Fall is a time to return to seasonal routines, yet also a chance to start anew. When summer vacation ends, the annual summer-to-fall clothing swap is not far behind -- and it's an opportunity to free yourself from clutter.
If you clean out the garage, the basement, your room, all the closets, even the attic, you'll likely be left with a plethora of stuff you're itching to ditch. If you don't know what to do with it all, donate -- it's a win-win situation. You feel good about offloading your wares, the landfills get a break, and charities and individuals benefit. Here are some organizations that will gladly take your "trash" and help make it someone else's treasure.
1. Value Village
Touted as the "world's largest for-profit thrift store chain," Value Village accepts clothes and accessories, housewares and home furnishings, shoes, electronics, books and small appliances, then sells it all at near garage-sale prices. Working with 120 charity offices, the company gave more than $100 million to its nonprofit partners last year. Visit www.valuevillage.ca for store locations and more information.
2. Car Heaven
If you want to get that high-polluting clunker permanently off the road, visit Car Heaven, founded by Canada's Clean Air Foundation. Donated cars are towed for free in most provinces, dismantled and recycled (even oil, fluids and tires). Different provinces offer different rewards, such as a $1,000 certificate toward a new GM vehicle in Ontario and B.C. Check out www.carheaven.ca for more details.
3. Canadian Diabetes Association
Donate your clothes, linens, housewares, furniture, toys, cellphones and PDAs to the Clothesline program, and the proceeds will fund research and advocacy for people living with diabetes. You can even recycle your inkjet and laser printer cartridges through the Diabetes Recycle Ink program. Visit www.diabetes.ca or call 1-800-505-5525 for a free pickup or to find a drop-box near you.
4. Reboot Canada
This award-winning nonprofit organization provides refurbished computer hardware, training and technical support to charities, nonprofits and people with limited access to technology. Reboot accepts computer and equipment donations, and has distributed more than 60,000 pieces of computer equipment to over 3,000 organizations nationwide since 1996. A tax receipt is issued for the market value of donated computers, monitors and printers, and what can't be fixed is recycled. Visit www.rebootcanada.ca or call 416-534-6017.
5. Goodwill
Goodwill has been a godsend to many -- for many reasons. You clear the surplus from your home, someone else buys the stuff at a community Goodwill store, then those facing employment barriers (including new Canadians and people with disabilities) can receive access to work, skills training and job experience. Goodwill accepts new and gently used home furnishings, housewares, clothing and accessories, books, toys, tools, textiles, digital equipment and small appliances. Visit www.goodwill.org.
Want to help out even more? Here's how to get started volunteering!
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