Spring Cleaning and Where to Donate
Garner and I started early on Spring cleaning this year! One problem I always run into is where to donate miscellaneous items. I feel so guilty throwing towels, swimsuits and half-empty lotions in the trash! A bad (or good depending how you look at it) thing about living in a small 1-bedroom apartment is there is no space for clutter or items you aren’t using on a daily basis. I did some research and found some amazing organizations that will happily take some of these items we don’t use enough to keep.
First let me say that you can mail some of your donations to these charities using Give Back Box. GBB is a genius idea where you can use any box you have (I mean don’t we all use Amazon?!) to donate used clothes, jewelry, etc. to a charity. They also give you a free shipping label. They separate items for you, but if you want to choose a certain charity, you do have to pay for the shipping.
Whether you use GBB or donate items yourself, here are some of my favorite organizations that will upcycle the miscellaneous things around the house. Let’s Marie Kondo our homes together and make a difference!
Clothing, Shoes + Accessories
Dress for Success
What they do: Provide interview suits and career development to low-income women in 75+ cities worldwide
What they need: Women’s business suits, professional apparel, heels/flats and accessories
Where to send: Find your nearest affiliate or host your own clothing drive
Career Gear
What they do: Provide under-served job-seeking men with training, career counseling, professional clothing and interviews
What they need: Men’s professional clothing, briefcases, ties and shoes
Where to send: Fill out this form or host a suit drive at your office
Soles4Souls
What they do: Distribute shoes to people in need in 125+ countries
What they need: All types of new or gently-used shoes
Where to send: Find a drop-off location or ship free with Zappos.
Goodwill
What they do: Serves 35 million people annually, provide career-training and education to those seeking jobs
What they need: Clothing, shoes, jewelry, books, games, sports gear, house items, tools, furniture, TVs. For larger items, you’ll need to call or schedule a pickup.
Where to send: Find your nearest donation center
Undergarments + Swimsuits
Bras for a Cause
What they do: Give thousands of bras and intimates to women with breast cancer
What they need: New or gently used bras, lingerie, slips, nightgowns, swimsuits, wigs, breast prosthesis
Where to send: DONATE BRA PROGRAM, 10746 Fenton Dr. Parker, AZ 85344
Wedding + Formal Attire
Becca’s Closet
What they do: Donate formal dresses to low-income teens, provide scholarships to deserving high school seniors
What they need: Formal short and long dresses, heels, costume jewelry, evening bags
Where to send: 151 N Nob Hill Rd #280, Plantation, FL 33324 or find a chapter near you
Operation Prom
What they do: Provide resources to at-risk teens; allow low-income students to attend prom at little or no cost
What they need: New or gently worn formal dresses, tuxedos, evening bags, evening jewelry
Where to send: Find your nearest drop-off location
Brides Against Breast Cancer
What they do: Advance the awareness of breast cancer and operate a wish-granting service to enable patients to make memories with loved ones
What they need: New and used wedding gowns, veils, tiaras, accessories
Where to send: Fill out this form before mailing.
Brides Across America
What they do: Gift wedding gowns and weddings to military brides in need
What they need: New or used wedding gowns, engagement rings, jewelry, special occasion gowns, veils, wedding favors, gift items
Where to send: Fill out this form before mailing.
Makeup, Hair + Beauty Products
Project Beauty Share
What they do: Provide personal hygiene, cosmetics and beauty products to nonprofits who serve women/families overcoming addiction, homelessness and poverty.
What they need: Slightly used makeup, makeup brushes that have been cleaned, hairdryers, straighteners, curling irons, new or slightly used hair products, perfume samples, unused floss, unused toothbrushes, unused deodorant
Where to send: 2718 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99202
Eyeglasses + Sunglasses
Lions Club International
What they do: Provide usable glasses to children and adults around the world
What they need: Gently-used eyeglasses and sunglasses.
Where to send: California Lions Friends in Sight, P.O. Box 7, Beaumont, CA 92223 or find a drop-off location near you.
Books
Operation Paperback
What they do: Provide books to troops overseas, veterans and military families
What they need: Gently-used books.
Where to send: Register here. They will provide you with a mailing address based on your book genres. You can also write a personal note since you will be directly mailing to people in need.
You can also donate books to your local library, university, Goodwill or women’s shelter.
Linens + Pet Items
ASPCA
What they do: Prevent animal cruelty and save animals’ lives
What they need: Sheets, towels, blankets, kennels, leashes, collars, clean pet items, unopened treats, dish-washing liquid, hand sanitizer
Where to send: Drop off at your local SPCA
Baby + Children Items, Craft Materials
Newborns in Need
What they do: Offer Newborn Immediate Kids with basic necessities to teen moms, stressed families and overwhelmed mothers
What they need: New and gently-used baby clothes, blankets, quilts, burp cloths, bottles, wipes, diapers, small toys, child Bibles, baby formula, soft fabric, thread, fiber fill, yarn, ribbon, office supplies
Where to send: Newborns in Need, 3323 Transou Road, Pfafftown, NC 27040
Office + School Supplies, Electronics
Develop Africa
What they do: Provide school supplies, scholarships, computer training, micro-finance loans, orphan care and disaster relief to Africans in need
What they need: Pencils, paper, books, backpacks, notebooks, rulers, erasers, chalk, calculators, Laptops, iPads, eReaders, colored pencils, glue sticks, pocket dictionaries, arts + craft items, branded conference bags or items
Where to send: Fill out this form before mailing.
House Decor + Furniture
Salvation Army
What they do: The proceeds from these items fund their Adult Rehabilitation Center for those struggling with drugs and alcohol.
What they need: Almost everything. Household goods, clothing, furniture, appliances.
Where to send: Schedule a free pickup or find a drop-off location near you
Habitat for Humanity
What they do: Help families build and improves places to call home
What they need: Sofas, chairs, dining tables, dressers, bed frames, filing cabinets, bookshelves, end/coffee tables
Where to send: Schedule a pickup
Sports Equipment, Games + Gift Cards
Ronald McDonald House
What they do: Keep families with sick children together and near the care and resources they need
What they need: Board games, new stuffed animals or dolls, puzzles, balls and outdoor games, canned goods, paper products (toilet paper, paper towels), cleaning products, gift cards to grocery stores or department stores, passes to local museums or sporting events
Where to send: Find your local chapter
Hangers
Your local dry cleaners. We purchased all new wooden hangers in 2019 and donated our older ones to our local dry cleaners.
This article took a lot of research so if you found this helpful, please let me know in the comments below. :)
Xoxo and happy cleaning!
Paige