This is because donating can free up space, make your home look more appealing and organized due to the lack of clutter, and promote a sense of clearer thinking and a better environment due to having fewer things to worry about. Donating before you move is a great option because not only do you give back to the community and help extend the life of those particular items, but it helps you save money and space in the process.
Charitable contributions are also tax-deductible. According to the IRS, Publication , Charitable Contributions , there are special rules for certain items that are donated.
Familiarizing yourself with how much you may be able to get back is a key element of donating. When preparing to donate things you no longer need, there are many things to consider. Here are some of the most commonly donated items and reasons why you may want to donate them. This may not apply to all clothing items, because perhaps some clothes have been handed down to you and are considered heirlooms or a memory of the past.
Conversely, if you have some articles of clothing that you wish to wear again despite changes to the body, then keep it! Sometimes having clothes that you wish to fit in again can evoke feelings of motivation and goal setting. This also applies to shoes. If you have shoes that no longer fit, or are just deciding to get rid of them for whatever reason and are still in good condition, donating them is a great way to give back by providing someone what they need.
Parting ways with furniture is not always an easy task, because in most cases you had to spend money to acquire it unless it was handed down from friends or family. Also, a certain piece of furniture may hold a special place in your heart and you may not want to say goodbye.
Meathead Movers has a self-storage facility in San Luis Obispo and Ventura County for customers who need to safely and conveniently store their belongings. Before deciding to throw away things that are still in good condition and may bring joy to other people and children, donate them!
This includes books that you wish to get rid of, toys for young kids, board games, electronics, coloring books, anything that may be of value to someone else. Sporting equipment is not always cheap to come by.
These can include balls for any sport, cleats, accessories, equipment, anything sports-related. Whatever kind of item it is, it will be sure to bring the next person who uses it joy and happiness. These types of items include plates, bowls, silverware, cups, pots, pans, and anything else usually stored in the kitchen.
Art pieces and other artistic objects can be donated as well. If you are in possession of a piece that you feel can benefit the livelihood of someone else, or are just no longer looking to hold onto a certain item, give it away.
What you personally feel may not be valuable may be the opposing mindset to someone else. Art or antiques, no matter what it is, will always be things that are valued and demanded.
Looking to donate your car or another form of transportation to a charity? Many charities offer vehicle pick-up free of charge and are also tax-deductible. With now knowing which items you need to donate, the next step is to pack everything up safely and securely, so nothing breaks.
For clothes or anything soft, you can use heavy-duty trash bags or boxes. For more fragile items, secure the box with bubble wrap to ensure the items you are donating remain in great condition. Luckily, there are plenty of them around the United States.
Here is a list of organizations and charities that will pick up your donations at no cost to you:. The Salvation Army is an international charitable organization that started in , with headquarters located in London, United Kingdom.
They currently serve in countries around the world. Its mission is to meet the necessary needs of humans and help create positive change.
They are one of the largest charities that offer free donation pick-up. This organization has a plethora of services including food pantries, disaster relief, homeless shelters, solutions to human trafficking, child sponsor programs, after-school programs, and of course, donation.
Is it available near me? Find a drop-off location or schedule a free pick-up, and find out where their thrift stores are. What donations does The Salvation Army accept?
The Salvation Army accepts items including vehicles, clothing, furniture, appliances, and household goods. Check out their handy donation value guide to help determine an average value of your items. What donations does The Salvation Army not accept?
Some of the items they do not accept include:. How your donation makes a difference When donations are made, the items are then sold at their thrift stores and the proceeds are used to fund their programs, including their Adult Rehabilitation Centers.
Habitat for Humanity, or Habitat, is a nonprofit and non-governmental organization that was founded in with headquarters in Atlanta, GA. They work to address housing needs by volunteers helping build affordable housing for individuals and families in need.
They also work to repair homes with their disaster response team after natural disasters. Enter your ZIP code into their website to find the nearest Habitat ReStore. Contact them to arrange the best method for donation dropoff, including free pick up.
What donation does Habitat for Humanity accept? The most common items they accept include vehicles, new and like-new appliances, household items, furniture including couches and chairs, and building supplies to help their efforts of building homes. Some locations may only accept certain items, so contact them to be sure they can take your donations.
What donations does Habitat for Humanity not accept? They do not accept mattresses, electronics that are greater than 5 years old, rear-projection televisions, items including lighting, lamps, doors, and windows that are broken or cracked, and more.
