Spring Cleaning For A Reason: Local Organizations Accepting Donations
The snow has melted, the sun is shining and warm air and open windows are on the near horizon. With the arrival of Spring comes the annual cleaning buzz! Turn the dreaded chore into a celebration and allow the collective decluttering energy to clear out winter’s dust bunnies and unwanted holiday gifts still taking up space.
This year, why not also open up your pantry, closets and drawers– and donate.
From disposing of furniture, toys, books or clothing, here is a list of local non-profit organizations that will gladly take your unwanted items.
CLOTHES
Dress for Success is a national organization that has helped impact more than 1 million women and counting! Its mantra is “to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.”
Bridge to Success is a local organization with a similar mission to support both at-risk men, women and young adults citywide in the Chicago metropolitan area. They help with providing high-end interview and workplace appropriate clothing, as well as career coaching and confidence building.
TOYS
The Perfect Cadence is a local organization that aims to celebrate and shower new parents-to-be with the essentials and frills for their little ones. Twice a year, they set up a pop-up shop where families can shop wonderful items for free. They also host baby showers and prepare welcome baskets for new moms.
Share Our Spare is a local organization that takes your new or gently used items for families in need. Each month, they offer a few days on their website for scheduled drop-offs. They also need help with organizing. If you can share your time and are looking to give back, they have a “Sip and Sort” project that involves wine. I call that a win-win!
Cradles to Crayons is a national organization that recently expanded to Chicago in the last year. Did you know 1 in 3 children in Chicago lives in poverty? This organization creates KidPacks of new and gently used items for children between the ages of 0 to 10 years old. Find drop-off locations in your area via their website.
BOOKS
Open Books focuses on students with its book grant programs, reading and writing programs and literacy partnerships. The organization has donated more than half a million books, getting them in the hands of kids in low-income neighborhoods. Although children’s books are in high demand, Open Books also takes CD’s & DVD’s.
FURNITURE
Chicago Furniture Bank turns empty rooms into real homes by collecting and donating furniture to families in need. Founded in 2018, the organization helped furnish nearly 1,500 hundred homes in its first year. That means they also diverted about 750 tons of furniture from landfills in Chicago.
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