Clean house and donate

The good news is that not all charity work needs to be a planned event. Often it is the planning that prevents us from getting it done; the research, the phone calls, the planning and scheduling. That is enough to throw our hands up and say we will try again another day (please do try another day! Nonprofit organizations rely upon volunteers to meet their mission).

But, here are a few ways to make a difference as you clean up your house post-holidays and donate items that someone in need may find highly valuable:

Donate clothes you no longer wear (women's business clothes can be donated to www.dressforsuccess.org)

Drop off old glasses at your local LensCrafter - www.lenscrafters.com/onesight?sid=OurVisionDD-Espot-Onesight-US-050814

Clean out the pantry and give extra canned and dry goods to your local food pantry - www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank

Clean out your kids’ gently used books and donate to your local school or community library 

Send a care package (like extra Halloween candy) to an overseas military unit - www.operationgratitude.com

Unused furniture can be donated to the Vietnam Veterans - www.pickupplease.org or Habitat for Humanity - www.habitat.org/restores/donate-good

Donate extra dog food, crates, jackets, leashes, etc. to your local animal shelter - www.animalshelter.org/shelters/states.asp

Cleaning house and making a difference in the lives of others is a great way to start the year, and these are a few easy ways to start.