For a complete list of items, they do not accept, consult their handy guide. How your donation makes a difference After your items are donated, they are sold in their ReStore. Proceeds from sales help to build new homes for those in need.
Goodwill Industries International, or Goodwill, is an American nonprofit organization that was founded in by Reverend Edgar J. Helms, with headquarters in Rockville, MD.
They have helped tens of millions of people throughout the world get jobs and assist with services including language training and access to transportation. Find a donation center online or contact your local Goodwill to see if they have pick up services.
What donations does Goodwill accept? Goodwill accepts most items that are new or in good condition, including small appliances, bed frames, cars, electronics, furniture, clothes, shoes, sports equipment, tools, and much more. What donations does Goodwill not accept? They are unable to accept items including air conditioners, firearms, automobile parts, chemicals, anything flammable, broken or damaged furniture, recalled items, copiers, and debris.
Like many other charities that offer free donation pick up, what is able to be picked up and not may vary in different locations. How your donation makes a difference When items are donated, Goodwill sells them in their local stores. The proceeds from the sales help provide many people with job training and placement services.
Vietnam Veterans of America is a national nonprofit organization that was founded in with headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.
This organization offers services including outreach programs, government relations, veteran services including job placement, and financial advising. While not available in every state, check out their interactive map and find a location nearest you to schedule a donation pick up.
What donations does Vietnam Veterans of America accept? They accept items including all types and sizes of clothing and clothing accessories, shoes, house and kitchenware, small appliances, bedding, jewelry, vehicles, and much more. Check out their complete list of items that they are able to accept.
What donations does Vietnam Veterans of America not accept? Large furniture including couches, sofas, and mattresses, large appliances including washers, dryers, and refrigerators, automobile parts, large televisions, chemicals, or anything flammable.
How your donation makes a difference Donated items are sold at their various thrift stores, and the proceeds go to support and fund their programs.
The Furniture Bank Network is a network of registered charities across the US and Canada that provides furniture, either new or like new, to families and individuals in need with little to no cost. These individuals and families include those that are victims of natural disasters, immigrants, previously homeless, those with physical disabilities, and more.
A network of agencies make sure that only qualified people in true need are able to get the furniture. They also let these families pick out the furniture they want, rather than giving them something they have no say in. View their interactive map to see if a location is near you.
Contact the location closest to you and find out about their donation pick up information. What donations does The Furniture Bank Network accept? They accept most types of furniture for the home that are in good condition including couches, mattresses, chairs, tables, kitchenware, and more.
What donations does The Furniture Bank Network not accept? Any furniture that is broken, stained, or is heavily damaged would prevent someone from using it to its potential. How your donation makes a difference The furniture donations help hundreds of thousands of individuals and families around the US and Canada.
AMVETS National Service Foundation is an inclusive, national nonprofit organization that was founded in , that provides counsel and representation to veterans who are trying to obtain compensation and benefits from the VA.
They also provide services including scholarship programs for veterans who are looking to further their education, youth programs, and more.
AMVETS, much like other charitable organizations, have thrift stores that individuals can buy things from that have been donated. Schedule a donation pick up online, and find out more information about their store locations.
What donation does AMVETS National Service Foundation accept? Some of what they are able to accept our new and used clothing, household goods, and toys. AMVETS is available in different states across the country, and each has its own regulations when it comes to what they are able to accept.
Reference their thrift store guide and contact the one closest to you to find out what they accept for donations. What donations does AMVETS National Service Foundation not accept?
The same applies to what they do accept. How your donation makes a difference When donations are made, they are then sold in their various thrift stores.
Proceeds go to providing services to veterans. The Arc is an organization that was founded in , which aims to add fulfillment to millions of lives of people with disabilities.
They have over state and local chapters nationwide and over 1, national and community programs while working hard to build and foster the growth of the disability rights movement.
The Arc is a charity that offers free donation pick up, as well as drop off. Browse their list of local chapters for donation dropoff. Click for free donation pick up and more information. What donations does The Arc accept? Some of the accepted donations include clothes, household goods, kitchenware, linens, decor, and more.
What donations does The Arc not accept? Each chapter and location may vary in regards to what cannot be accepted. Contact your local chapter to find out more.
How your donation makes a difference The profits and proceeds made to The Arc end up going toward promoting awareness and advocacy for the disabled community. Greendrop is a charitable organization that provides fast and efficient donation pick up and drop-off services.
