Jami's Suggestions for Donating Properly

I spent a good part of today and several hours on Tuesday sorting, carrying, cleaning and pricing items donated for my MOPS group's annual flea market. Let me first say how very appreciative we are of all the people who donate stuff. And then I am going to make a few polite suggestions for those considering donating stuff to anyone . . . 1. Don't donate stuff that is broken, missing pieces or not working. If it's really garbage, you're not helping by donating it. Today I saw a lamp with a broken stand, a toy race track missing parts of the track and an armless doll. Last year I opened a bag to find several toy trucks with 3 or less wheels. We got some large power tools marked "doesn't work". Who do you think is going to buy a broken power drill?? No one. Now you've wasted our time and space, and we have to get rid of your junk. 2. Donate relatively clean items. I don't expect you to scrub down each piece, and I don't mind if something has some serious dust on it, but we've gotten clothes with large, obvious stains (even, and I'm not making this up - underwear. Ick), hair implements with hair still stuck in them, dishes/cups that are sticky and more. Last year we got a water bottle with rotting "water" still in it. One woman reached into a box of linens and found a pile of dried, gross ramen noodles stuck to the linen. We don't mind wiping something down with a Lysol wipe, but if it takes more than that, you're pushing it. 3. If you're donating something relatively unusual, why not put a little note on it. We constantly get stuff where we're going "Anyone know what this is?? Anyone??" Would it kill you to put a post-it on it? "Pineapple Corer-Slicer" , "Motorized tie rack", "Hardware from my cabinets". If it's not something everyone has in their house, just go ahead and give us a heads up. 4. For most groups, especially one like ours where the flea market is in a church - DON'T DONATE YOUR PORN. Really. Just pitch it. It's okay. 5. Unless the group specifically says it's okay, don't donate food. There are places to do that. A charity flea market isn't it. 6. For crying out loud, use some common sense. No one wants a candle burned down to the nub, dried out markers, incomplete decks of cards, puzzles missing several pieces, cracked plates and bowls, your mug that has a relative's picture on it. We once got mugs that said "Ray and Jan, Cancun '99" They didn't sell. Apparently no other Ray and Jan were in Cancun the same year as you. Thank so much, keep donating!!