Expert issues warning to parents donating their kids’ old items to Goodwill: ‘I never thought about this, so scary’

A TikTok user warned parents against donating their children’s old belongings to Goodwill.

Family therapist Christina Hall shared in a TikTok video earlier this month that she found a book at a thrift store that contained a child’s personal information.

It was The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book, an activity book where kids can draw, fill in facts about themselves, and even role-play their own Wimpy Kid diary. The book is based on Jeff Kinney’s hugely successful series.

Hall said it was the second time she found this book filled out at the same Goodwill.

The first page said it once belonged to a girl named Ariel.

Hall found The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book filled in – an activity book that allows children to draw, fill in facts about themselves and even role-play with their own Wimpy Kid diary

Hall found the little girl’s personal address, discovered her favorite things and goals for the future – even filled in a prompt with five things no one knows about you

As he flipped through the pages, Hall found the girl’s personal address, discovered her favorite things and goals for the future. There was even a task filled out that read: Five things no one knows about you.

Hall said, “I know the day, the year, the month, I know exactly how much she weighed and how tall she was the day she was born.”

“I bought this to keep this child safe, so I know for sure that I’m going to rip out all the pages and throw this book away. Because who knows who bought this book and had all the information about this little girl.”

Reactions ranged from shock to gratitude.

‘I’m starting to wonder where my child’s old book is.’

“Thanks so much! I’m going to double check everything from now on. That’s scary!”

‘Never thought people would donate books written by children! Well spotted.’

The reactions ranged from shocked to grateful: ‘Thank you so much! I will definitely double check everything from now on. That’s scary!’

Hall wrote that she is thinking of going to the address in the book to return it to the little girl’s parents

One commenter said her mother was an assistant manager at a local Goodwill. If an item with personal information is brought to the attention of the employee, it is their policy to destroy it.

In a follow-up video posted on Sept. 6, Hall said she is considering going to the address in the book to return it to the girl’s parents.

Hall reiterated that she believed it was an “innocent mistake” on the part of the parents.