They have been able to donate millions of dollars of charity proceeds to partnered organizations. In that case, the Crisis Assistance Ministry assists Mecklenburg County families with emergency rent and utility assistance, clothing, household goods, furniture, beds, and appliances.
Locals can also depend on the Crisis Assistance Ministry for referrals to nearby food providers, federal food support programs, and access to an onsite emergency pantry.
Household Goods works with hundreds of human service organizations in Massachusetts to help fill empty living spaces with the items they need most to make their house a home.
This organization provides quality used beds, furniture, sheets, towels, kitchen items, and more for free for low-income individuals or families. To receive furniture or household items from Household Good , the organization requires a referral from a social service agency, healthcare provider, faith community, or other organization.
If you have questions about obtaining furniture, contact the organization at refer householdgoods. org or by phone at If you live in the Central Florida area, you can work with the Mustard Seed for help with free furniture. Applicants must obtain a referral from an authorized Mustard Seed Referring Agency.
The way it works is a referring agency representative visits your home to help you determine your furniture needs before referring you to the Mustard Seed. You must make an appointment to receive furniture from the furniture program by calling x , and they ask that you please bring the following items with you:.
New Beginnings provides furniture vouchers to folks in the Clermont, Florida area in exchange for volunteer hours. In addition, the thrift store helps generate funding for its homeless outreach and poverty prevention ministry. If you need help and live in the Central Florida area, contact them at nbcfl.
org or visit the Clermont thrift store and speak to the store manager. It is not uncommon to find furniture or other home goods left outside the curbs and stoops of New York City. Shopping for free secondhand furniture from the curbs is called stooping. The StoopingNYC Instagram account became increasingly popular during the pandemic and let anyone access many used home goods and furniture.
You never know what you may find shared in a post, from bookshelves to baking pans. Most calls, webchats, and text messages are from people looking for help meeting basic needs like housing, food, transportation, and healthcare.
These local experts make it easier for those in need to find help. In addition, these trained community specialists are available to help you access the best local resources and services. Created with the idea of reusing and recycling in mind, Freecycle is a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people giving and getting stuff for free in their local areas.
The goal is to keep decent items out of landfills and into the homes of those who need them. Membership is free. Did you know that Craigslist has a free section? By visiting LetGo , a part of OfferUp , you can search for furniture in your local area.
If you filter items from the lowest to the highest price, you may find several free or inexpensive pieces of furniture for your home.
Often people need to unload a couch or unwanted item. Keep an eye out for free or inexpensive furniture here. If you qualify for federal benefits, you may also qualify for Lifeline service. Lifeline is a federal benefit program that allows low-income consumers to receive free or heavily discounted communication services.
Click here to find out more and apply for this valuable benefit. Free or Cheap Furniture for Low-Income Families or Those in Need. The information in this article is current as of February 15, Furniture Vouchers for Low-Income If you or someone you know qualifies as low-income, furniture vouchers can help families or individuals receive free or heavily discounted furniture.
Catholic Charities Founded in , Catholic Charities can help those who need it by finding food, clothing, housing , and mental and physical healthcare.
To find a furniture bank near you: Search the North American directory of furniture reuse social purpose organizations. Visit the directory to get started furniturebanks.
Goodwill Industries Furniture Vouchers Goodwill offers a Voucher Assistance Program which allows them to partner with other nonprofit agencies to help low-income families and individuals in the community.
Vouchers cannot be issued directly to individuals. All requests for vouchers must be submitted using an official form. Forms can be found on the website.
All furniture requests must include details of the circumstances or reason for needing a voucher — this could be due to a natural disaster, loss of work, domestic violence, etc. Vouchers may only be valid at the Goodwill location listed on the form.
The American Red Cross Survivors of natural disasters like hurricanes and floods can reach out to The American Red Cross for help setting up their homes. Vincent de Paul Furniture Vouchers The Society of St. The Salvation Army Furniture Vouchers Another option for cheap or free furniture is The Salvation Army.
Most organizations on this list don't charge for furniture removal, but LoadUp's services come with a fee. Pricing is based on how many items With free furniture vouchers, these families are able to access brand new or gently used furniture at no cost, allowing them to save money for And in the Salvation Army Thrift Stores, furniture donations are sold at a low cost. Furniture that does not need to be assembled
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