It’s hard to deny the popularity of lawns. Surveys show that 83% of people think having a yard is important and 90% of people with a lawn believe it is important to take care of it. You can take care of your lawn yourself, and most people do. On the other hand, you may want to seek professional help with your landscaping.
Having a nice lawn is not just something to make you feel good. Nearly all real estate agents consider landscaping to be one of the five best home improvements to make in terms of adding value to your home. In fact, landscaping is one of the few home improvements where you are likely to increase the value of your home by more than you spend on the improvement. Research shows that landscape design and other landscaping tasks can improve the value of your home by anywhere from 150% to more than 200%.
That’s something to consider when you are wondering how much you should spend on your landscape design. There is a wide variance in what you can do and how much you can spend. You can do all the work yourself, in which case you only pay the one-time expense for equipment and ongoing expenses for things like fertilizer that you will have to buy from a garden center. You will only get max return on investment, however, if you have experience and know what you are doing. You can do a hybrid of taking care of menial tasks, such as mowing the lawn, yourself while hiring professionals to do other things. For example, you might hire a nursery to come to your home and do all your plantings for you. A nursery center will know what kind of plants will look best, how to plant them to make them look the best and how to take care of them. One final option is to leave all landscaping tasks up to professionals. That means you hire someone not only to do plantings, but also to mow, fertilize and water. It’s the most expensive option but also the one that will give you the best looking lawn.
When it comes to your landscaping, you have to make a decision based on what you can afford, but you don’t want to do nothing. A house lacking in curb appeal will not realize its full value.
Many people find that donating to charities, such as giving American Red Cross donations, is a helpful way of getting rid of items they no longer use, while ensuring these items are given to benefit charity, rather than ending up in a landfill. Since over 65% of people donate items to charity every year, it stands to reason that the Red Cross is a worthy charity to donate to. Here are three reasons why giving is so important, and how the charity makes use of the donations people provide for them.
The American Red Cross Donations Individuals Provide Help Families and Those in Need
Whenever disaster strikes, the Red Cross uses donations, including clothes donations, to help individuals in need. This could be for large disasters, involving hurricanes and earthquakes, or it could be for smaller ones, such as a family losing their home in a fire. Every day, the charity helps individuals with needs such as food, shelter, and even blood, through their blood banks. This has not only saved countless lives, but if offers individuals many different ways to give back to their community. Those who cannot donate blood, for example, can donate clothing, or even food. There are many different ways for people to help out, no matter what ways they are capable of helping.
The Red Cross Does Pick Up for Donations That Individuals Cannot Drop Off
Many people have a giving spirit, but might not necessarily have the time to drop off to a donation center. In cases such as this, the Red Cross does clothing donation pickup. That means all an individual has to do is call the Red Cross, and they can come out to pick up the donations on a pre-determined day. Sometimes those who are donating can simply leave the donations on the front step or down by their mailbox. Other times, the Red Cross pickup might come out to someone?s home and even have volunteers to go in and pick up larger items that might be difficult for the donor to handle. This can make it easier to donate and get rid of items that an individual no longer wants to keep, and might otherwise throw away if it were not for the charity stepping and providing an alternative way of disposing of the items. Since most individuals throw away over 7 pounds of clothing every year, donating to charity is an effective way of helping others, as well as making the environment a better place.
American Red Cross Donations Can be Written Off as a Tax Deduction
Anyone who chooses to donate to the American Red Cross can rest assured that the money or items they give can be written off as a tax deduction. Individuals who choose to donate goods, be it used clothing donations or other items, should always obtain a receipt for things they have donated or dropped off, since that is the best way to know a monetary amount that was given, especially when the amount donated was done so via used items. Individuals should always save each donation receipt that they are given, so they can add them up when tax times comes, and be able to write these items off after tallying everything up. For those that are unable to make monetary donations, this is an ideal way of helping out, while still making a tax-deductible donation and being able to write this off.
