The backpacks are ready for the first day of school and the end of summer looms near. The fact that school is so near means that as the mother of three you are going to kick into high gear as well. When the kids go to school, you will enjoy the first morning with your friends, but plan to be home shortly after lunch to make sure that you make your way through all of the kids’ bedrooms and purge the items that are no longer used or worn. You will be certain to not take away anything that will be missed, and you will likely give your children a chance to look through some of the items, but the first day of the school is the day you always use for this purpose.
When the boxes are collected, you will take them to one of the local centers that collects donations for non profit organizations. This may be the year, in fact, when you take your children with you to make sure that they understand the value of giving up the things that they no longer wear or use so that others less fortunate can use them. In the past, you have not included your children in the drop off, but now that you they are older, you think that it would be a good idea to visit one of the local shelters and schedule an opportunity for them to volunteer in the very place where the donations for non profit organizations will be given.
Can You Help Your Children Get Rid of the Clutter and Help Others at the Same Time?
From clothing drop off locations to groups that will actually pick up clothing donations from your home, it is fairly easy to donate the household and clothing items that you no longer use or wear. Consider some of these facts and figures about making donations for non profit organizations and some of the items in your home that might make good donations:
- The majority of social media users indicate that they would take some kind of action in response to a friend posting a story on social media about making a charitable donation. Since 70% of social media users indicate that they might follow your lead, maybe you should post your giving habits.
- If you live in a one to two season climate there is a handy tip that can help you know when it is time to get rid of clothing that you do not wear. Recommendations are that if you have not worn an item in six months, it is time to let it go.
- Many donated items find new life in developing nations where individuals purchase used American goods for pennies of their original price. In fact, more than 14.3 million tons of donated American textiles help clothe people and families worldwide.
- Every sweater and jacket that goes unworn in your closet could be serving a far better purpose for a family that is struggling to find clothes for the first day of school for their children.
- Those three pair of sale shoes that you bought your teenage daughter, but that she never wore might be the exact thing that another less fortunate teen might love to wear as she starts her first day of high school.
- Only supporting groups granted tax-exempt status under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, smart givers are careful about where they make their donations.
- Pounds of fabric end up in the worst place. In fact, in the year 2006, 2.5 billion pounds of fabric were kept from the landfills by used-clothing purchases.
- Unfortunately, Americans recycle or donate only 15% of their used clothing. Worse yet, some ends up in the garbage.
- Regardless of quality of condition, almost 100% of household textiles and clothing can be recycled.
- Gardening tools and other popular hardware items that are in good condition can also be donated to those less fortunate.
- Estimates indicate that the average American throws away nearly 70 pounds of linens, clothing, and other textiles every year.
The beginning of the school year might the best TIME TO PURGE and make donations for non profit organizations in your area who can help connect your resources to those less fortunate.
