Anyone else have a ton of bath and body works stuff?
I went through my stash yesterday and I have bottles of lotion and shower gel that I’ve never used and for whatever reason, I’ll probably never use. Stuff that I don’t like the scent. I also have tons of travel sized toiletries.
Weird as it seems, we don’t have a homeless shelter in my small town. I’d like to donate this stuff but I’m not sure who would take it?
Any idea of the best place to donate toiletries?
It’s those darn twice a year 50-75% off sales. 
I’ve started to limit myself to body sprays, mini-products to put in my gym bag - and if I can find them, the spray air fresheners.
I keep all the travel sized toiletries in a pretty basket and put it in the guest room when we have overnight company.A nice touch, IMO. Someone always forgets something.
I donate thousands of toiletries/beauty items every year to the women’s shelter in the neighboring city.
When we used to live in another state without a homeless shelter near us, I would donate items to our local high school nurse’s office - the nurse was truly an angel who would secretly give them to needy girls without other girls knowing.
Even if you are in a small town without a homeless / needy problem, you can bet that there are kids who are willing to find a way to hold a drive to collect stuff to send to a needier area.
Do you have a nursing home? These items are often appreciated by residents.
Food pantries usually give out personal care items.
My relative who teaches at low income grade school loves giving these treats to her students who are thrilled to receive it.
Thanks for all the great ideas, much, I knew people would have ideas.
@deb922 I work at a Children’s hospital and we take donations of hygiene products, we give them to the parents who many time have driven for hours to come to the ER without thinking they may be admitted. The majority of these parents are so worried about their children that they forget their own toothbrush.
I used to work at a domestic violence shelter and we ALWAYS needed toiletries. The women were so much happier when we gave them quality things rather than cheap dollar store body wash.
@romanigypsyeyes - a while back, we had acquired a huge pile of hair coloring products that were free after a coupon/promotion offer. I brought them to the domestic violence shelter along with my regular donations of deodorants, shampoo, and lotions, and asked if they wanted the hair color as well. The director of the women’s shelter was thrilled to get them. She told me some of the women in the domestic violence shelter will want to change their hair color to symbolically change their identity. I had doubted that they’d even want it - I never would have guessed they’d use them that way, but I was glad to help.
I agree that the women at these shelters are so grateful to receive anything - but if we can give them something of quality, it really helps them, even if just for a few moments, to feel better. One woman once told me that when she first got there, and was able to take a warm shower, it wasn’t just the dirt and sweat, but it gave her the feeling of washing away some of the hurt.
I volunteer at our local food bank and we accept toiletries.