There are many different reasons to help with American Red Cross donations. Doing so not only benefits one?s community, but it can also help others across the nation, especially in disastrous events. These donations can include food, giving blood, and even clothing and blankets. The Red Cross can come to a person?s home and pick up donations that they might not be able to drive and drop off to a Red Cross donation center. This can be helpful for those that do not have a lot of time, but still want to give. Finally, donating items is helpful for anyone who wants to write off donations for their taxes. This is useful for anyone who wants to donate, but does not wish to provide monetary donations.
Many people are faced with the difficult task of knowing when to transition their loved one to an assisted lifestyle. Depending on their age and condition, it can even be guilt inducing to place mom or dad in a retirement home. People often retire at 63 years old. As time goes by, older folks will need more care. Sometimes family members are not able to provide the attention and assistance an older loved one needs. It will be reassuring to know that assisted living amenities are among the best care options to consider. You can have peace of mind knowing that residents in senior living communities are well taken care of and having a fulfilling retirement.
A recent study has shown that half of retirees are happier than they expected. Those who reside in assisted living facilities and retirement homes are healthy and happy. The assisted living amenities provided cover all the needs of each unique resident, including 24 hour care, delicious meals, cleaning services, and fun social activities. Health management is also provided for those with conditions, including help with taking medications. Your loved one will be comfortable, and completely cared for. Conditions are considered and each unique patient has options for care. Senior living options are always inclusive and will meet your high standards when it comes to your loved one. Short-term and long-term stays are accepted and each resident is welcome. Activities and outings are plentiful and always organized in order to keep residents stimulated and socialized. Activities range from classic bingo and movie nights to museum trips and singles night. Physical activities are popular too, which may include yoga and swimming. Many senior living residents make great friends and feel that they quality of life has improved greatly.
Even those who need the most attention and help will receive it. 4 out of 10 residents in a senior living facility will need help doing basic activities such as bathing and dressing. With assisted living amenities, there are many nurses in each facility who will assist residents with care and compassion. Each task with a resident is treated with the utmost importance. In the event of any health emergency, care is offered on site and residents can be transported to a hospital. The health and well-being of your loved one always comes first and is the sole purpose of assisted living amenities.
As one of the largest first world nations, America has gained an international reputation as a consumer economy. Our need to purchase is not a point of criticism, but in fact the central driving gear to the wealth of our nation. With so many consumers however, it becomes only natural that waste occurs. The average American throws away around 4.5 pounds of trash every day — over the course of a year that averages out to be over 1,500 pounds of trash. Thanks in large part to a growing social awareness, many Americans are trying to minimize the scope of their impact through conservational efforts including recycling, cutting back on waste, and through charitable donations.
What Our Landfills Wear
Every year our nation consumes nearly 20 billion garments; this is equivalent to 68 garments and 7 pairs of shoes per person in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that Americans end up throwing away an average of 10 pounds of clothing per person every year. Studies suggest that of all garments thrown away, almost 100% could have been recycled, donated, or repurposed instead of being left to rot away in our over-crowded landfills. Although many of us have clothing buried in the recesses of our closet that we have not seen let alone wore in years, in an ironic twist there are hundreds of thousands of individuals who would gladly accept such unwanted garments to protect them from the elements. While the nature of our waste is immense, there are exemplars that make a conscious effort to instead practice generosity through used clothing donations.
The Generosity of Our Neighbors
In an increasingly large and diverse world, it is good to know that there are still those with respect, integrity, and love in their hearts — these people are the donors like you and I who are able to benefit countless lives thanks to the services provided through non-profit organizations. Non-profit thrift stores that accept donated goods are able to use the retail dollars generated from those donations in order support neighbors in need. Statistics from 2015 show that proceeds from the sale of clothes donations to thrift stores actually exceeded $2.5 million; these proceeds helped to support charitable programs both locally and nationwide. Around 70% of Americans give to charity on an annual basis with roughly 3% of American income going to charities every year. In return, non-profit organizations have helped to contribute an annual economic value of $666.1 billion to the United States economy. While many are certainly benefited by the tax-deductible donations, around 63% of high net worth donors have cited an altruistic motivation of benefiting the community as their chief motivation for giving.
