Comments (21)

By Mom Unplugged, November 16, 2008 8:16 pm

This week’s Unplugged Project was a little different. After mentioning my massive sorting project, by popular demand the theme became Sort-Junk-Donate. Hopefully this theme inspired many out there to tackle those piles around the house. Whether it be toys, clothes, or just plain junk, we all need to purge from time to time.

Or maybe you recycled some throw-aways into art? I look forward to your projects.

As for me, I’ll simply show you a picture of what we donated so far. There is more on the way, but the photo above is the bulk of it. (Georgio Armani the cat is NOT a giveaway of course!)

Plus, a few awards!!

My oldest daughter wins the award for The Strangest Item Found: In her closet I found a plastic food storage container full of brown sugar.

My 2 year-old daughter wins the award for The Least Number of Stuffed Animals donated: 0 (although she did part with some toys).

My son wins the award for The Most Toys Donated (aka. The Unexpected Generosity Award): I didn’t count, but he even gave away his fancy space station to a friend who always played with it when he came over.

Of course you can donate to your local thrift store, but here are a few links to help you figure out a more original way to pass on no longer needed new, like-new or gently-used items:

New = New, tag-on

Like-new = No tag, but good enough to give as a gift

Gently-used = used, but still in great condition

• Samaritan’s Purse (Christian Relief Organization): Pack a Christmas shoe box of small new items for children “in desperate situations” around the world. Hurry up because this year’s deadline for drop-off is November 17-24. (Many thanks to Karen B. for this idea!)

• Project Night Night: Donates comfort tote bags to children ages 0-10 in homeless shelters. Each bag contains a security blanket, stuffed animal, and age-appropriate book. They take new blankets (handmade or cribsize), new stuffed animals, or new/like-new books, store gift cards (even if only a few dollars left), fleece or flannel fabric. Be sure to read the guidelines for items to be donated and drop-off/mail-in locations here.

• Books for America: Donates to Washington DC area schools, libraries, homeless shelters and hospitals. Provides underpriveleged kids with their first take-home books. Accepts new or like-new books (but NO HARDCOVER FICTION), movies (DVD or VHS), CD’s, audiobooks, and collectible items that can be auctioned. Children’s books are urgently needed. Please see here for donation guidelines and locations (drop-off and ship-to).

• Books for Africa: Sends books to rural African schools and libraries. Gently used textbooks can be hard to find homes for, but Books for Africa wants textbooks (no more than 15 years old), as well as popular fiction and non-fiction (hard and softcover), encyclopedias and dictionaries 1995 and newer, new school supplies. There is also a list of what not to send, so please check here first.

• Soles4Soules: Sends new and gently used shoes to needy and disaster-relief areas worldwide. Their estimate is that 1.5 billion pairs of shoes lie unworn in American closets. I am ashamed to say that many of those are in mine. Donation guidelines are here.

• Shoe4Africa: Accepts new and gently-used running shoes. Shoes must have at least another 100 miles of running in them! Shoes should be sent via AIRMAIL ONLY to Kenya. Instructions are here.

• Send new or gently used stuffed animals and toys to Iraq: Here is an address for someone stationed in Iraq who wants used stuffed animals and toys to distribute to poor children there. I found this on Google and know nothing more, but I offer the link here!

• Old computers and other electronics: Find a list of places to donate for reuse or recycling at the US Environmental Protection Agency. I just found out I can send back my ancient Nokia cell phone for free with a prepaid shipping label that I can print out. Who knew?

• The Help Kenya Project: Based in Westchester, NY. Accepts computers (and accessories), books, clothing, sports equipment, and more. Please see the website and contact them for more information.

• Foster children often must transport their meager belongings in garbage bags. Here is more information on how to collect and donate luggage. Consider donating suitcases or duffel bags to your local foster care agency or homeless shelter.

• Also, don’t forget to check locally. Google something like “used computers San Francisco donate” and see what you come up with. Substitute what you want to donate and your area.

• Of course for good-condition book donations there is always also your local library or schools (especially those in low-income areas).

• Garage sale for your favorite charity? If you have the energy, then give that a go!

If anyone else has a favorite place for donating “stuff,” please share your idea in a comment.

++++++++

If you participated in this week’s Unplugged Project theme of Sort-Junk-Donate, then please leave the link to your project rather than just your blog in Mr. Linky below. That way we’ll all be able to find your project, forever and ever! If you didn’t participate, but are interested in learning more, then read about it all here and consider joining in next week.

++++++++

Next week’s Unplugged Project theme will be more like the usual kind:

Thankful

We did this one last year for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. I don’t really like to repeat, but since it is probably advisable to think about being thankful at least once a year no matter what country you reside in, I will repeat the theme. We’ll do something new though!