Write an article based on this "Collect your items for donation. Pre-inspect your donations. Separate your donations according to Goodwill guidelines. Keep pairs and sets together. Make a list and evaluate worth. Load your donations into a reusable container. Label fragile items. Consider making a monetary donation."
Whether you've come across clothing you rarely wear anymore while spring cleaning, or simply emptied out a storage closet cluttered with infrequently used items, gather all of your potential donations into one spot. You might want to divide your potential donations according to type, making piles for things like: Books Clothing Electronics Houseware Shoes Donating a broken item won't help anyone out, so you should give all items you're considering for donation a brief inspection to make sure each has all of its parts, pieces, and is undamaged. Test out electronics and appliances to see if these are in working order. This way you can be sure your donation makes a difference. Goodwill accepts most new, like new, and gently used household items, including furniture and electronics. Some common items that Goodwill does not accept: Carpet/carpet padding Chemical products Cribs CRT, DLP, or rear-projection TVs Large appliances (refrigerators, washers/dryers, etc.) Mattresses/box springs Weapons Try to keep items that belong together from being separated, as a single shoe or dish will be far less useful than a complete set. You might consider using a rubber band to prevent shoes or other sets from losing a mate. When loading up your items, dropping off your donation will be much easier if you bag or box up similar items together. This can be particularly useful if you are planning on using these donations as a write off for tax purposes. Write down all the items you are planning to donate, and then use the Goodwill Valuation Guide to estimate the worth of your donation. Plastic totes or containers are often more durable than plastic bags or cardboard boxes, which can be especially helpful when moving heavy or cumbersome donations. Additionally, by transporting your things to a donation center in a reusable container, you are helping protect the environment by reducing waste. If you are donating something that has delicate parts or could potentially break, you may want to hand this to a Goodwill attendant as soon as you arrive at your donation center. If you are donating several fragile items or handing off your fragile item is not an option, package each carefully and clearly label each box with the word, "Fragile." Not only will a broken item lose much, if not all, of its value, but these can also be a safety hazard for Goodwill employees. Be sure your fragile items are safely packaged. Goodwill aims to make a positive difference in the lives of those who are needy or less fortunate. In 2014 alone, Goodwill helped 318,000 people with employment finding services and 26.4 million people with professional development and financial planning services. By making a monetary donation to Goodwill, you can be a part of these positive changes at a local or national level. Donate your money by check or in cash at your local Goodwill. Make an online donation through the Goodwill website at: http://givenow.goodwill.org/site/PageNavigator/gii/GII_Landing_Page.html Checks sent by mail should be made out to "Goodwill Industries International, Inc." at the address:Goodwill Industries International, Inc.15810 Indianola DriveRockville, MD 20855