Donating in Your Community
The number one reason most people choose not to donate goods is due to a lack of available donation sites in their area. There are a number of ways that non-profit organization are meeting this need for drop offs. American Red Cross clothing pick up services are popping up around the country in an effort to better serve the needy by streamlining the donation process. American Red Cross clothing pick up is a simple alternative to traditional drop offs; simply place a call and set up a pick up time and the American Red Cross clothing pick up service will gladly take your charitable donation to help benefit neighbors in need. Like other non-profit organizations, American Red Cross clothing donations help fund blankets, food, shelter, and blood drives that all help save lives. There are other ways that individuals can help those in need: volunteer your time to a homeless shelter, donate non-perishable canned goods during collection times, make a cash donation (every little bit helps), or simply take time to get to know those individuals that need your help — sometimes a friend to talk to is what someone really needs. Check online to see if there is an American Red Cross clothing pick up service in your area to see what you can do to help neighbors in need.
Are you looking for a home for sale in your area? Buying a new house is an exciting time in a person’s life! Every new home for sale that you walk through holds the opportunity to be the house of your dreams. Today you might not know which home you’re going to end up with, but each new home for sale that you tour opens the chances of changing your life forever. Your new home will impact every aspect of your life for years to come, for the better or worse. We hope that your real estate endeavors leave you nothing but great things, and so we put together a list of common mistakes that you should keep in mind while walking through each home for sale that you have to choose from:
Three Common Home Buying Mistakes
MISTAKE: Buying a home you love in a neighborhood you hate.
There’s a reason that your realtor will tell you the three most important factors while home shopping is location, location, location. The fact is, it’s not just what you want in a your home that you should be choosy about, it’s also where. Even if your new home has hand carved wood floors that are literally to die for, you won’t enjoy it nearly as much as you thought you would if you have to commute 45 minutes in enraging bumper-to-bumper traffic every single day.
While you are shopping for homes, take some time to figure out what parts of town you want to live in, and then be really strict with not letting yourself fall in love with a home that is outside of that range. It’s easy to lose sight of where you want to live when you find a home that has all of the qualities that you’re looking for within your budget, but 30 minutes further east than you had planned. Remember, you can always redo the floors of your home later if you don’t love them, but you can’t transplant your location of your home if you realize you hate it.
TIP: Even if you don’t have any kids, make sure you pay close attention to the school district your perspective homes are zoned for while choosing areas you want to live in. This factor will play a big part in your home’s value and your ability to sell it down the road.
MISTAKE: Losing sight of your budget while touring homes.
It’s so easy to get swept off of your feet by an incredible home and let the emotions of the home you adore make all the dollar signs fade away. But after you sign the papers and you have to actually hand over all of your hard earned cash every month, it’s a lot less exciting.
Most financial experts recommend purchasing a home that will leave you with a monthly payment of no more than 20% of your monthly income (and so, if you make $5,000 per month, you should purchase a home that gives you a mortgage of less than $1,000 per month). Figure out what you can afford on a mortgage each month, and how much of a total home loan you can take out while staying within that parameter, and then hold yourself to that number.
Tip: While calculating your monthly housing budget, don’t forget to factor in additional costs such as mortgage and homeowner’s insurance, HOA fees, and taxes.
MISTAKE: Not future-proofing your home purchase.
You’re likely going to live in your home for a long time. The needs you have for your home now might not be the same needs you have in a few years, but you’ll likely still live in your home in a few years, so it’s a good idea to keep them in mind. Take into consideration where you see yourself in five or so years, and factor that into your wish list for your new home. If you could see yourself having kids down the road (even if you aren’t even married currently), buy a home that has some space that could be converted to a nursery if you need it later. Likewise, if your kids are teenagers and you foresee them leaving the nest within a few years, it might not be worth the money to buy a gigantic home today.
