Every Sunday there is a special place that we pass on our way home from church that has a clothes bin where you drop off used clothes for the needy. Well, on the bin it says “Clothes and Shoes ONLY” and yet people still leave just about anything and everything next to the bin. I actually don’t mind this very much because we have been stopping by there for many years picking up really cool stuff – mostly toys for the kids.
I know what you might be thinking… “Yuk, you give dirty old toys to your kids?” Well, yes and no. LOL I do clean them off first and then let them play with them and it really doesn’t bother me at all. We have found the following items at this bin over the past 3 years and most everything in really great condition.
- High Chair
- Child Size Basketball Hoop
- Sliding Board
- Big Toy Truck with Legos
- Outdoor Dump Truck
- Shelf
- Bikes
- Random Toys and MUCH MORE
I feel like this is a place where God leaves things just for us. And because you are not supposed to leave anything other than clothes there – this stuff is up for grabs.
Our most recent find (this past Sunday) was a blow up contraption that is filled with plastic balls. My kids absolutely love it, even the baby.
I would never buy something like this otherwise. We really don’t have the money to spend on toys at this point in our lives – we reserve that for special occasions – Christmas & Birthdays. So, it is a treat to find something new that was thrown away but yet still perfectly useful. I can’t resist those precious smiles on my kid’s faces when we present them with something new. Having them occupied is just priceless. I don’t care where it comes from. 🙂
How about you? Have you found anything good in the garbage? Or are you a CLOSET garbage picker. LOL Anyway, whatever you are… I want to hear about what it is you have found! Do tell! Do tell!
Twitter: theladya
We once found a floor lamp sitting at the side of the road in someone’s garbage (actually a local doctor, lol). We took it home, plugged it in, and it actually worked. We are still using the lamp years later in our living room.
Love it! My aunt actually garbage picks in her upscale neighboorhood and has gotten me all my outdoor Little TIkes toys that my kids (and all the neighborhood kids) love!
.-= cher´s last blog ..Book Review & Giveaway: "Dancing with Ana" – 3 Winners! (Ends 9/24) – US/Canada =-.
have have a gorgeous train table, a fisher price slide, bikes, board games, and a few other things that have come from our roadside recycling adventures. We cant afford to be picky and my kids seem to appreciate them just as much as they would have had we laid out the money for new.
.-= fidget´s last blog ..Worth it =-.
Cool! LOL! I know a lady who knows a lady that knows the garbage schedule of places like pottery barn and has a field day! I wish I knew…LOL…Congrats to you and WHOO HOO for your kiddos! 🙂
.-= Lara´s last blog ..Road Map to the Narrow Path: Episode 4 – Double Mindedness =-.
I used to LOVE ‘garbage’ picking when I lived in CT. We lived in Navy housing and when ppl were transferred to another assignment you could find TONS of great things. Like new furniture, toys, etc.
Where we live now everyone carries their stuff to dumping stations so you don’t find a lot of stuff out on the side of the road on a garbage day.
Thanks for the information, I cant wait to read more of your posts.