How and Why: Donating and Recycling Your Belongings

The holiday season is just around the corner, and with it comes the sudden influx of relatives and friends alike. Does Aunt Margie from Connecticut want to stay the week of Thanksgiving? Or is it your husband’s overly macho roommate from college visiting for New Years? Whoever may be visiting this year, you’re bound to run out of room,. This is the first time to at least start to consider donating and giving away the boxes of belongings that you’ve been holding onto for years.

Donating or giving away household items, or recycling them, can be a frustrating and confusing matter. What can you actually give away, and who will take it? This is often the part of the process where people become the most easily confused.

When people want to donate household items, often the first place they think of is one of the major charities like the Goodwill, Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation, or the Salvation Army. These charities are willing to take tons of things that we would otherwise get rid of and they try their best at putting them to good use. Often time, these organizations make this process even easier by coming to your home and picking up donated items. Also, these donations are tax deductible.

To be considerate when donating, make sure that all clothes are clean and wearable, all appliances are in working order, and anything will multiple pieces, like a children’s games, have all the parts in tact. Which items are accepted by what charities varies by location so it’s best to contact your local outlet for specifics.

Most charities accept clothing of all types, shoes, jewelry, accessories, and appliances in working order, televisions, stereos, computers, books, games, toys, and sporting goods. Most organizations do not accept broken appliances, water beds, furniture in bad condition, magazines or old encyclopedias, paint, swing sets, windows, or doors.

Household items can also be donated to smaller or locally based charities, such as veterans’ associations, churches, synagogues, and programs for the elderly. Community theatres, women’s shelters, prisons, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes also accept donations of furniture and household goods. You could also inquire at local schools, preschools, day-care centers, art schools, and after school programs to see if they could use toys, games, books, desks, art supplies, or musical instruments.

The following are among the many household items charities and companies may accept: furniture, clothing, computers, cell phones, medical supplies, books, and odds and ends such as fabric, wood, leftover tile and paint.

If you’re in need of a professional service, I recommend “College Hunks Hauling Junk.” I’ve personally never used them, but I sure think that their slogan is clever. Visit them online at 1-800-JUNK-USA.com. For more help and information on donating and recycling your belongings feel free to Google professional services–search for “estate services” for more information.

Good luck and happy sorting!