If you’ve been giving serious thought to purchasing your first or second home, you may have already viewed several existing houses for sale. Have any of these come close to what you imagined your new home should be? Even when these homes are within your desired price range, it’s possible you will still need to remodel one or more rooms, replace out-dated appliances, and create new landscaping in order to make it just right.
While the costs associated with renovations and repairs may be within your budget, wouldn’t you prefer to move into a house that already has everything you want and need? Recent figures show that 8% of first-time and repeat buyers are earning $200,000 a year or more. Homes that are priced at $500,000 or higher are being purchased by 10% of these buyers. While the local housing market depends on a variety of factors, including housing availability, why not consider purchasing a new home within a production homebuilders community?
If you’re curious about production home builders, the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) states these developments are privately-owned, planned communities with a variety of amenities. In addition to being close to shopping areas, they tend to have walking and bike trails, beautiful landscaping, and playgrounds.
There are several benefits to purchasing a home in one of these communities. In addition to being able to choose from several home design plans, open floor plans may also be an option, according to NAHB. Since open floor plans have become even more popular for family life and entertaining, you may enjoy seeing these as well during a model home tour.
Interior and exterior changes may also be available. You might, for example, have the option of choosing a large, modern shower stall rather than a bathtub. Exterior changes could include adding a patio or deck rather than a grassy area or flower bed.
Production homebuilders usually provide other interior options so that you home reflects your taste, personality, and lifestyle. NAHB states homebuilders, in general, will offer prospective buyers several options on interior features. These are also available at different price points, which can be an added convenience whether or not you need to remain within a specific budget:
Appliances
Countertops
Carpeting
Flooring
Cabinetry
Fixtures
In 2014, NAHB conducted a survey with Millennials on what they most wanted in a house. While the features vying for first position did vary, these were all considered to be important or essential:
Separate laundry room
Linen closet
Walk-in pantry
Garage storage
Bulk-purchase storage area
Another survey showed that 49% of prospective home buyers would actually pay more for a home with an ensuite master bath. Central air conditioning is something else that homeowners are willing to pay more to have. New kitchen appliances are on that list, with roughly 69% of homeowners willing to pay more for these.
Since production homebuilders tend to be environmentally-conscious and want to provide energy-efficient homes, NAHB states these new constructions have increased insulation and Energy Star-certified appliances. It has been shown that when combined with proper insulation, Energy Star-certified appliances can increase efficiency, lower utility costs, and benefit the environment.
Once you take a tour of the model homes at a production homebuilders community development, you can ask about the home building process and timeline. When considering the benefits of moving into a new, rather than an older home, it’s important to remember that you will be part of a community.
If you are looking for home health care or similar options for assisted living in Palm Bay and the surrounding area, you likely have a lot of questions and some concerns as well. You may be worried about your loved one and have questions about memory care and other services that might be available.
Finding a healthcare facility that offers services for dementia and memory loss can be a challenge and locating the best Alzheimer’s assisted living facility can seem like a daunting task. But there is hope and you can find the best senior care options for your loved one. It starts with the first step, which is to compile a list of the best memory care centers you can compare and choose from.
Searching business listings for local centers can be a way to start off. You can also search online for “local affordable memory care near me.” And finally, if you have a smartphone or other device you can tell it to “find an Alzheimer care facility near me.” The process can be challenging, but it is important to take that first step and now you can take it with confidence!
Affordable memory care facilities near me offer a variety of affordable, homey living spaces while acting as alternatives to nursing homes for dementia patients. Residents can live in an apartment-style community with friends and neighbors who share the same interests or have help from one of our award-winning nurses.
They are proud to provide personalized attention, responsive care services, and an award-winning memory support program to keep residents engaged, healthy, and happy. Their well-trained and experienced staff work closely with your family to find the best solution for you and your loved one aging at home.
Are nursing homes good for dementia patients? Memory care facilities are the type of residence that is most appropriate for dementia patients. These facilities offer a safe environment for assisted living for dementia patients and a comfortable living environment that provides seniors with personalized care which is customized according to their needs and abilities.
