How to donate during the holiday season

Donating your gently used clothings and toys or even food are simple ways to declutter while helping others in need within your community.

What to donate

Decided what type of items you like to donate. Most donated items during the holidays are clothings, toys and non-perishable food.

Clothing: Winter coats, sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves, and warm socks are especially in demand.

Toys and Games: New or gently used toys, puzzles, board games, and stuffed animals are popular for holiday gift drives.

Non-Perishable Food: Canned goods, pasta, rice, and holiday-themed food items like canned cranberries or boxed stuffing mixes.

Where to donate your clothings

There are many places to donate your clothes, depending on the type of items and your local options. Here are some popular and meaningful choices:

National Organizations

• Goodwill: Accepts a wide range of clothing, with proceeds from sales supporting job training and employment programs. https://www.goodwill.org
• Salvation Army: Collects clothing to sell in their thrift stores, with profits funding community programs like disaster relief and homeless shelters. https://www.salvationarmyusa.org
• Dress for Success: Focuses on professional attire for women entering the workforce. https://dressforsuccess.org
• Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): Accepts all types of clothing to support veterans and their families. https://www.clothingdonations.org

Where to donate your toys

National and International Organizations

• Goodwill and Salvation Army: These organizations accept gently used toys to resell in their thrift stores, with proceeds funding community programs. https://www.goodwill.org and https://www.salvationarmyusa.org
• Stuffed Animals for Emergencies (SAFE): Accepts gently used stuffed animals to donate to children in crisis situations. https://stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org

New Toys only

• Toys for Tots: Run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, this program collects new, unwrapped toys to distribute to children in need during the holiday season. https://secure.toysfortots.org
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Provides toys and gifts for children and families staying at their facilities. https://rmhc.org

Tips for Donating your toys

• Condition: Ensure toys are clean and in good working order.
• Safety: Avoid toys with missing parts, sharp edges, or recalls.
• Packaging: Many organizations prefer new, unopened toys, especially for health and safety reasons.

Where to donate your non-perishable food

Food Banks

• Feeding America: This national network of food banks is the largest in the U.S., accepting donations of non-perishable food at local food banks and pantries. https://give.feedingamerica.org
• Local Food Banks: Most cities and towns have food banks that accept non-perishable items such as canned goods, pasta, rice, and dry beans. Check your local food bank’s website for donation guidelines. You can do a search of your local food bank here https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank

Food Pantries

• Food pantries, often run by churches, community centers, or nonprofit organizations, provide food directly to people in need. They typically accept canned goods, boxed meals, grains, and other shelf-stable items.

Schools or Youth Programs

• Some schools, especially those in underprivileged areas, collect non-perishable food for families in need. Look for donation drives organized by local schools, especially during the holiday season.

Shelters and Soup Kitchens

• Homeless Shelters: Many homeless shelters accept donations of non-perishable foods for their residents. Items like canned soups, vegetables, and pasta are always in demand.
• Soup Kitchens: These community programs serve hot meals to those in need and often rely on donations of non-perishable food to prepare meals.

Tips for Donating Non-Perishable Food

• Check Expiration Dates: Ensure the food is within its “best by” date, as many organizations cannot accept expired goods.
• Seal and Package Items Properly: Make sure cans and boxes are sealed and undamaged.
• Focus on Nutritional Value: Nutritious items like canned vegetables, protein-rich foods, and whole grains are especially helpful to donate.

Thank you for donating awhile decluttering with Clemmie.