charity work

hi all

I'm doing some charity work for an orphanage in the phillipines after speaking with my helper about the poverty there. So aside from asking friends for toys and books and things I thought I'd ask a certain toy company for a donation of damaged toys or toys they can't sell. I got a very rude "we don't do that" and got hung up on! Any ideas how I can get more donations or raise money?

thanks

Manufacturer or retailer?? the latter might have some difficulty doing what you propose, if it is big enough it will have power over its suppliers and unsold inventory can actually be returned, its called on sale or return policy and used by powerful retailers to effectively bully suppliers into stocking the stores for them at no actual risk to the retailer if the product sells everyone gets paid if not well then. Makes sense if you are a really large retailer, you wouldn't just buy all the items in the retail space in the hope that they sold you could be left with large amounts of inventory. There however could be breakage which could be available and manufacturers could also donate their sub standard products or over runs (though manufacturers will have to be mindful of safety issues) my point it twofold, if you spoke to someone in Hong Kon and they spoke to you like that, an abrupt we dont do that" It sounds to me you spoke to the wrong person at that company, You would probably need to go above the persons pay grade speak to the CEO's assistant about getting a meeting for your charity. If these are big companies, nobody is going to flatly refuse a corporate responsibility proposal. They may not act on it, they may think it not suitable for them, but I am certain they would all speak to you.


Everything needs to be legit though, registered, business cards etc, and pitch the companies face to face, I am sure you will get a better response than dealing with some low level muppet who couldn't make a decision so said to you on the phone the easy way we don't so that sort of thing. I really find that hard to believe. Guy is probably not in a position to make the decision. So best thing to do is set up a meeting with the big boy of the companies and see what he says. You also need to show the, what kind of exposure they would be getting etc etc, that is the way the world works I am afraid,

You might try some of the factories - they might give you some out of date samples... check Alibaba.com for info...


Also - try a Wanted ad on our Hong Kong classifieds http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/classifieds/

You can also approach a Rotary Club , like mine , the Rotary Club of Kowloon Golden Mile. Our members would be able to help with donation of toys and freight. However as has been mentioned you need to make sure the charity is real . and the toys are going to a good home. We prefer Hands on Charity like it seems you are doing. Contact us

Do the toys have to be new? What about used toys in very good condition? I have a feeling that lots and lots of people have literally piles of great stuff in their flats they'd love to give you (I know I have!!). Unwanted gifts, toys that your kid played with once and then never touched again ... All you would have to do is set up a collection in residential estates with loads of kids (e.g. the Belchers or Bel-Air) or you could do it through (international) pre-schools and primaries. You would talk with the management office of a building / residential estate or the principal of a school / pre-school, and would probably get a much more positive response. Collecting stuff at Christmas time seems very popular, on the other hand you might find you have 'competition' for the donations during the festive period.


All in all I'd urge you to consider second-hand items in excellent condition. There are loads around and it's such a waste, it would be wonderful if parents could know their kids' unwanted playthings were going to a good cause.

thanks hongkongauctions for your reply, I am not a registered charity I am just a parent who thinks her son is vey lucky to have so much and wants to help kids who don't have any toys to play with,books to read and go to school taking a plastic bag!

Snow rose I will definitely accept old toys, I have asked all my friends to donate things they don't need. Please pm me if you have anything to donate.

In the meantime I will ask the orphanage for a letter of what they need and some photos. Who do I need to contact at the rotary club?

thanks all

You might also like to have a look at and register a post on the Yahoo Group called FreecycleHongKong, which is a web site where people in HK can post WANTED and GIVE-AWAY ads.

Hi number7, I lived in the Manila for 3 years and remember when I arrived there I was devastated by the poverty there. At that time my kids were 3 & 5 years old and had far too many toys etc, and I also had a lot of baby stuff that I didn't need anymore. I got involved with a womans group who did a lot of charity work and I went along to an orphanage for the mentally handicapped, with a car load of toys book,etc. We were met by two nuns who had just taken over the running of this orphanage and they told me that all the toys & books would be locked in a store room and only used when volunteers were visiting the children. They went on to explain that the reason for this was because the staff working there were also very poor and had families to care for so there was a huge problem with theft. After being shown around the orphanage, which was the saddest thing I'd ever seen, there were children sleeping in wooden cots with no mattresses, therefore they had bed sores on their heads, all wearing little grey gowns. I asked why the womens group hadn't tried to raise money for mattresses and was told that they had in the past and these had also disappeared!! They were told that they had been soiled. I believe the orphanage in question was much improved under the supervision of the nuns that took over. I'm telling you this number7, not put you off doing this good deed, but just to be wary of who you are sending your donations to, especially if you are planning to send new toys or books donated by a business, as these can easily be sold on for cash if they fall into the wrong hands.

they could also be selling some of the clothes at street markets - tourists beware!