A nursing home is not a good option for dementia patients because it can be challenging to provide them with the personalized care they need. On the other hand, assisted living is already designed to offer this type of service and can be tailored specifically to meet their needs.
Memory loss is among the things you should be keen on when dealing with an elderly person. As they age, the chances of developing mental health issues such as dementia increase. They lose sharpness in their thinking and decision-making, hence the need to provide proper care. While you might be putting a lot of effort into taking care of your loved one, they can get the best care when you consider memory care facilities.
The availability of doctors and specialists in a memory facility creates the best avenue to provide the care and attention the elderly need. However, before you decide, you should find affordable memory care facilities near me. This is vital as the cost of treatment and care differs between the facilities. Ensure that you have information on the average cost of memory care to compare with your budget before deciding.
Consider choosing a memory care facility depending on your loved one’s health issue. Before deciding, ask yourself, are nursing homes good for dementia patients? The answers you get should help you consider alternatives to nursing homes for dementia patients, such as in-house assisted living with a trained nurse present. The information you have about the facilities and the services they offer can help in making proper decisions.
Caring for an aging loved one, such as a parent, can be difficult physically, mentally, and emotionally. 37% of us over the age of 50 don’t want to believe we’ll ever need care, though reality shows that as many as 70% of us, twice that figure, will in fact require long-term care. This refusal to believe what is inevitable for many stems from a fear of burdening family. One study found that 55% of seniors said their greatest fear regarding aging was being a burden on their family. They even reported being five times more concerned about being a burden than dying.
Memory disorders, like dementia and Alzheimer, are especially widespread throughout the senior population and can often require the most care. Alzheimer’s, for example, is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, but is the only top 10 cause of death in the U.S. that cannot be prevented, slowed, or cured. In order to take this type of action, an elevated level of care, beyond what an adult child or family member can provide, is often needed. Despite the financial and emotional strain placing your loved one in a memory care center may cause, consider these three benefits of memory care services when contemplating the decision:
Strengthened Sense of Community Raises Levels of Happiness
Making the decision to send a senior to an assisted living facility or somewhere for independent senior living can be very difficult. Adult children often feel like they’re abandoning their aging parents. In reality, 84% of residents in these communities end up enjoying their stay so much that they would recommend their community to someone else. A 2009 study by the ProMatura Group, LLC shows that becoming part of an independent senior living community allows seniors to make more new friends and try more new things than their counterparts not in facilities. Overall, residents mostly report the experience being better than they expected.
Enhanced Stimulation for Improved Brain Health
For an elderly person experiencing memory loss, having continuous n=mental stimulation is key for management. By the time we each reach age 80, our hippocampus has lost 20 percent of its original nerve cells. The brain itself actually shrinks and becomes less efficient as we age. With this natural degradation in mind, having the opportunity to provide aging loved ones with activities for seniors in assisted living situations is a paramount opportunity. Seniors reported in one study that their favorite activities included reading (71%) and pursuing religious activities (53%).
Highest Level of Care Possible
By finding an assisted living facility for your aging loved one, you’re also ensuring they receive the best care possible. Patients with dementia, for example, can greatly benefit from continuously available memory care services. Residents typically receive 24-hour supervision, three meals a day in a group dining room, and a range of services to enhance their quality of life and independence. These activities include personal care and memory care services, medication management, along with housekeeping and maintenance.
When it comes time to clean out your home, it’s important to decide where your unwanted items will go. Sadly, most people take their items directly to the curb to be thrown away. According to research done by the EPA, people in the United States throw away about 10 pounds of clothes per person each year. When you donate clothes to Red Cross donation centers, you’re keeping clothes out of already full landfills.
The Red Cross has provided relief for families in communities all across the world. This organzation operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help give clothing, shelter, food, and blood to those in need. One of the most well known non-profit organizations, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing you are donating to great and established organization. Here are three benefits you can enjoy when you donate clothes to Red Cross.
