Periodically, cleaning out closets and garages is a great way to reduce clutter in your home and help others access affordable clothing and household items. Maybe you have a few boxes of stuff you need to donate but are unsure which donation center would be best? These are excellent questions. We’ve done the research and found answers to your questions.
Goodwill, Savers, and Salvation Army are comparable regarding how to donate your used goods. Drop off your donations at the nearest center at the donation dock during regular business hours.
Perhaps you are interested in learning more about various nonprofits to donate your used items? Or how to keep track of your donation receipts? Please continue reading this post. We have a great deal of information to share with you about donation centers.
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Goodwill Vs. Savers Vs. Salvation Army: Where To Donate?
Choosing to donate your used goods is great for the environment and your local economy.
Goodwill
Goodwill Industries has over 3,300 locations between Canada and United States, where you can drop off your used item anytime the store is open.
The funds generated for selling the items go towards business expenses and help fund job training programs. Fun fact, 85% of Americans and Canadians live within ten miles of a Goodwill center, which makes donating to Goodwill easy and quick!
Savers
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Savers is a for-profit business that accepts donations from individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Also, Savers is the largest for-profit thrift company in Canada and the United States.
Donating or shopping at Savers does not directly support nonprofit organizations. However, the company purchases a lot of its merchandise from nonprofits, which provides those organizations with funds to keep their humanitarian work possible.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army is a 501 nonprofit registered in the USA since 1955 and is serving people worldwide to fulfill basic needs and learn skills to lift them out of poverty. The funds generated from selling the donations are used for an array of programs caring for today’s most impoverished people.
Donating your used goods is as simple as dropping off boxes at one of their donation centers or having them pick up your items from your home.
Is Savers a nonprofit company?
No. Savers is a for-profit business specializing in reusing, repurposing, and reducing the impact clothing has on the planet by purchasing used items from nonprofits.
Is Goodwill a nonprofit?
Yes. Goodwill Industries International is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit registered in the USA.
Do you have a few pieces of furniture you want out of your living room? But you’re unsure how to sell used furniture items? Click here to read “Where And How To Sell Secondhand Furniture.”
How do I keep track of Goodwill donations?
Great news! Holding on to your paper receipts until tax season is no longer required because Goodwill has an online donation tracker. The tracker will store all your entered donations and email you an itemized summary when it’s time to do your taxes.
To use this handy tracker. All you need to do is create a profile and start adding your donation items, and you are all set for tax time!
Tips for preparing your items for donations
Five easy steps to prep your items for donation will help the organization get those goods on the shelf a little bit faster.
- Box similar items in the same container to save the workers time sorting things.
- Double check the center’s hours online or via phone before heading out with your donations.
- In efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle, take your items in reusable plastic containers. When you arrive at the donation center, empty those containers into one of the large bins.
- Double check all items before dropping them off. For example, empty all the pockets and ensure you don’t leave anything with your information on an electronic device. Prevention is the best method to avoid identity theft issues.
- Consider dropping off your donations during the week because the weekends tend to have long lines at the donation docks.
What does Salvation Army do with donations?
According to the Salvation Army, the nonprofit organization sells donations in thrift shops. The proceeds from those sales are used to fund the Adult Rehabilitation Centers.
The rehabilitation centers help adults struggling with substance abuse issues cope with addiction and learn to reclaim their lives.
Which nonprofits will pick up donations from your house?
Excellent question. According to Moving.org, a few reliable nonprofits will pick up your donations. Please note that all pickups for grants must be scheduled directly via the nonprofit’s website or by calling the location nearest your home.
Goodwill Industries
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Contact Goodwill Industries via phone or online to schedule a pickup from your home. Availability will vary based on your location. Click here to locate the nearest donation center to your home.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is an excellent option for donating large furniture items like beds, couches, tables, etc. Use the Habitat for Humanity website to find the nearest location, then contact that location and ask if the items you have are of interest and when they could pick those up.
Pick Up My Donation
Pick Up My Donation is a great website where you can enter your zip code, select free or priority pickup, enter info about your items, and add your contact info. Then, find nonprofits in your local area accepting donations and willing to pick those up from your house.
Salvation Army
The best way to schedule a pickup from the Salvation Army is to call 1-800-SA-TRUCK or visit SAtruck.org. If you are unsure if the Salvation Army will want or pick up your items, call the number above for further assistance.
How do you find clothing donation box locations?
The donation boxes are scattered throughout the cities and small towns of North America, offering residents a simple way to drop off their donations on the go.
Goodwill Industries
Goodwill has bright blue donation boxes throughout the small towns and big cities in America. To use one of these donation boxes. Place your used items inside the bin and add those items to your Goodwill donation tracker; you are good to go!
Use It Again
Use it Again, Is a for-profit business that collects used clothing and shoes via donation boxes in Chicago, San Fransico, and Southern California.
The company claims that it will plant one tree for every donation. Also, they stated that the used goods are given to people struggling in poverty worldwide.
Click here to find the exact locations of these donation boxes.
Planet Aid
Planet Aid has several donation bins throughout the eastern and midwestern regions of the US. Use the Planet Aid website to locate a container near you.
Suppose you don’t live in one of the listed states? Download a shipping label from Planet Aid and ship up to 70 pounds of donations to their center in Rockford, Maryland.
If you select this option, use one of your old Amazon boxes to ship your donations rather than purchasing a new box.
Final thoughts
In this article, we discussed several popular options for donating your used items, and we briefly discussed the differences and nuances of each organization. We sincerely hope this article was helpful to you in learning more about donation centers and how they work.
Thank you for reading our article!
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