Donating Your Stuff: How to Get It Out and Give Back at the Same Time
So you’re in your Declutter Era—whether it’s been one crazy weekend with your hair on fire, or slowly bit-by-bit as you find the time—and now you have bags of items ready to give away for their fabulous second life.
Let’s make sure these pre-loved items get the best chance to land at their new homes. Added benefit—this also helps keep them out of our landfills as much as possible!
In Person:
Throw a Swap Party! Invite friends, family and neighbors to gather any clean, gently-used clothing they no longer wear, and then meet up to trade items—no cash or credit cards needed!
Contact local thrift shops, homeless or pregnancy crisis centers, churches, and women’s shelters, and ask what they are accepting for donations. Secondhand business clothes for active job seekers are almost always welcome.
Visit libraries (or find a Little Free Library near you!) to donate books and magazines.
Soles4Souls offer free drop-off locations at local stores, just check locations online.
Online:
Buy Nothing, Trash Nothing, and Freecycle are networks dedicated to giving and receiving free items and services. They build community, reduce waste, and help support others in need.
For Days accepts all unwanted clothing, shoes, bags, accessories and linens in any condition. Yes, any condition! For a fee that covers the cost of the labor and recycling system, buyers receive a bag that holds up to 15 pounds, which they fill and send back, as often as needed.
Pickup Please is a free program that accepts a wide range of acceptable donations of clothing and household goods. Simply schedule a pickup date and they’ll come to you for your items, which help provide funding for charities such as the Special Olympics, Teen Challenge, Veterans organizations, and Clean International.
Operation Paperback accepts gently-used books and sends them overseas to American troops, as well as veterans and military families in the U.S. Volunteers package up their own books and send them directly to the recipients, using online genre suggestions as guides.
In Your Community:
Animal shelters sometimes accept old clean blankets and towels for their kennels. Contact yours to confirm their needs and restrictions.
For larger items such as furniture, reach out to your local Salvation Army, AmVets, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Goodwill to check their donation guidelines.
Many communities or counties offer hazardous waste disposal sites for household chemicals, electronics, appliances, batteries, etc.
Senior centers and nursing homes often accept craft supplies, such as paint, markers, yarn and needles, and scrapbook paper for their residents, or even completed crafts to use to decorate their spaces. Activity items like puzzles and board games are popular too.
Bonus Level:
Popular name brands will often take back your old tech and electronics, and some even offer cash back. Do an online search for participating businesses near you, and make the most of your pre-loved devices!
Are you ready to begin your own Declutter Era? Our team at Making Home Space are excited to work with you in a judgment-free environment, and help return your home to a place of peace and order. Click on the button below to contact us and schedule a free consultation today!
Cheers!
Your MHS Team ✨
