Instead of throwing stuff away, why not donate them?

One Singaporean is helping to collect items that people here no longer want, but are still in good condition. They are then packaged and sent to needy people in the Philippines.

Colin Lau has been doing this for the last four years, with the exception of the three months during Circuit Breaker.

Find them, collect them, ship them

In a Facebook post, he explained that he regularly walks his dog and keep an eye out for good-quality items that people throw out.

He gathers these "treasures" in his spare bedroom, and when it becomes too full, he has a team of domestic helpers who helps to pack them and ship them off.

The people who receive these items can either use them, exchange them for food or sell them to raise some money to pay for hospital and funeral costs.

Lau also sends other items to a house in Johor Bahru, where people can take them home if they wish.

His most recent giveaway was a belated Easter event, where he and his friends packed and shipped about 850kg worth of items. This sounds like a lot, but it's only a little over half of the 1,500kg of donated goods they received from the public.

With National Day coming up, Lau plans an even bigger giveaway, a donation of 1,000kg or one tonne of goods, which will cost him S$1,200 in shipping.

How you can contribute

Here's how you can donate too.

1) If you wish to drop off items at Lau's place near Whampoa food centre:

"For those who want to drop off donations at my doorstep at any time of the day, my address is

Block 35, Jalan Bahagia,

#10-244 Lift A

Singapore 320035"

2) If you'd like Lau's team to come to your place to pick things up, or drive to Lucky Plaza to hand them over, you can contact these ladies:

"Text Bhing 83151599

Text Lisa 83768381

Text Marjorie 81586827"

Do bear in mind that they receive many calls so they might take a while to return them, and they can only pick up items on their off days, Sundays.

3) You can also contact Brenda at 82846597, for a drop-off location at Dempsey near Tanglin Mall.

Here's a list of the most suitable items to donate:

1) Clothes for adults and kids

2) Bedsheets, pillowcases, thin blankets

3) Towels and curtains

4) Soft toys only (No plastic toys!)

5) Mobile phones 2G or 3G

6) Music speakers & headphones

7) Laptops and tablets

8) Cookware - pots and pans

9) Kitchenware - plate, fork, spoon, knife

10) Bags and watches

11) Good condition shoes and sunglasses

12) Jewellery, cosmetics and accessories

13) Suitcases, small umbrella, hair curlers

14) Metal water bottles and face mask

15) Small work tools and blank notebooks

16) (Canned and dried) food

17) Coffee and tea

18) Soaps, perfume and shampoos

19) Hair dryers, radio and irons

20) Small TV

Lau is also very clear on what items are not welcome:

"No books, no dvds, no printers, no ring files, no hangers, no phone covers, no glassware, no plastic toys, no hanging pictures, no jigsaw puzzles, no uniforms, no furniture, no construction material, no golf bags, no spectacles, no swimming floats, and no fake flowers."

You can see his post below: