Goodwill Industries has offered the following tips to help start the new year fresh by decluttering what you don’t want or need. In this article find out if someone else can use your decluttered items before you throw them away.
For many people, the start of a new year often means hitting a reset button. Making healthier choices. Going back to school. Getting organized. Giving back to others. These are a few resolutions that often top many people’s lists. If you hope to get more organized and give back more in 2023, this article is for you.
Have you ever found yourself looking at things throughout the house, such as an old coffee maker, and asking, “Does anyone actually need this?” Have you wavered between throwing it away or donating it to a nonprofit like Goodwill?
The truth is that donations are the single most important factor that allows Goodwill to provide job training and employment assistance to Central Floridians in need. More than 90% of revenue from Goodwill retail stores goes directly to fund free financial literacy programs, vocational training, and the organization’s Prosperity Planning initiative, which provides one-on-one training to help individuals achieve their goals.
And while you may waffle over whether your toaster oven (or tumbler, tennis racket or T-shirt) is worth donating, there’s a good chance that it’s exactly what another Goodwill shopper is looking for, especially as inflation impacts many household budgets. Consider just a few of our most in-demand items:
- Sneakers and shoes. Shoes are an easy “yes” because they’re always in high demand. Whether you’re trying to pare down your own collection or trade out some footwear your kids have outgrown, make sure to set aside any lightly used pairs for your next donation drop-off.
- Jeans. There’s nothing like finding a great pair of jeans … except maybe finding a great pair at an even better price. No matter the size, style or occasion, jeans are one of Goodwill’s most popular clothing items all year round.
- Small appliances. Something taking up space on your kitchen counter could help someone else furnish their college dorm or new apartment. Coffee makers, blenders, toasters, food processors, mini fridges and other small household items are in high demand at Goodwill. (Just remember that we can’t accept large appliances like stoves or dishwashers.)
- Electronics. Lamps, MP3 players, old-school iPods, clock radios and other electronics make great donations, too – just make sure they’re in working order before you drop them off.
- Furniture. Donating your lightly used furniture – desks, chairs, coffee tables, rugs and so on – can be a sustainable way to clear out space for something new. Goodwill can accept almost all furniture in good condition except for bedframes, mattresses, and infant cribs or car seats.
Although this list includes some of our most needed items, it’s by no means exhaustive. Lightly used clothing and household goods – cozy winter jackets, board games and puzzles, sporting goods, books and DVDs, pet accessories, linens, paintings, holiday décor – are all great options to donate. If you’re not sure, don’t be afraid to bring it by your nearest Donation Xpress or retail store to ask!
Goodwill values your donations, and we do our best to make sure everything is put to good use. Thanks to our generous donors and loyal shoppers, in 2022 we diverted 20 million pounds of household goods from Central Florida landfills!
Whether you’re cleaning out after the holidays, saying goodbye to something you no longer need or just looking for an easy way to do good, that item you’re deciding whether to trash could be someone else’s found-it-at-Goodwill treasure. We’re grateful for all donations. The community’s generous support provides opportunities for a fresh start all throughout the year for thousands of Central Floridians.
To find the Goodwill closest to you, visit www.GoodwillCFL.org.
-Ambar Pimentel
Ambar Pimentel is Goodwill of Central Florida’s director of donated goods.