Helping Others in Need – One of the most important benefits of donating items you no longer use is the value it will have for someone in need. The satisfaction that comes with knowing you’ve provided clothing to someone who might freeze without it gives you an immense sense of pride. Many others who regularly donate do so because they enjoy helping others. In a recent survey, 63% of donors cited “giving back to the community” as a large motivator for their donations. Most of us are much more fortunate than we think which makes the decision to donate even more helpful to others
Great for Tax Deductions – Some people who have shied away from donating in the past have been unaware of the tax benefits associated with giving back. It can’t match the value you get from helping others but any help during tax time can be a motivator to donating clothes. The write-off amount that you receive from donating will depend on various factors. Amount of merchandise, quality of merchandise, and how many separate times you donate are all factors in determine your write-off amount.
Helping the Economy – Clothes donations might not seem like that much of a big deal to you. However, your donations can greatly help the economy, at a time where this help is desperately needed. It is estimated that $666.1 billion is added to the United States economy by non-profit organizations. It is amazing to think that the simple act of getting rid of older clothes can have such far reaching of an impact.
Red Cross clothing donations can greatly change the world we live in. The first benefit of knowing that you helped others in need will make you feel great. Instead of throwing away old clothes, it is much more valuable to give them to those that truly need clothing. The tax write off potential for your clothes donations are a welcome benefit for taxpayers. Some people have to pay more in taxes than others making donations a great way to reduce the amount of money you owe each year.
In summary, Red Cross donation centers are located throughout the world which means you shouldn’t have to travel too far to donate your clothing. Used clothing donations are doing much more than clearing out your closest, they are giving much needed clothes to those who are less fortunate than you. When you donate clothes to Red Cross centers, instead of throwing away your clothes, you are doing your part to make the world a better place to live in. The satisfaction you will likely get from helping others could ensure that donating becomes a valued part of your life.
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to take a drive through Amish country, you know the magnificent beauty of the Amish barns and quality sheds that grace the horizon. Even if you’ve never step food anywhere near the areas that produce Amish built sheds, you know that there are no great quality sheds, garages, farm tables, and all other furniture things than the product of Amish workshops. We all know this. But their are a lot of things regarding Amish-made goods that you might not be aware of. For example, here are a few truth bombs that might take you by surprise:
Three Surprising Facts About Amish Goods
Amish-made Goods Don’t Always Look Like They Were Made a Century Ago.
The image you have of Amish made goods probably looks like it belongs in Abe Lincoln’s grandmother’s cabin. The reason for this is the great quality sheds and other outbuildings that are build by Amish hands are made to last forever. The structures that were produced by Amish builders a hundred years ago are still around today, looking like they were just built. However, this doesn’t mean that Amish builders are only able to create goods that look like they’re from the last century. In fact, like all craftsmen, Amish builders are usually hip with what’s hip. They build furniture and goods to compliment any design style that their customers are looking for. In fact, unlike any manufacturers who produce goods in a factory overseas, Amish builders can accommodate any instructions that their clients give them. They don’t just create superior quality sheds, garages, and furniture; they create high quality and custom sheds, garages, and furniture.
Amish Goods Aren’t Just Available to People Who Live Nearby
We enjoy buying everything we need with the click of a button. Thanks to retailers like Amazon, we can get toilet paper, furniture, groceries, and maybe even vehicles on the World Wide Web, without leaving the comfort of our home.
Meanwhile, to quote the great lyricist, Weird Al Yankavich, Amish craftsman shun fancy things like electricity. Because of this, it’s easy to assume that Amish made goods aren’t available to you unless you’re able to physically visit an Amish workshop and talk to a craftsman in person (shutter at the thought). However, as with any other kind of manufactured goods, Amish goods follow the normal supply chain of manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. The skilled hands that build your Amish-made goods probably aren’t posting selfies on Instagram. However, there are suppliers of Amish goods who are reachable on the interwebs. These go-betweens are happy to work with you to get the Amish touch that you want, no matter what part of the globe you’re on.
Amish-made Items Don’t Cost an Arm and a Leg.
