Reminder: Lubbock Donation Drop-Off Sites Are for Giving, Not Taking

A Lubbock charitable organization is urging residents to think twice before "helping themselves" at local donation drop-off sites. While these spots are meant to help community members in need, some have mistaken them for free pick-up locations. Taking items from donation bins or piles is considered theft in Texas and ultimately hurts local nonprofits trying to support struggling families and local children.

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The Problem with “Pillaging” Donation Sites

Caleb's Closet, a West Texas charity that "provides clothing and restores dignity to local children in foster care," was counting on a car seat that was dropped off at a donation site to help a child in foster care. However, someone took the car seat for themselves, perhaps thinking it wouldn't be missed.

Non-profits typically run on mostly volunteer work and availability, and those that are paid are usually stretched pretty thin. So if you were thinking that if they needed the car seat that badly, they should have picked it up, perhaps consider that maybe no one was immediately available, and that this was the best possible solution. And honestly, why should they have to worry about people taking donated items?

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Why Taking From A Lubbock Donation Site Is Actually Stealing

The person who donated it no longer wants it, right? So it should be up for grabs? Wrong, and there are a few reasons why. First, the person who donated their property didn't simply abandon it, they intended it for the charity. So the logic that they no longer wanted it makes about as much sense as if you took a Christmas gift from under a tree that didn't have your name on it.

Secondly, when it's at the donation site, it has become the property of that organization. So again, it would be like taking something out of a person's storage shed, which would obviously be stealing. The item has value and may already be earmarked for someone who desperately needs it or needs the proceeds from the sale of the item.

What We Can Do To Support Caleb's Closet

You can donate items at Aldersgate Church, located at 10306 Indiana Ave., which is open Wednesday-Saturday. Just don't take anything, of course. Caleb's Closet is in need of the following:

• New underwear
• New socks
• New and gently used clothing
• New and gently used shoes
• New and gently used toys
• Twin bedding
• Baby gear
• Baby accessories
• Kids Furniture
• kids plates, sippy cups
• kid/teen friendly items

You can also make a monetary donation at their website, or shop for items on their wishlist at Amazon or Target.