Challenge: Find out what your local charity needs, THEN go on a clutter hunt in your home!

I'm a natural packrat who has learned to let go of a lot and especially to acquire less in the first place.  But, I'm still a work in progress.  Being from New England, and being a big advocate of Reduce, reuse and recycle, I cringe at the thought of throwing away anything that still has a useful life to it.  So, giving to charity has helped me let go of much more than I'm naturally inclined to let go of.  I usually donate to the Vietnam Vets (www.vva.org) and keep donation containers on every floor of the house. This is great, they take most everything and they pick up from my home any day of the week. But there is still an issue with this approach.

CONFESSION - I still hang on to way more stuff than I really need. 

THE GOOD NEWS - I've found a way to motivate me to go to the next level in letting go AND help others in a more meaningful way at the same time !!  I'm so excited! 

SOMEONE NEAR YOU IS IN NEED - In my recent hunt for places to donate toiletries,  I found a few places here in town just a mile away that really have serious and urgent needs for things I'm not really using.  Like that extra microwave oven in our basement, and those extra sets of sheets reserved for our guest bed because they don't match our decor anymore. During my calls to various Domestic Violence Shelters and Food Pantries  I learned the following:

• When you call, they will tell you very specifically what they need right now for people in the shelters.
• Shelter organizations often have dire needs for:
• • cleaning supplies (even if they have been used)
  • kitchen appliances
  • baby items, like diapers and clothing
  • Plus size and children's clothing
  • Garbage bags
  • Sheets, comforters and linens
• Many shelters will pick up items.
• Some places will take furniture in good condition.
• Food pantries are often affiliated with thrift stores that will take household items and give you receipts.
• Thrift stores and shelters may also take things like:
• • Greeting cards and notes you don't use
  • Paper, pens, & office supplies
  • Old printers., TVs etc. if they work and are in good condition
  • Sunglasses

There is something about knowing that right now in my town, there are battered women and children, or people who suffered fires, floods or other disasters, who urgently need specific things to get their lives together that makes me want to go through everything I own - and give away anything and EVERYTHING I'm not using!

THE CHALLENGE

My challenge to you is:

Take 10 minutes and make a couple calls today or this weekend to your local food pantry and women's shelter.

• Ask them what they need right now for women and children living in the shelter.
• Ask them what the pantry needs.

If you are in NJ just click here to get numbers:
Domestic Violence Shelters and Food Pantries

If you aren't in NJ, Google using the terms Food Pantries or Domestic Violence Shelters and add your state abbreviation.

Make a few phone calls and find out what they really need right now. It's amazing what you'll find! 

GO THROUGH YOUR CLOSETS (Clothing, Linen, Utility, etc.)

You won't believe how EASY it will be for you to go through your stuff and let go of those things you normally hang on to because "it might come in handy someday" or "eventually I'll lose weight and wear that again" or "what if I gain weight again and need that size" or "those can be worn in a few years by my younger child" and on and on.

Think of that abused child who is in a shelter right now...and needs those clothes right now.  My bet is you'll be packing up a bag and taking it over to them this week!  : )

GO THROUGH YOUR CUPBOARDS

Find all those canned goods and other items you bought in bulk and haven't used in over 6 months...and either use them or pack them up and take them to the pantry BEFORE they expire!!  Look under your sink too. Give away that dish detergent and other cleaning supplies you tried and didn't like! Or just give away your extras!

GO THROUGH YOUR OFFICE and/or CRAFT SUPPLIES

See how much of what you have matches what they need and let go of the stuff you aren't using!

DONATE

Take your bags (they don't need to be huge amounts.) and distribute them to your nearest or favorite shelter, pantry and thrift store. Get a receipt if you want to write the donation off on your taxes. (see Donating Your Stuff Can Make You More Money Than Selling it! (If you do it right)

TAKE A MOMENT TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED

Not only can you savor the space you've created, you won't have to go out and buy storage containers to hold the stuff, and if you emptied containers, you'll have homes for future needs! You'll get money back on your taxes if you write it off.  But best of all, you really made a difference in someone's life who is much less fortunate than you.

SHARE WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED

Leave a comment and let us know if knowing someone specific needed your stuff helped you let go of more.  What did you let go of?  Also, please share any great links you found with comprehensive lists of food pantries and battered women's or homeless shelters, or thrift stores!  Let us know what things they need in your area. Especially any that surprised you. Perhaps there is a need for things you normally would throw away?

Have a great giving weekend!

Comments

[Jeri Dansky]

Great suggestion, Ariane!

I know my local food pantry can always use plastic and paper bags for their food give-aways.

Here are some lists from the San Francisco Bay Area:

Shelter-related services:
http://www.ehclifebuilders.org/howtohelp/wish_list.php
http://www.samaritanhouse.com/new/donate_volunteer/wish_list.shtml

Humane Society - another kind of place always in need. I would never have guessed feather dusters for orphaned baby birds to cuddle up with.
http://www.peninsulahumanesociety.org/involved/wishlist.html

[Gina]

After reading this on Saturday I spent the evening, part of Sunday, and yesterday evening purging. I'm not a packrat or a keeper of a lot of things but we all still need to stop and get rid of things no longer used. I also found a couple of charities I was unaware of. Thanks for the great site!

[Analisa Roche]

Great post, I totally agree on the effect of finding out immediate needs.

For Texas:

http://www.aardvarc.org/dv/states/txdv.shtml
http://www.tashfb.org/Banks.asp