How to Use Spring Cleaning to Donate to Charity

Using Spring cleaning to also find a way to donate to charity is a great idea that can help to teach family members about the importance of helping others. Getting everyone to pitch in each year during the Spring will create a tradition that ends with a clean house and a warm heart.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Use Spring cleaning season to find items in your closet to donate to charity.

   Since you are likely going to be doing Spring cleaning anyway, why not use the time to gather unused items to donate to charity? The first place to find items to donate to charity is the closet. During Spring cleaning each family member should be asked to put together a bag of clothing, shoes and other wearable items that are in good condition. These items will help to make room in your closets and will also be a great donation for charity. The clothes can be placed inside one of the charitable clothing drop boxes which are located in just about every town across America.

2. 
   Spring cleaning often turns up an extra toaster or other household item that is ideal for donating to charity.

   Spring cleaning can also turn up many non-clothing items that are ideal to donate to charity. Many people are also in need of household items and rely on the discount prices of these items found at thrift stores or second hand shops. While completing your Spring cleaning ask yourself if you really use the item or if it's just taking up space. You'll likely find many items that are in good condition but are not being used. These items are too nice to be thrown away and are perfect for donating to charity. Call your local thrift shop to find out what types of donations they take and when they prefer to receive them before packing the stuff up in a box and bringing it over.

3. 
   Children that participate in Spring cleaning can sort through their toys to find some that are suitable to donate to charity.

   Children can accumulate a lot of toys, most of which end up under the bed or in a toy box not played with for months. Once Spring cleaning season has been kicked off in your house have the children sort through their toys to choose some to donate to charity. This is a great method to teach children about those who are less fortunate and lending a helping hand, and Spring cleaning can be just the time to have them sort through and find toys they no longer play with to donate to charity. Be sure to take the kids with you when you drop the toys off at the charitable organization so the kids are part of the entire process from the initial Spring cleaning to the actual donation.

4. 
   Organizing a yard sale using the items found during Spring cleaning is a great way to raise money for charity.

   Spring can be a great time to organize a yard sale or multi-family event that focuses on donating the proceeds to charity. After everyone on the block has completed their Spring cleaning they will all have plenty of items to sell. If they do not want to be bothered with a yard sale, ask them for the items and you can sell them at your own event put together to raise money for charity. If you are in need of some extra money yourself, consider donating just a portion of your earnings to the charity of your family's choice.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to get everyone in the house involved with the Spring cleaning and the focus on charity.
• Pay attention to each family member's charitable interests and donate to a different charity each year.
• Do not throw away items that can be used by someone else - even if you have to list them for free pickup on Craigslist it's better then throwing away something useful.

[Pamelateda]

on 3/31/2009 What a great idea. I need to get busy.