As you enter into the winter months and prepare for the holiday season, you may feel like doing some cleaning out and purging of your apartment, home, or storage unit before company arrives or the holiday begins.
It’s no secret that less “stuff” sitting around can help us feel calmer, be more organized, and have more time to devote to the people in our lives–but sometimes the simple task of getting started can be overwhelming.
Another thing that can be overwhelming is choosing what to do with all of the things that we no longer need. Many times, these are items in great condition, with lots of use left in them–things like clothing that doesn’t fit, kitchen appliances and dishes, yard equipment, or home decor. It seems like a waste to throw it away…so, donating it is the way to go!
How to Decide What to Donate
When looking through your non-perishable items, first pull out any items that are unusable. This would be things that are stained or ripped–but don’t toss out those broken electronics just yet! There’ll be some ideas for where to take those later on in the article!
Once you’ve purged out unusable things, begin to decide if these things are items that can be used by another person, or if they’re junk. It’s better not to burden your local charity with the task of wading through unusable items, just because you feel bad throwing them away. Save them the time and hassle, and only donate those things which can be used again.
To sum it up, ask yourself two questions about each item: is it usable? Is it useful? This will help you make those hard calls on the things you’re cleaning out.
Where to Donate
Using charity watch sites, we looked at some of the best places to donate your non-perishable items this year. It may come as a shock to some that just because a place is a charity, it doesn’t mean they are going to use their revenue in a desirable way. These charities have locations nearby and are verified and approved as places that will take the revenue from donations and contributions, and put it back into helping people.
- Salvation Army: With several locations nearby, Salvation Army is a great place to donate just about anything. SA operates local thrift shops that help them fund many programs around the world. Eighty-two percent of every dollar donated or made goes back into these programs!
- St. Vincent de Paul Society: This group provides assistance to locals through home visits, utilities assistance, transportation, and housing to those in need. They have four thrift store locations that can receive donations, and a food pantry for unexpired, unused food items!
- Habitat for Humanity: If you’ll be doing a home renovation soon, consider donating any usable home materials to Habitat for Humanity. These will be sold in their stores, which helps them serve the community in many ways!
When it comes to broken electronics, check with these locations before dropping them off. If they don’t have a use for them, consider listing them on freecycle.org, to allow those with the skills to repair them or use their parts to have access to them!
Donating: Helping You and the Community
Donating your goods is a great way to both clear out space in your living areas and help the community in a small way. There’s a sense of accomplishment in seeing a newly organized area of your home, and knowing that your items are on their way to a useful life in someone else’s home!
At Self Assured Storage, we understand your need for organization and a clutter-free life! Our storage units are the perfect spot for your belongings when moving, renovating, or when you just need some extra space! Give us a call today for your next big project!
