The end of the academic school years normally find many people leaving Bangkok and looking to cull the clutter? You can donate gently used baby and children’s clothing and gear, books, and household items to these worthwhile organisations. It’s a great lesson in caring and sharing to involve your kids in donating their toys or games and understanding that many kids are not as fortunate as they may be.
Books: Donate new and used children’s books to the book drive of Little Free Libraries, which takes place annually. Drop books off at Chez Noodles (Early Learning Centre), Little Footsteps, or Talents International Preschool. All donations will be placed in the book boxes of Little Library BKK, where people in the community can take or leave a book as they like, making books more accessible to all. Also, the Neilson Hays Library is accepting all kinds of book donations for their huge semi-annual book sale; proceeds benefit the upkeep of the library’s historic building.
Toys and Clothing: Located in Sukhumvit Soi 33/1 (down the side soi next to Villa Market on the main road), Fatima Centre’s shop is run by the Good Shepard Sisters who work extensively with at-risk women and girls. The organisation accepts toys, clothing and fabric scraps, which they can use to make lovely handicrafts. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Please call 02.258.5065 for more info.
Second Chance Bangkok, a local initiative by residents of Bangkok’s Klong Toey slum, will also take donations of quality second-hand clothing and other goods and sell them to residents of the Klong Toey community at affordable prices, or pass them on to those in need. Schedule a home pick-up of your things through their website, www.scbkk.org, or call 087.026.4205 for more information.
Helping Klong Toey slum children, the Foundation for Slum Child Care seeks donations of toys, mattresses, pillows, personal care items and powdered milk. Items can be dropped off at 100/771-775 Klong Toey Block 6, At-Narong Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok, from Monday to Sunday, 8am to 5pm. Please call 02.249.0953 for more info.
Rajvithi Home for Girls, a government foster home for over 400 girls ages 5 to 18, accepts donations of kids’ clothing, school supplies and toys. They are located at 255 Rajvithi Road in the Phayathai district; office hours are Monday to Sunday, from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Please call 02-354-7484-5 or visit their website to learn more.
Everything Else: The thrift shop run by the American Women’s Club of Thailand will take donation of a variety of goods, including clothing, shoes, books, kitchenware, small appliances, linens, decorative items and toys — funds from the sale of these secondhand items help fund their programmes in Thailand, including student scholarships. Donations are accepted every day from 9am to 4pm, while the shop is open on Wednesdays, 9am to 12pm.
The International Support Group Foundation (ISGF), which provides scholarships for needy Thai students, wheelchairs for the disabled, physical therapists for kids with cerebral palsy at Baan Fuang Fa in Pakkred and more, also takes donations of all kinds of things, from toys and clothing to kitchen items and home decor, for their semi-annual fundraising yard sale. Items can be dropped off at their office in Sukhumvit Soi 11, from Monday to Friday, during regular office hours. Please contact isgf.education@gmail.com for more info.
Dedicated to bringing happiness through slap-stick comedy shows and providing essential goods to poor families in Bangkok and throughout Thailand, Gift of Happiness collects donations at three drop-off points, including their charity shop in Sukhumvit 77, On-nut Soi 36, Suan Luang district. For more information on how to donate to this organisation, please click here.
Mirror Foundation accepts clothing, books, electronics and furniture, which they give away to schools, communities and charities. Items can be dropped off at their office at 191 Srirapsuk Villa, Vibhavadi soi 62, Bangkhen, Laksri, Bangkok 10210 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm; Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 4pm); donations by post are also welcome. Home pick-up may be possible for very heavy things. Please visit their website, www.mirror.or.th, or call 02.973.2236-7 for more info.
