7 Things You Never Knew You Could Donate
Decluttering and getting rid of unused junk can make you feel really good (after all, it’s the chore that’s good for your soul). After getting rid of a few boxes of old stuff, you feel lighter,
like you’ve got more room to breathe. But what if all that old stuff is traveling to an incinerator? Or what if half the stuff you give to the thrift store ends up in the dumpster because it
won’t sell? Donating specific items to charities that really need them is one way to make sure your unwanted belongings get a new life. Here are some things you probably didn’t know
you could donate, and where you can take them.
YOUR OLD CELL PHONE
Most of us have got at least one flip phone or iPhone 4 stuffed in the back of a drawer at home. Chances are these phones work just fine, even if they’re a bit outdated. Donate them to
the National Network To End Domestic Violence, which provides refurbished phones to victims.
SEEDS
If you’ve mastered the technique of seed saving, you may be tempted to save way more than you can possibly plant next season, just for the fun of it. But why not share your bounty
with a local community or school garden? Or, if you’re growing heirlooms, you can share the seeds with other dedicated gardeners through the Seed Savers Exchange to help protect rare
varieties.
BRAS
Every woman has at least one or two perfectly wearable bras that always get pushed to the back of the drawer because the straps always fall down. But just because they’re wrong for
your body type doesn’t mean they won’t work for someone else. Turns out, bras are one of the most-needed, but least-donated clothing items, and they’re in high-demand at women’s
shelters. You can ｄrop them off at a local women’s shelter, or you can take them to a collection site in a Soma store (or send them in the mail). Soma partners with the National Network
To End Domestic Violence, which distributes the bras to shelters in need. Another option is Free the Girls, an organization that provides jobs for victims of sex trafficking in Africa by
helping women start businesses selling secondhand bras, a highly sought-after commodity.
YOUR CAR
Got an old clunker that’s not even worth a trade-in? There are plenty of charities that are willing to tow away your old vehicle (or boat!) and turn it into cash for their organization.
They’ll typically handle the title transfer, too. You get a tax deduction and a hassle-free way to get rid of your gas-guzzling bomber that won’t start. (Plus, you just may experience some
of the life-changing benefits of ditching your car.) Some charities with car donation programs include Car Talk, which allows you to support your local public radio station, the Purple
Heart Foundation, and Wheels For Wishes, benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
SNEAKERS
There are a bunch of ways to give old sneakers new life. If they’ve still got a few miles left in them, there are some charities, like Soles4Souls, that will find them a new home with
someone who needs them. Others, like Nike Reuse-A-Shoe, recycle worn out running shoes into playground and athletic surfaces.
GREETING CARDS
You probably have more greeting cards hanging around than you’ll ever be able to send, probably courtesy of all the other charities you donate to. The St. Jude’s Ranch For Children is
looking to take both new and used cards off your hands. Children at the Ranch recycle the old cards into new, handmade ones, which they sell to support programs for abused, homeless,
and neglected children. Kids earn wages, gain basic job skills, and learn the value of recycling.
OLD TOWELS + SHEETS
Sure, you can turn your old bedding into dust rags, but you only need so many of those. But local animal shelters are always grateful for your donation of old towels, sheets, and
blankets. They use them for pets’ bedding and for toweling off homeless critters after baths.
Vocabulary Words:
1. Declutter - (verb} to remove things that you do not use so that you have more space and can easily find things when you need them
2. Incinerator - (noun) a container which is closed on all sides for burning waste at high temperatures
3. Heirloom - (noun) a valuable object that has belonged to the same family for many years
4. Commodity - (noun) a thing that is useful or has a useful quality
5. Critter - (noun) a living creature
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever gave or donated to charities before?
2. What are the pros and cons of donating?
3. Do you worry about where the money or things you donate to charity goes?
4. If ever, what would you like to donate and why?
5. What sort of problems exist in the charity sector?
