What Should I do with Mom's Clothes?

[Obsidion]

My mother was living with me for a few months last Spring after the sale of her house. Since that time, her kidneys have been shutting down. She now needs dialysis 3 x/wk for four hours at a time. I couldn't take care of her because of my other responsibilities.....I am a single parent with a full time job. My brother and his wife from Florida took her in. They are wonderful with her.

She no longer needs all her clothing, and probably won't again since her prognosis is not good at all. We are luck if we can keep her for another six months. I have a lot of her personal belonging in my garage and my closets, plus two storage units full. She has asked me to do away with of her belongings, as she no longer has need for them.

I'm not sure what is the best thing to do with them. My mother suggested a garage sale, but my landord to my townhouse does not permit garage sales, or estate sales. Do any of you have suggestions as to what is the best way to "place" her belongings? I am open to any ideas.

 

[precocious]

It was hard for me getting rid of my Mom's clothes too. I donated them and some other things of hers to the salvation army. After that I learned that there are groups through yahoo called "freecycle". I wish I had know it then. You get to 'offer' the item and people from your community that can use this item will ask for it. They even come and pick it up too! It's a nice way of seeing that these items get used further.
With other 'charities' I always wonder what they do with the stuff. I hear some just sell it off for 'gross poundage' of clothes and ship it overseas....not sure. But I do like the Freecycle thing.

So sorry to hear about your Mom. I still miss mine tremendously, I really do feel for you. Good luck.

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Or - if you want to sell, there's always www.craigslist.com as well as ebay.

 

[Obsidion]

Thank you, Precocious....I will look into the links mentioned. It has been a tough year for me. I lost my Dad in 1999 after a heart by-pass....and now I'm losing my Mom too. The circle of life can be a little cruel sometimes.

These are the times I especially cherish my friends......

 

[Choochoojr]

These are the times I especially cherish my friends......

You always have a friend around here to chat with.

 

[Obsidion]

So kind of you, ChooChoojr. I appreciate it.....

 

[connie8890]

Donating your mother's clothes would be the most rewarding for your heart. Although Goodwill is a great place to donate items, I suggest finding a place like Open Concern, they have prices that more low-income families can afford. Also local churches have food and clothes banks and are always looking for donations.
I can only wish you and your mother the best. Remember that the good memories you carry with you will always get you through those rough years later in life.

 

[clubchick]

you might also find out about local homeless shelters, churches, or nursing homes?
my prayers are with you, obsidion

 

[StefaniLyn]

Obsidion and Precocious, I really feel for you both and you're both in my prayers. I just lost my mom in November to cancer. I appreciate all the suggestions as to where to donate the clothes. I just have one more question - is there any place or service that will come and pack up all of the belongings for you? I just can't bear to go through my mom's stuff. Everytime I even think about it, I break down. All of her things are in one general area, and we've set aside any family heirlooms or other things we want to keep, it's just a matter of packing up all the clothing, etc. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[precocious]

Obsidion and Precocious, I really feel for you both and you're both in my prayers. I just lost my mom in November to cancer. I appreciate all the suggestions as to where to donate the clothes. I just have one more question - is there any place or service that will come and pack up all of the belongings for you? I just can't bear to go through my mom's stuff. Everytime I even think about it, I break down. All of her things are in one general area, and we've set aside any family heirlooms or other things we want to keep, it's just a matter of packing up all the clothing, etc. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

It took me about 1 1/2 years to finally get the courage to go through everything. It was very good for me do that (very hard though). It gave me the one last chance to re-visit some memories that otherwise I never would have remembered. It also allowed me to choose to whom the 'stuff' was to be given.

I even found a very long lock of my Mom's hair that she had cut about 25+ years ago. I smiled as I donated it to locks of love, as even though she's gone, my Mom still 'blesses' the world!

Thanks so much for the kind words StefaniLyn. It's still so recent for you, but it will get easier. For me the first 6 mos-1 year was the heardest. You're in my prayers too.