Decluttering: What to do with old trophies

[castleview]

Posted this on the CB too, but I knew someone here could be helpful also.

We've been tackling the basement on this wet Fourth of July and are wondering what to do with all our old trophies. Most of mine are broken so they can just go out in the trash. Super jock DH has some large trophies. Sure he's proud, but he doesn't want to waste space with them.

What should we do? Just toss them? Can they be "recycled" or donated to any place? Give me some ideas please!

 

[PrincessDadx2]

What I did with mine was we had a game night at church and I gave trophies to all the winning kids. They were thrilled to win a trophy and I was thrilled to get rid of them I had a lot of bowling trophies and we set up a lane with plastic pins and balls and every age group got a trophy and the big winner got a huge trophy. A fun time was had by all.

 

[EthansMom]

Keeping them while you figure out what to do with them will only cause more clutter in the form of wasted time/energy. Personally, I would take a picture of each one (you could always make a collage or scrapbook with the pictures). Then I would toss them all in the garbage.

 

[Hannathy]

We donated all my Mom and Dad's to the ARC. They pry off the name thingy's and reuse them. Especially the ones that didn't have the bowling figure on it.

 

[MiniGirl]

Posted this on the CB too, but I knew someone here could be helpful also.

We've been tackling the basement on this wet Fourth of July and are wondering what to do with all our old trophies. Most of mine are broken so they can just go out in the trash. Super jock DH has some large trophies. Sure he's proud, but he doesn't want to waste space with them.

What should we do? Just toss them? Can they be "recycled" or donated to any place? Give me some ideas please!

Many of the Baptist churches in our area had a sports theme VBS (vacation Bible School). The materials used are from a national company, so churches all over the country are doing it. You could call around and try to donate them to be used as a decoration. Just tell them you don't want them back. I think you could then even write them off as a charitable donation.

 

[momxx5]

most of the front plates/words pop off. I'd take them off and then donate them.


One man's trash.....

 

[lovewdwdvc]

Ours go to special olympics. Since that is sucha good cause, none of the kids really miss them.

 

[LadyyRedd]

I've always wondered about this myself. There are some really good ideas here. However, a good number of my trophies are quite unconventional. I've got a lot of them that look like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MathCounts. Of course, mine have dates on them like 1986, 1987, 1988 and not 2001! Any ideas on what to do with those? It's not like they could really pry off the plate and reuse these kind.

Kimya

 

[daisyduck123]

I hate clutter, so I would just pitch them.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I saw something in this Months runners world about donating things like medals. I am sure the company they recommended would take trophies as well. They are repurposed as rewards. Think of it as recycling!

I'll go dig up the website.

okay--called it up...it wasn't trophies, just marathoning medals--but still a good cause. Perhaps something similar exists for trophies.

http://www.medals4mettle.org/

 

[stcav2000]

Our local children's hospital uses them for a program called Queen (or King) for a day. If you have one in your area they may really appreciate them.

 

[tink2dw]

Old school trophy could be given back to the school, either for a trophy case or to be reused. Bowling trophys could be donated to a local bowling alley to be reused, same for baseball, basketball, football. Ice skating or hocky trophys could be donated to a local rink to be reused. Just call the same type of place you won them at and donate them back!!

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

My DH works for a Christian College that is always on a budget and we have recycled some of his, I am sure there are local places/teams that would love to get them. Even the tops come off so the sport can be changed. My sister and I took some of my Dads and had flower arrangements made, they are really nice and hold lots of memories.

 

[kinntj]

If you can't find a place to donate them locally, I would pitch them. If you'd like to see them in the future, then take a picture. It takes up less space and you still can see them and remember when you received them.

 

[Ozymoe]

OK...As I said in the subject line...I'll say this once, loud and clear.

DO NOT PITCH ANY TROPHIES (or partial/damaged trophies)!

Give these back to a school (especially if the school has any halfway smart coaches)...these can SO be recycled! If a sports program at any particular school turns up its nose (sometimes coaches can be so unenlightened) PLEASE check with the Chess/Math/Science teachers...these trophies most times can be recycled (they use the bases/the inbetween spacers/sometimes the figures etc...) and it drastically reduces the prices they have to pay for trophies.

Repeat...it DOESN'T MATTER if it's a bowling trophy, football trophy (or ANY other kind of trophy) etc....the bases, the inbetween spacers and sometimes the figures can be recycled...oh PLEASE don't throw these away...take the time to find a school/coach/teacher who will use these!

 

[Julia M]

oh, I WANT dd to get rid of some of her trophies..........she has over 60!!!!!!!!!

I wouldn't mind of she kept some, but 60!!!!

How do you convince a a kid to tosss????

 

[abbeshops]

You could list them on Craig's List oon the free board or try your local Freecycle. If you're not sure if you have one in your area go on Yahoo groups and do a search for your city & freecycle. Hopefully someone will be able to use them.

 

[momxx5]

Donationing is the way to go....the bases, spacers, etc are all recycable. Maybe even a trophy store who can find a special cause for them.

There are tons of uses for them.

We have a MathCounts one....dated 2007! Earned by my DS
(just thought I'd share)

Now achievemnet trophies are awesome and something that each person should be proud of.


One of my pet peeves..........in our area ALL children recieve trophies for participating in sports, soccer, football, baseball, etc. Now 99% of the trophies are purchased by the parents and given to the children by the coach. These are not earned, as in division winners, etc. but participation trophies.
I know its important for all the ages to feel special, but beyond age 7 I think it gets a bit much. Especially when the parents are paying for them.

Okay, carry on...

 

[LadyyRedd]

We have a MathCounts one....dated 2007! Earned by my DS
(just thought I'd share)

Congrats to him! I know firsthand that those are NOT easy to get! You should be very proud of him!!

Kimya

 

[momxx5]

LaddyyRedd-

Thanks.
We are very proud of him. He is extremely intelligent (7th grade SAT place in 98% state for math) and it is hard sometimes to share (even mommy brag) because it turns off a lot of people. Sometimes I find myself whispering when I talk about him and his achievements.

So thanks for your kind words.