Declutter, Donate, and Make a Difference: 9 Must-Give Items

Giving Back: A Guide to Donating Your Unwanted Items

Do you have items lying around your home that you no longer use or need? Instead of letting them gather dust, consider giving them a new life by donating them to those in need. Donating gently used items not only helps declutter your space but also benefits others.

Clothing:

Local Shelters and Charities: Many local shelters and charities accept clothing and shoe donations to help individuals and families in need. These organizations often distribute clothing directly to those who require assistance.

Thrift Stores: Thrift stores such as Out of the Closet, Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and local consignment shops are excellent places to donate clothing. The proceeds from sales typically go towards funding community programs and initiatives.

Clothing Drives: Keep an eye out for clothing drives organized by schools, workplaces, or community groups. These events often collect clothing donations for specific causes, such as helping the homeless or supporting disaster relief efforts.

Books:

Public Libraries: Public libraries often accept book donations, which they may add to their collection or sell in fundraising book sales.

Schools and Community Centers: Schools and community centers may welcome book donations for their libraries or reading programs. Children's books, in particular, are always in demand.

Little Free Libraries: If you have a surplus of books at home, consider donating them to Little Free Libraries in your neighborhood. These small, community-run book-sharing boxes allow people to take a book and leave a book.

Kitchen Gadgets:

Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries: Kitchen gadgets such as pots, pans, and utensils are valuable donations for soup kitchens and food pantries.

Community Kitchens: Community kitchens or cooking programs that teach culinary skills to individuals in need may appreciate donations of kitchen gadgets and appliances.

Local Charities: Check with local charities that provide assistance to low-income individuals and families. They may accept kitchen gadget donations to help people set up their households or replace worn-out items.

Children's Toys:

Children's Hospitals: Donate gently used toys to children's hospitals or pediatric wards.

Local Shelters: Shelters for families experiencing homelessness often welcome donations of children's toys and art supplies.

Toy Drives: Many organizations host toy drives during the holiday season or other times of the year. These events collect new toys to distribute to children in need, ensuring they have gifts to open during special occasions.

Home Goods, Bedding & Toiletries:

Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Habitat for Humanity operates ReStore locations that accept donations of home goods, including patio furniture, small appliances & selected building materials. Proceeds from ReStore sales support Habitat's mission of building affordable housing.

Local Animal Shelters: Some animal shelters accept donations of old linens, towels, and blankets to provide bedding and comfort for animals awaiting adoption.

Homeless Shelters: Homeless shelters often welcome donations of basic necessities including personal hygiene products, travel sized toiletries for hygiene kits, and seasonal clothing accessories including caps, hats, coats and gloves.

Electronics:

Best Buy: Best Buy has an electronics recycling program and accepts many types of electronics for recycling, including computers, TVs, and cell phones.

E-waste Centers: There are various e-waste recycling centers in Los Angeles where you can drop off electronics for recycling. Some may charge a fee for crushing hard drives and phones.

Food:

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: You can donate non-perishable food items to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to help those in need in the community.

Local Food Pantries: Many churches and community organizations operate food pantries and accept donations of non-perishable food items.

Do’s and Don’ts for Safe Donating:

Do check with the organization first to see what items they currently need and if they have any specific donation guidelines.

Do consider the safety of both the charity volunteer and the recipient. Ensure that items are clean, in good condition, safe for use, properly packed and won’t be damaged during transportation.

Do take a photo of your donations and keep with your charitable receipt. Your donations may be tax deductible.

Don’t donate expired medication and food.

Don’t donate broken and damaged items.

By following these simple do's and don'ts, you can help ensure your donations make a positive impact in your community. Happy organizing!