In Focus – SCCCU Blog

When we think of giving to charity, we often drift to clicking the “donate” button online. However, giving back can take many forms, and some of the most impactful donations don’t involve money. Donating our gently-used items can make a difference.

You’ve likely donated items before — maybe a few bags of clothes dropped off at a local church or a bundle of canned goods handed over at a food drive. But you can do so much more with the stuff that’s just gathering dust at home.

Donating Clothing and Shoes

Clothing is one of the most commonly donated items. Every year, as much as 92 million tons of unwanted clothing ends up in landfills. If you’ve outgrown your wardrobe, your gently worn clothes could help someone land a job, stay warm during the winter, or feel more confident.  Here are two organizations many have used that you may not think about:

• Dress for Success: This organization helps women in need by providing professional attire that can be worn to job interviews and in the workplace. If you have suits, blouses, or work-appropriate shoes, consider donating them here. Your clothes could be the boost someone needs to secure employment.
• Soles4Souls: Do you have shoes that no longer fit or match your style? Soles4Souls distributes shoes to people in need worldwide, and they also create micro-enterprises by helping individuals sell shoes in their local communities. In other words, your old sneakers could walk someone into a better future.

Donating Furniture

Maybe you’re redecorating, downsizing, or just ready to part with that oversized china cabinet. Large furniture items can be a hassle, but they’re also in high demand — thankfully, the places listed below will often pick up your unwanted items at no charge; call your local branch to ask. Consider these three organizations:

• Goodwill: Goodwill accepts various furniture donations (including extra large items) and sells the pieces in Goodwill stores, with proceeds going towards job training and other community programs.
• The Salvation Army: It operates a network of thrift stores that sell donated goods to fund its many social service programs, including disaster response, youth services, veterans services, and more.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores: If you have furniture or appliances in good condition — or even building materials left over from a recent remodeling project — consider donating them to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The profits from these home improvement-focused stores go directly to local Habitat for Humanity efforts, including home building and disaster recovery.

Donating Household Items and Kitchenware
Kitchen items, bedding, and small household goods may seem insignificant, but they can make a world of difference to someone just starting over in a new place. Consider donating to the following:

• Local Shelters: Women’s shelters and homeless shelters are often in need of essential household items. From pots and pans to bedsheets and towels, these items can help provide a sense of security and home to those in need.
• Refugee Aid Organizations: Refugees often arrive in a new country with little more than the clothes on their backs. Organizations that help refugees find housing always need household items to help families get settled in a new place. A set of dishes or a few extra blankets can go a long way toward helping someone build a new life.

Donating Books, Electronics, and Educational Supplies 

If your bookshelves are overflowing, or you’ve recently upgraded your tech and are no longer using that old laptop, consider donating these items to help educate and empower others. Here are a few places to consider:

• Local Libraries: Many libraries accept donations of gently used books, DVDs, and sometimes even electronics. These donations can help expand the library’s offerings, especially in underfunded areas.
• Schools: Contact your local schools to see what kind of donations they need most. If not, Goodwill and The Salvation Army will usually take these items, too.
• Neighbors and Community Centers/Groups: If a family in your neighborhood is going through a tough time — maybe they’ve lost their home to a fire or are facing financial hardship — consider giving directly to them.
• Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Freecycle: On these platforms, you can easily list things you’d like to give away for free, connecting directly with people in your community who could use them.  Remember, safety comes first when handing off your treasures to a stranger — opt for a public meeting spot like a coffee shop to ensure a smooth and secure exchange.

That Feel-Good Feeling When You Donate

When it comes to giving back, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Wherever you choose to donate your unwanted goods, every little bit helps. And you’re not just helping people in need — you’re also giving yourself an emotional boost! There’s a documented happiness boost when we help others, explains certified financial planner Jennifer Luzzatto, president of Summit Financial Partners. Giving back increases our endorphins and our self-confidence, Luzzatto says — and the positive effects can be even more significant when we get our whole family in on the action. “This is especially good for children because their parents are not only modeling giving, they’re also inspiring them to think about the life situations of others,” Luzzatto says. In other words, once you’re done cleaning the closet, it’s time to check the toy box and the basement, too.