Everyone has heard of spring cleaning, but what about fall clearing?
I have no idea if fall clearing is actually a thing, but it SHOULD be, and here’s why. Decluttering before the holidays makes a lot of sense. One reason is because it is the season for hosting guests, and less stuff means less work getting the house presentable. Another reason is to make space for the new.
But more than anything, a clear space equals a clear mind for me. I want as much zen as possible before the stress of the holidays.
At the same time, I do not want to add to the landfill. Yes, it is so easy to throw out everything and put it on the curb for bulk trash. But as a mom, I want to do my part to preserve our planet for my children and theirs.
If this resonates, here are 10 places to donate your stuff. (By the way, of course you can sell your stuff, but if you are prone to just put everything on the curb, I know that you are in the “ain’t nobody got time for that” population).
1. Buy Nothing Project
The Buy Nothing Project is an entire movement to try to source everything you need without buying anything through the power of community. There’s an app you can download and join. Candidly, I only discovered it through research for this article.
My personal experience with Buy Nothing is that my neighborhood has a Buy Nothing Page where we all post stuff to give to our neighbors. I have happily given away toys, clothes, and things to my neighbors. I have also happily received things I needed like kids hangers, book shelves, and kids sports equipment.
2. Donate 2 Impact
Donate 2 Impact is by far the easiest way to get rid of your stuff. A “plus” is that it can benefit a nonprofit. If you live in a nearby neighborhood, you may have received a postcard in the mail. I love that I can schedule a donation pickup by computer or cell phone (it remembers your info for the future). All I need to do is to make sure to set out the “stuff” by 8:00 a.m. on pickup day.
The list of things it accepts is huge: Clothing, shoes, books, toys, electronics and more.
It is also clear on what it cannot accept. To me the list is pretty reasonable. I actually keep a cardboard box near our door, and when it gets filled with things to give, I schedule a pickup — easy peasy!
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3. For Days – Take Back Bag
While For Days is not local, I love how easy it is to donate clothing like socks, underwear, linens, shoes by sending it all in a bag. Yes, you have to buy the bag, but you get credit for the store. Admittedly, I’m a sucker for its mission, which is to keep stuff out of the landfill.
4. Freecycle Network
The Freecycle Network is a site where you can make posts about things you want to gift and receive and other members reply. You then arrange a pickup time and location. You can also create your own “friends” network so you can just share to your personal network. I live in The Colony, but I have joined both the Little Elm and Frisco network.
5. Frisco Family Services
If you love knowing that what you give impacts your local community, consider donating to Frisco Family Services. It accepts and sells new and like-new donations of clothing, household goods, lamps, and furniture. You can also schedule pick up for large items. It uses the proceeds for programs that directly benefit families and individuals living in Frisco and Frisco ISD.
6. Goodwill
Goodwill accepts a wide range of items. It resells the items and use the proceeds for its outreach programs. I like that it tries to resell items, and if it cannot be sold, the stuff is salvaged in partnership with recycling vendors. There are locations in Lewisville, Frisco, and Denton.
7. Lions Club Eyeglass Recycling
While eyeglasses are a very specific thing, they are not easy to donate. Most people have to get new prescriptions every year. The Lions Club International collects used eyeglasses, which are cleaned, sorted by prescription strength, and distributed to people in need in developing countries. The Colony hosts an annual drive. There is also an address to ship your eyeglasses if you’d like.
8. NTX Community Food Pantry
Started in 2007, the NTX Community Food Pantry serves The Colony, southeast Denton County, and surrounding areas. It serves more than 450 families each month. It accepts donations of canned and non-perishable food on the first Saturday of the month, even expired items.
I have a mom friend in our neighborhood who collects from our neighborhood and takes it all once a month, with her kids. I see this as no excuse to have a cluttered pantry — if it doesn’t get eaten in a month, it’s time to purge!
9. ReStore, Habitat for Humanity Denton County
For those who are remodeling and have used appliances, furniture, building materials, lighting, plumbing, flooring, windows, etc. (think all the parts of a house), then look no further. There is a drop off location in Denton, and it can also pick up large items.
10. The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army needs no introduction. Most are familiar with the red receptacles for coins and cash during the holidays. It has several drop-off locations for goods, and you can also schedule a free pickup. The closest one to me is in Lewisville, but there is also one in Plano and Dallas. It is primarily interested in clothing, furniture, and household goods that it can resell in thrift stores to support its outreach programs.
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Happy fall clearing!
