Let’s face it, moving is a tedious and expensive process no matter if you are moving across the country or simply down the road. One way to make that process more difficult and costly is to make the mistake of moving things that you no longer need or don’t fit the aesthetic of your new home. From furniture to clothing, when it is time to move, make sure you take stock of what you have and donate accordingly. Although everyone has charities of choice for different reasons, take a look at our list of 5 charities that will work with you to make your donating process easier while making sure your belongings get to people that need them.
- The Salvation Army: Having been in operation since 1865 with a presence in 131 countries worldwide, The Salvation Army is one of the most recognizable charities to donate your unwanted possessions to when you are ready to move. As an organization that accepts everything from furniture to clothing, The Salvation Army can be a one stop shop for anything and everything that you wish to donate. They offer free pickup and have a useful donation value guide that makes it easy to figure out the tax deduction value of your donations once they are picked up. Once you have your items that you want to donate ready, visit satruck.org/donate/choose to select the pickup date that works best for you and your move.
- Goodwill: Founded in 1902, Goodwill is another excellent charity to donate your belongings that you no longer need. With 3200 stores in North America, there is typically a local Goodwill to service your needs. Goodwill accepts many types of goods and furniture and then sells them at a discount with the profits going to fund job training and placement programs to get people back on their feet and working with the skills they need to succeed. Unfortunately, not all Goodwill stores offer pickup services, but many do, so before selecting Goodwill as your charity of choice, locate your store and contact them directly using goodwill.org/locator to see if they offer pickup services.
- AMVETS National Service Foundation: Since 1948, AMVETS has been operating in 22 States to use charitable donations to fund community outreach programs and job training for US veterans. Especially if you are looking to donate smaller items from your move and not large furniture, AMVETS is a great option to look at for your donations. AMVETS accepts certain smaller toys, appliances, and accessories that other charitable organizations are more likely to reject so they can be a great option to maximize your tax deductions and support US Vets in need. Visit supportthevets.org/donate-goods to see if they operate in your area and schedule a pickup for your goods.
- Habitat For Humanity: Founded in 1976, Habitat For Humanity’s mission is to provide decent and affordable housing to those in need all over the globe. They fund their mission through donations and thrift stores in the United States and have many locations to donate your belongings. Habitat For Humanity is ideal if you are looking to donate materials, appliances or larger household items. They provide good value and also offer pick up at all of their locations, so if they service your area, they make it easy to donate your unwanted items. To see if they service your area and schedule a pickup, go to habitat.org/stories/does-habitat-offer-furniture-donation-pickup and enter your zip code.