The Joyful Sort How To: Donate Responsibly
For a lot of people, trying to figure out where to donate items that they no longer need, use, or love is one of the biggest reasons that they put off decluttering in the first place. “Where can I donate _____?” is one of the top questions that I hear from clients, friends, and family alike as a professional organizer.
The fabulous Laurie Palau of simply B organized recently released an episode of her This Organized Life podcast with fellow SBO Partner Mary Davis of In Good Order out of Richmond, VA all about donation etiquette. As I was listening, I immediately flashed back to this time last year: I was out for a little sanity drive (if you know, you know) and as I passed by our local Goodwill donation site, I noticed piles of items stacked up on the curb outside of the building. The site was closed at the time due to Covid, and had posted a big sign in the window explaining as much and respectfully asking that donated items not be left outside of the building as a result, but yet there they were.
I’ll be anyone’s biggest cheerleader when it comes to decluttering. But not all donations are created equal and it’s important to think about the impact that our stuff has, even when (especially when) it leaves our homes. Read on for my top tips on how to donate responsibly!
Have a plan.
There can be a lot of complex feelings that come with decluttering and letting go of things, but having a plan for what you’re going to do with those items before you really get started can help you feel a bit more in control.
A five-minute Google search goes a long way when it comes to “What do I even do with this?” moments. Some organizations have strict guidelines of what they will/won’t accept or they may not even be accepting any donations at all right now due to Covid (more on that below), while others may offer free pickup services that you can take advantage of. GiveBackBox is an amazing resource that covers a wide range of donation opportunities, with just a little bit of prep (and some empty shipping boxes) on the front end.
Set aside a staging area in a garage or other relatively easy-access spot where you can start to sort and accumulate items to be donated. I’m a big proponent of removing donation items right away so that there’s less chance for second-guessing, so consider working in some additional time on the day that you do your decluttering to make that happen. Or, at minimum, give yourself an “expiration date” by which the items need to be out of your home.
Think local.
As many larger organizations were (and still are) holding off on accepting donation items, local one-off opportunities have taken a bigger role. A quick search of Buy Nothing or parent groups on sites like Facebook or NextDoor could lead to specific families in need or less-common options such as school theater departments, church groups, or smaller homeless or women’s shelters that may have a need for specific items. Local libraries will typically accept book (and sometimes DVD and CD) donations and local churches or daycare centers may have a need for gently-used toys. Decluttering your home and positively impacting your community = win-win.
Get clear on what actually goes in the Donate bin (versus recycling or trash).
I get it - once the decluttering bug does hit, it can be tempting to just start throwing things in trash bags and boxes in an attempt to just get it OUT. But when the line between the Toss and Donate pile gets blurred, the burden then falls onto any charity or organization where those items may end up to use time and resources sifting through and ultimately disposing of things that they’re not able to use.
Skip the Donate bin if an item is:
broken or missing parts
stained or ripped
something that you wouldn’t wear in public/wouldn’t have your kids wear in public or wouldn’t give to a friend
an outdated or non-working piece of electronic equipment
There are still a lot of options for these items beyond the landfill. H&M and Columbus-based DSW have great recycling programs for clothing and shoes that don’t quite meet the quality threshold for donating. Many animal shelters and humane societies will gladly accept linens and towels that are in less than stellar shape (though make a quick call first to make sure they have a current need). Best Buy will recycle three tech items per household per day free of cost and many local city/government offices also have ongoing drop spots or host bulk drop-off days.
For those that are truly overwhelmed and just want things out of their home, hauling companies like 1-800-Got-Junk will take everything away in one go (prices are based on volume) and handle the the trash/recycle/donate sorting for you.
Even better than having a go-to arsenal of donation resources? Being more mindful on the front end about what comes into your home!
I’d love to hear about your favorite donation resources or help with any donation roadblocks that you find yourself running into, chime in with a comment below!