We all know that Amish goods are better quality than their counterparts that are created on a conveyor belt in a factory across the globe with very little quality control (or human rights, for that matter). However, some people assume that the improved level of quality that comes with a skilled craftsman making your piece of furniture by hand and demanding perfection of themselves will come with an equally high price tag. However, there are several reasons that Amish made items have lower overhead than big box items.
The furniture you buy from a big box furniture store come with about a thousand line items that you’re paying for. Your piece of furniture pays a CEO and a staff of hundreds of factory workers, transporters, logistics workers, sales people, and cashiers who had a hand in producing the piece. On the other hand, Amish made goods only go to pay the craftsman who actually builds your piece.
Included in the price tag of mass-produced goods is the cost to source the materials in one part of the globe, ship them to another place to build the piece, and then ship them to your local store. Meanwhile, Amish craftsman generally source the materials they use to build their goods locally from sustainable sources. This costs a lot less and puts far less middle-men who take a cut in the equation.
Amish builders believe in the principal of wasting nothing. This means their materials go much further, costing you less.
Have you ever considered clearing out the clutter you have around the house with a Red Cross clothing pick up service? We know what you’re probably thinking…”Red Cross clothing pick up service? I thought the Red Cross was for blood donations and money!”
In reality, the Red Cross is instrumental in meeting a wide range of needs when disaster strikes across the globe. Some of those needs are met with your blood donation. Some of those needs are met with your cash donation. And some of those needs are met with their Red Cross clothing pick up program.
When you use a Red Cross clothing pick up service, you’re able to clear out the unneeded clutter in your home, without even leaving your drive way. From there, the Red Cross uses your goods to take care of people in need. Your unneeded items meet a need and get a second life, rather than collecting dust in your home until you threw them away and they ended up in a landfill. That’s what we call a win, win, win situation my friend.
However, there’s a right and a wrong way to make used clothing donations. Whether you’re making American Red Cross donations, or you donate clothing to any other equally valid organization, please remember our list of DOs and DON’Ts:
DOs and DON’Ts for Donating Goods to Charity
DO Group Similar Items Together
The volunteers who work in the receiving center at the Red Cross, or any other organization that you give your goods to, sort through thousands and thousands of bags of goods per day. It’s their responsibility to figure out what is suitable to be reused or sold in their thrift store, and what should be recycled.
Now, imagine that those thousands of bags were actually filled with jigsaw puzzle pieces that created one big picture, but you didn’t know what that picture was. When you put the bottom to the pot in this box and the lid to it in that box over there, and one flip flop here and the pair in another bag down the way, the volunteers who have to sort out your stuff are essentially doing a jigsaw puzzle without any reference picture. They don’t even know if you included both shoes in any of the bags. As you can imagine, this requires more effort than value they can really get from your donation.
Instead, take just a few extra minutes while you’re boxing up your goods and attach like items together with a rubber band or tape. While we’re on the subject, it makes it a lot easier on the sorters if you put all the kitchen items together in a single box, and all the clothing items together and so on. Then, you’ve done the hard part of the jigsaw puzzle for the volunteers.
DON’T Donate Trash
Whether the organization you’re giving to is giving your goods directly to families in need, or selling them in a thrift store and using the cash to further their purpose, they can’t do anything with items that are broken or too worn out to be used. In these cases, the volunteers usually have to discard the broken and worn out items. In fact, you pay a trash service to come pick up your garbage. When you give unusable items to a Red Cross clothing pick up program, you’re literally treating them like a free trash service.
If your unwanted items are not usable, look for an organization that recycles them for another purpose instead of an organization like the Red Cross that wouldn’t be able to reuse them.
DO Treat Fragile Items as You Would if You Were Moving.
As we mentioned above, items that are broken don’t really serve any purpose for a charity like Red Cross. If an item is in good shape when you turn it over to the donation pick up workers, but breaks before it makes it to the donation center, it serves as little purpose as if it were broken to begin with. To protect your donated items and ensure they do the most good, wrap breakable items in news paper or grocery bags or bubble tape or another protective barrier and write, “Handle with Care!” on the exterior.
