Donate Unwanted Items to Charity

Donate to Charity

O, The Oprah Magazine | From the Spring 2004 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

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Give your unwanted house hold items to charities

Besides helping worthy organizations, giving to nonprofits saves you money on your tax returns if you itemize the deductions properly. To avoid the mistake of under- or overvaluing your donations, read the guidelines in IRS Publication 561 (www.irs.gov).

Appliances & Furniture

Goodwill (www.goodwill.org) and The Salvation Army (www.salvationarmy.com) still offer to pick up from your home. If you're willing to deliver the goods yourself local churches, synagogues, homeless shelters, schools, senior centers, and theater companies (think props!) may want your old artwork, books, CDs, videos, computers, furniture, rugs, and kitchenware.
The National Furniture Bank Association (www.thenfba.org) routes your donated furniture, and sometimes kitchenware, to the Partnership for the Homeless and other nonprofits that help people set up households. Donors pay for removal.
The Donation Center at www.geappliances.com lists national charities willing to cart away old models, free of charge, as long as they're in working order.

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Declutter Your Home and Donate to Help Others

Now that you've cleared the clutter that's been taking up space in your house, here are some ideas about what to do with the stuff that's still good.

Throw It Out

Make room for the things you love with Julie Morgenstern's tips for recycling and junking unwanted items.

Where to Get Rid of Anything

A state-by-state guide to getting rid of, donating and recycling clutter.

For Friends and Family

Make room for the things you love with Julie Morgenstern's tips on how you can give things to friends and family.

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