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DONATIONS
Cell Phones
Discarded cell phones are responsible for more than 60,000 tons (approximately 120 million cell phones) of harmful toxic waste each year. Cell phone recycling is essential to reduce the pollution in water and landfills.
On top of helping the environment, recycled cell phones can also be used as emergency lifelines for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities and victims of domestic abuse.
Make a Difference
Follow the specific guidelines when contacting these agencies for cell phone donation: The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Donate A Phone, for domestic abuse victims; and Phones For Life, for seniors.
For additional information about cell phone recycling and donation contact: The Recycling Alliance, Charitable Recycling, Call 2 Recycle, Collective Good, the Wireless Foundation and Wireless Recycling.
Recycle old, technology-dated phones at Radio Shack, Best Buy, Office Depot and Staples which have EPA approved recycling centers.
Clothing Donations
American throws away an estimated 70 pounds of clothing each year. The majority of this clothing could be donated to nonprofit groups the help those in need. Quality used clothing for women, especial business wear and special occasion dresses for teens; are in tremendous need.
Make a Difference
Find an organization or several that best fits the type of clothing you have to donate and contact them for specific details.
- The Woman's Alliance and Dress For Success accepts used business clothing and shoes.
- The Princess Project and the Glass Slipper Project collect dresses, formal wear, purses, shoes and jewelry for young women who otherwise would not attend the special occasions that make memories and dreams of high school reality.
- Brides Against Breast Cancer accepts donated wedding dresses, veils, and wedding items and sells them at a discount; proceeds fund the wishes of women and men who have breast cancer.
- Heavenly Angels in Need accepts donated wedding and formal dresses which are transformed into burial gowns and angel wraps for infants of families who are without clothing to bury their child.
- The American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation accepts mastectomy bras, swim wear, and other specialty clothing items that are needed by breast cancer survivors. Contact your local chapter for more information.
- The Salvation Army, Goodwill, and Catholic Charities welcome most types of used clothing.
- Freecycle and FreeSharing are internet sites that also accept donated clothing. After a quick registration, they are a convenient way to donate used clothing.
- Look for local clothing drives that support churches, homeless shelters, shelters for abused women, teen parent centers and family resource centers that are often in need of all types of clothing.
- Many of these organizations accept mail delivery when locations are not readily accessible.
Furniture Donations
Allowing a family to eat together by donating a table, or someone a sofa to sleep on is one way we can help others in need. There are many people, many in your community, that do not have the luxury of such items that provide comfort and home.
Make a Difference
Find an organization that accepts the furniture you have to donate and contact them for specific details. Please be respectful and only donate items that are in usable condition. In addition, organize a group of people who can pick up furniture for churches and homeless shelters, as often there are not funds to do so and people willing to donate items may not have the means of doing so.
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The National Furniture Bank Association has local affiliations, contact them to find the nearest one.
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The Reuse Development Organization, keeps an up-to-date list of organizations, by state, that accept donated furniture.
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Military Order of the Purple Heart, Salvation Army, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters are charities that often provide pick-up service for furniture and household goods.
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Churches, homeless shelters, domestic abuse shelters and refuge resettlement programs are often in need of furniture. Pick-up service is usually not provided.
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Freecycle or FreeShare also accepts donations.
Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish and other wish-granting organizations have given hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Because many wishes involve air travel donating your airline miles is a great way to help grant wishes. By donating your airline miles you’re helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant travel wishes that require an estimated 2.5 billion airline miles yearly.
Make a Difference
Grant the wish of a seriously-ill child by donating expiring or unneeded frequent flyer miles or hotel and loyalty points to the wish-granting organizations. Participating travel companies include: airTran, American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Best Western International Hotels, Hyatt, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
Wish-granting organizations include: Make-A-Wish Foundation (http://www.wish.org), Give Kids the World Village (www.GKTW.org), Dream Factory (www.dreamfactoryinc.com).
National Bone Marrow Registry
Join Rihanna's mission, save a life and positively impact the lives of their loved ones by joining the National Bone Marrow Registry. The odds are 1 in 20,000; yet for family member they are all they have. For a few minutes and $52 for a tissue-typing kit, you can join the registry that increases the odds of a positive match everyday. This can be done online or at a nearby marrow donation center.
Make a Difference
Contact the National None Marrow Registry for online requirements, process information, facts, stories and locations central to you. Minorities are especially encouraged to register to help others and save a meaningful life.
School Supplies to a Classroom in Need
School supplies in low income areas are in need and often run out before mid year. Teachers are expected to inspire and teach our children without the proper tools needed for success. To often, they are left having to purchase a few items to “get by” on their own or resort to other methods. Quite often, these are supplies we have in our own home, or can easily purchase while shopping.
Make a Difference
Help kids gain a better education by donating supplies. These are everyday items of notebook paper, erasers, pens and pencils, highlighters, dry erase markers, binders, staples, construction paper, glue, markers, tape and crayons. If in good condition, pass on your slightly used ones. If motivated, call the school and/or teacher and ask if there is anything needed that the school will not provide (sets of reading books, popular children and teen books for classroom use). You can feel pride in doing what you can to help children get a better education.
I Love Schools, an online program meant to matching classrooms with donators willing to help them get the needed school supplies. Other sites designed to aid in organizing school supplies include: Donor's Choose, Adopt A Classroom, and Classroom Wish List.
Toys
Toys provide a means for a child to forget, for even a minute, that he/she lives in poverty and does not the things other children have. It also teached him/her the value of giving. Many children after being giving something of value, feel the effects and learn to give to others.
Books and toys provide play tools that are essential to learning and living health and productive lives. Even the basics of balls, block and coloring books meet the needs.
With almost 30 million children living in need according to the National Center in Poverty, there are plenty of ways you can reach them, whether you contact local agencies or search online.
Make a Difference
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Find homeless shelter near your home by looking under "social (or human) service organizations" in the phone book. Or search for a social service agency via Charity Navigator.
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The Salvation Army and Toys for Tots accepts toys during the holidays.
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Online organizations My Two Front Teeth, benefiting poor children in day care and community agencies and Make-A-Wish, benefiting children with illnesses; donate toys and accept online donations.
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The Ronald McDonald House and Artists Helping Children makes toys, books, games and art supplies available to children who are sick or abused. Their websites provide ways you can donate and additional information.
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Hospitals and clinics gratefully accept coloring books, crayons and picture books for their waiting rooms. Children and parents alike, are nervous and afraid and books aid in calming the uncertainties.
Wigs for Kids
Wigs for Kids has provided thousands of children with complimentary, custom-made hairpieces to help them look themselves, so they can enter back into the world without the ridicule and embarrassment associated with hair loss.
Make a Difference
Contact Wigs for Kids for detailed instructions on how to send in your locks of love.
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