Recycle Those Old VHS Tapes

Tired of the dusty old collection of VHS movies taking up space in the living room? You may not want to toss them in trash. Here are some ideas for what to do with the VHS tapes. There are more options than you realize.

Donate your old VHS tapes to a hospital. Children's hospitals try to keep a library of children's movies. Cartoons and animated films are a great distraction for children in emergency rooms and prolonged hospital stays. When donating to a children's hospital remember that they treat children up to the age of 18. Family films, comedy, and drama up to PG-13 will also be appreciated.

Many other hospitals have a video collection for their patients, as well. It is especially helpful for patients who are hospitalized for weeks or months at the time. Adult hospitals need a variety of movies for all tastes. They draw the line at rated R movies; please respect decency when donating to hospitals.

If your local hospital does not have a video library, maybe you can start one. Make sure the hospital has VCR's in the rooms before you donate VHS tapes. You may have to coordinate a VCR drive first. A video drive is easy to plan and coordinate. You can enlist the help of local schools, churches, and community centers as collection spots.

Another way to get rid of old VHS tapes is to donate them to a local daycare, preschool, children's ministry, or girls' and boys' clubs. Funds can be especially tight for non-profit organizations that work with children. Your gift of VHS tapes will provide fresh alternatives for rainy day movies. VHS clips are useful as teaching resources.

If you prefer donate your videos to a nursing home. Residents there also need entertainment. You will find residents and staff appreciative of your thoughtfulness toward them.