Due to COVID-19, the world has been on lockdown for weeks, and will likely remain that way for many more. Most of us are at home with more time on our hands to do things that our rat-race of a “normal” life usually inhibits. I’m seeing countless Facebook posts about decluttering during this time, and though I’ve written a post before about what to do with donations, people are running into a very real dilemma in this odd time of our lives: what do we do with all of the STUFF when donation centers are closed due to Shelter-in-Place??
What to do with your #PandemicPurged Donations
1. Give directly to your community.
Contact the organizations in your area that give directly to those in need. They may be searching for what you’re wanting to give away. Shelter-in-Place doesn’t make at-risk youth are less at-risk or drug-addicts are cured of their addiction. Be aware, these groups may be more restrictive of what they are able to take.
2. Recycle what you can.
Use recycle drop boxes for small electronics, adapters, cords, batteries, and light bulbs at stores like Best Buy, Ace Hardware, Lowes and Target if available. Please, only do these drops when you are going to those places for an essential need already.
3. Sell or give it away online.
Post on Facebook Yard Sales, Craig’s list and other online options. Not lessen the spread by dealing with cash, ask for PayPal/Venmo prior to offering your address. Once received, take a photo of the item on your porch for the buyer. Also, wipe down the surfaces with disinfectant before putting it on your porch.
Additionally, you can ask friends and family if they want anything you’re ready to let go of. Offer the same disinfecting and porch pick up if they need it before the crisis is over.
4. Save it for later
Box things up to donate later, but be sure to clearly label what’s in the box. Store the donations in a single area of the home (garage, spare bedroom, basement, storage shed, etc) and commit to NOT going back through the boxes once you’ve decided to donate.
5. Use the Amazon Give Back Program
If you are anything like me, you’ve been buying everything you can online. Reuse all of those delivery boxes by making use of Amazon’s Give Back Program! (This program has been confirmed to be up and running as of 4/5/2020)
Here are some other articles to explain how it works and who they are partnered with —
From USA Today:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2016/12/25/amazon-goodwill-charity-donations/95814428/
From Business Insider:
https://www.businessinsider.com/use-amazon-box-for-charity-2016-12
From Amazon’s Blog:
https://blog.aboutamazon.com/small-business/donation-of-excess-and-returned-products-to-charities
Purging things no longer serving you is all well and good, but it’s important to finish the cycle, otherwise, you get stuck with more mess than you started with! I hope these ideas help you finish your purging cycle.
Need help?
Schedule a 30-minute mentor call to clarify your goals and how to best use this abundance of time!