Dec 18, 2012
Rochester, N.Y. – In a season when many of us are focused on finding the perfect gift to give, December is a good time to think about another kind of giving: donating.
And what’s even better about this type of giving is that you don’t have to spend money to be charitable. The things you have lying around your house that you no longer want or need –clothing, household items and other such things – can have more of an impact than you may realize.
With this in mind and the end of 2012 fast approaching, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes is happy to share our Top 10 Things to Donate Before the End of the Year list. Donating any item or combination of items on this list to one of our conveniently located stores or attended donation centers supports our mission to empower local people with barriers to independence, including those individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Thank you for donating this year. And now, without any further adieu, our Top 10 List:
1. Clothing
You name it; we’ll take it – suits, pants, dresses and shirts. They are the largest volume of items we receive and sell. There are many good things that come from a clothing donation, but one of the best is that the donated clothes provide new outfits for job seekers at a reasonable price.
2. Household items
Lamps, frames, vases, curios, baskets and collectibles are just some of the knick-knacks we love to sell at Goodwill.
3. Kitchenware
Get a new cooking set during the holidays? Don’t get rid of the pots and pans you are replacing. Just think of the individual with the dream of becoming a chef who could use the gently used kitchenware bought from Goodwill to spark his or her dream.
4. Video Games
Did your child just have to have the latest (and likely the most expensive) video game this year? Make a deal: for every new video game, donate two they don’t play anymore.
5. Books
Upgrading from paperbacks to an iPad, Kindle or Nook this year? You know where we’re going with this…
6. CDs
You’ve got all your tunes saved in you iPod. Do you really need those 100s of old CDs taking up space in the back of your closet?
7. Computers
Computers and their peripherals contain electronic parts that are hazardous to the environment if not disposed of properly. Don’t discard an old computer at the end of its useful life — recycle it. Just remember to remove personal data from hard drives and other storage media before donating to Goodwill.
8. TVs and Small Electronics/Appliances
Why leave an old TV by the side of the road? Instead, donate it to Goodwill and know that someone else will be able to enjoy all that the small screen has to offer. Do the same with toasters, coffee pots, alarm clocks and other small appliances that no longer have a place on your kitchen counter, nightstand or other spot in your house.
9. Glassware and dishes
Setting the holiday table with new dinnerware and crystal glasses? Make room for that new fine china in your cupboards by donating the dishes, plates, silverware and glasses that you no longer need. You never know, someone might just be looking for that exact pattern or piece to replace the one cousin Bobby broke last year!
10. Bikes
Yes, Goodwill takes big-ticket items like bikes. When your children have outgrown theirs, or you’ve moved on to a new bike, consider donating the old ones.