What:
How and where:
Donors can drop supplies directly to Willing Hearts at 11 Jalan Ubi Blk 6, #01-51 Kembangan – Chai Chee Community Hub Singapore 409074 during our operating hours of 4.30 am to 3.00pm.
Photo credit: ST File
9. Blessings in a Bag
Blessings in a Bag is a non-profit organization that collects items mainly for children such as school supplies, hygiene products, stationery and toys from corporations and the local community, and then distributes them to beneficiaries across Singapore.
What types of items:
How and where:
Donations-in-kind from the public have closed for 2017, but will re-open soon in 2018. Follow them on their facebook page www.facebook.com/blessingsinabag to find out when they will re-open collections or email blessingsinabag@gmail.com
Photo credits: www.facebook.com/blessingsinabag/
10. Singapore Freecycle Network
A grassroots and non-profit movement that aims to match people who have functional items they have no use for to people who have a need for them. The transaction takes place on their Facebook page where an item’s picture is uploaded and individuals who are interested can contact the owner directly for collection.
What types of items:
How and where:
Post a picture of the item you want to give away on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/sgfreecycle and interested takers will respond to the offer for collection.
