Tips for donating!

The fact that you’re thinking about donating your items instead of just throwing them away is AWESOME! The Earth is full of things that have been used a few times and then thrown away and put in a landfill to sit there for hundreds or even thousands of years… Most humans love saving money! So, if they can buy something for a fraction of the retail price and it’s in a good but well loved condition they will do it in a heartbeat!  

 With that said there are a few things to think about when it comes to donating items.

Wash your clothes and clean your items before donating them

-This ensures that everything is in top condition, but most of all sanitary. That way the organization can put their focus on helping those in need. Best of all, this ensures the clothes smell fresh and wonderful for their new owner.

If the item is broken/stained/has holes/no longer works. Don’t donate it. 

-Consignment stores do not sell broken items or clothes with rips or holes in them. So, either find a recycling center to recycle the items or throw them away. If items are in good shape and you would either wear them yourself or feel no guilt in giving them to a friend, they will be happily received at a donation center. 

Consider organizing the donation items

-Consider organizing donations according to the type of donation, especially clothing. Perhaps by age group and feminine or masculine clothing. For example, men’s athletic wear could go in a separate container to 2T-4T girl’s clothes. Of course this depends on how much you are donating. If you are only donating a few children’s shirts but you are wearing an entirely new size so are donating half your wardrobe, they can probably go in the same bag. But, if you are donating a lot of clothes in multiple age groups for both men and women it may be advised to use multiple containers/bags. 

Check to see if the organization is limiting items they donate for any reason

-Certain organizations may be overflowing with women’s clothes, but in need of boy’s clothing or children’s toys. There may be a different organization close by that has the space to accept the items you are donating.