Teaching kids to donate starts at home. Go through their clothes and toys together, choose items in good condition and prepare them for donation. You can then visit a donation bin or arrange a home pickup.
Donating second-hand items is a practical way to teach children about generosity, helping others and reusing belongings. Follow these five simple steps to make donating a family activity.
1. Choose What to Donate With Your Kids
Start by going through your children’s clothing together. Are some sweaters too small? Have they outgrown their pants?
Encourage your children to identify clothes they no longer wear. Check that each item is clean, usable and in good enough condition to donate.
Next, encourage your children to sort through their toys. Toys they no longer use may bring joy to another child, provided they are accepted by the organization receiving them.
Giving up personal belongings can be difficult for children and adults alike. Let your children take part in the decisions and lead by example by sorting some of your own belongings. Avoid pressuring them to give away something they truly value.
Before packing anything, check the list of items accepted by Entraide diabétique du Québec. Not all toys or household items are suitable for donation bins.
2. Sort and Pack Your Donations
Once you have selected the items to donate, it’s time to prepare them for drop-off or collection.
Clothing and many fabric items, such as tablecloths, napkins and cushions, can be packed in plastic bags for donation bins, following the organization’s instructions.
Prepare a lighter bag that your child can safely place in the donation bin. This gives them a chance to participate directly in the experience of giving.
Fragile items such as dishes, lamps and certain small appliances should not be placed in donation bins. Depending on whether they are accepted, a home donation pickup may be a better option.
3. Find a Donation Bin Near You
Finding a donation bin is simple. Visit the Entraide diabétique du Québec donation bin locator and enter your postal code to find nearby locations.
You can make the drop-off part of your family routine, such as on the way home from school or another activity.
Let your child place a light bag in the bin when it is safe to do so. This helps them understand how their donated belongings can be passed along for reuse.
Remember to drop off the bags promptly so they don’t end up staying in your car until the next season!
4. Arrange a Home Donation Pickup
Entraide diabétique du Québec offers a home donation pickup service in eligible areas.
First, check whether the service is available in your municipality. You can then complete the online form to request a pickup.
A member of our team will contact you to arrange the pickup details.
On pickup day, place your donations at the agreed location, following the instructions provided. Identify the bags and boxes with a paper marked “D” for “Diabetes”, as instructed for the collection.
Get your children involved by asking them to prepare the sign and draw the letter “D”. They may even get to see the truck collect their donations.
5. Make Giving a Family Habit
Your child has now taken part in an act of generosity!
By teaching children to donate usable items, you help them understand the importance of sharing and helping others. They also learn that belongings they no longer use can be given a second life.
Making donations a family activity is a meaningful way to encourage generosity, reuse and environmentally responsible habits.
Consider repeating this activity at the beginning of each season. Sorting clothes and toys regularly can encourage thoughtful consumption, sharing and reuse.
Ready to donate as a family? Find a donation bin near you or learn more about home donation pickup.
