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In the Fall of 2019, I learned an important lesson. Before you take a load to donate, remove EVERYTHING else out of your trunk that isn’t meant to be donated.
It was our anniversary in November of 2019. I had been in charge of an activity the night before at church creating Meal Bags for Kids. It was a huge success and the entire back of my minivan, with the seats down, was full of boxes and bags for the local Food Pantry.
So the next morning, on my anniversary, Matt took the day off to spend with me and we started the day with a delivery to the Food Pantry.
Matt helped me unload all the donations. He also accidentally donated my personal bags that had my scissors, staplers, tape, large case of colored pencils, all my Sharpie markers, and other things I can’t remember anymore.
Later that day when we were back home, I opened the trunk to get my stuff out and put it away. I couldn’t find it and quickly realized what happened. I called the Food Pantry and asked if they still had the bag of non-food items. Turns out they had assumed it was part of the donations and spread it out on a table for people to grab that day as they were grabbing their food.
This mistake could’ve been much more expensive than replacing every stapler and pair of scissors in my house! And no, I’m not mad about all the stuff might going to the people at the Food Pantry. But like I said, this mistake could’ve been bad.
There’s a few things I keep in my trunk regularly, like my “emergency bag” and kids’ karate bags. But nope, when I go on my donation runs, I take EVERYTHING out of my trunk. I eliminate any chance of confusion!!! Nothing is in my trunk except what I am donating!
Like when I took the bags from last week’s closet decluttering, I emptied the trunk first.
You may think this advice is obvious, but I’ve learned no advice is too obvious to someone who really needs to hear it.
So, there you go.
You’re welcome.
I think I was reminded to share this because my girls participated in the same activity from November 2019 again last night. It wasn’t the same being virtual (all the girls decorated and put the bags together in their own homes). Just imagine this many bags x 10 and it’s easy to see why things could get lost in the confusion.
From my home to yours,
Mary
My daughter loves to organize and clean but also loves her animals in her room. Her room isn’t big but she has several ferrets and keeps big cages in her room for them. She doesn’t have a lot of space for extras so she just recently bagged up some clothes that she wanted to keep, but would rotate back into her room later to wear. She told me she was placing the bag in the garage and I felt like it was a safe enough place to keep them until she was ready for them back in her room. Don’t you know, her dad decided to clean the garage the next day (while neither my daughter or myself were home!). He took that bag to donate to the thrift store with her good jeans, her favorite tshirt, etc! She was a good sport about it but it was a lesson learned! Your story reminded me of this and I’ll be sure to check my trunk also before my husband decides to donate again! Smiles😊
Oh bless her heart, I’m glad she was a good sport. It’s like spilled milk, you know you can plan on spilling some many times throughout life, but every time it’s a test in how we’ll react!
What a beautiful idea, Mary! I just love this post. I would like to do something similar with my own family. I just might copy your idea. 😉
Thanks, Jill. We love to do it.
Besides your daughters’ precious smiles, I love your reflection in the mirror as you look at them while taking their picture. Ahh, a momma’s love. <3
Ha! I was hoping no one would notice! Especially since I’m leaning my head back and showing a double chin in a really awkward pose. But, my smile is real. I love these girls.