84 – Who wants this STUFF!?

Lisa Woodruff
January 22, 2016
1:00 pm
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Organize 365 Podcast

84 - Who wants this STUFF!?

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My goal as a professional organizer is to help people get rid of the stuff they don’t want so they can breathe and enjoy the stuff they choose to keep.

Honestly, the quickest and easiest way to do this has been to donate everything that can be donated at Goodwill and trash the rest.

However, as I have matured as an organizer and grown my Cincinnati team, I have begun to see how the items you may no longer want or need will fit a need somewhere else in the community. As our team has moved into organizing and cleaning out family homes for sale, it has become more apparent that we could and should be sharing these treasures for good.

So this past Fall, our team set to work and researched who really wanted and needed the stuff our clients no longer used. I am so sad I had not taken the time to do this earlier. 🙁 The items you and I no longer like or need really do fit a need someone else has in the community.

This list is specific to Cincinnati, but it will get you thinking outside of the box no matter where you live. This list will continue to be updated and refined. Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with more current information and additional donation locations I have not yet found.

Organize 365 has focused on helping homeowners get organized and donate as much as possible. So you won’t see selling ideas here. 🙂

Furniture and household items for those in need…

New Life Furniture 513-313-0530

11431 Williamson Road Unit D, Cincinnati, Ohio 45241

New Life Furniture serves people who come out of a shelter that has overcome homelessness or fled abusive situations.

Accepted Furniture (Contact to schedule a pickup on Monday–Friday 9am–4pm and some Saturdays. A $25 gas donation to pick up furniture is suggested.

Sofa, chairs, love seats, end tables, coffee tables, dressers, small bookcases, kitchen tables, textbook sets, complete bed sets (single, full, and queen only; also only very clean mattresses and box springs), small appliances in working order, televisions 20” and smaller, clean linens and bedding (please bag in sets and label size). Cannot accept items with rips, tears, stains, or pet hair. Also do not accept large appliances, clothes, shoes, luggage, or computers.

Habitat for Humanity 513-721-4483

Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Our mission is to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Read more about our vision and mission principles.

Acceptable Items (Call to schedule pick up):

Appliances – In good working condition, not needing any repair
Architectural Items – In good condition, columns, antique windows, mantels, porch post, interior railings, stained glass
Bed frames & headboards
Books – Clean, intact, no mold or odors (no textbooks)
Cabinets/Countertops/Vanity Tops – Clean and unscratched
CDs, DVDs, Records, Blu-ray
Ceiling Fans – With mounting hardware
Computers, printers, stereos, working TVs with cable connector (no floor consoles), DVD players, phones
Doors – Exterior and interior
Electrical – Residential wire, plugs, plates
Flooring – Carpets, padding, area rugs with no visible wear, stains or odors. New vinyl tile and new ceramic tile. Unblemished hardwood.
Furniture – In good condition, free of stains and odor
Hardware – For doors and cabinets, in working condition, rust free
Housewares – Baskets, knickknacks, silk plants, decorative plates, silverware, glasses, framed pictures, framed mirrors, lamps, etc.
Insulation – New only, in bundles, unopened
Lighting – All parts included
Lumber – Plywood – full to ¼ sheets, milled lumber – 4’+ lengths, trim – 4’+ lengths, siding – full lengths
Mattresses & Box Springs – No visible wear, stains or odors
Masonry – Cinderblock, stone, brick, drop off on pallet only
Paint – Any new, full, unopened, non-rusted cans of latex paint or stain with color clearly indicated
Plumbing Fixtures – New or clean used sinks, bathtubs, toilets, in good condition with no chips or stains
Fiberglass bathtub/stall
Pipe – PVC/metal/copper
Records, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray
Roofing Materials – Shingles (whole bundles), rolls of roofing material, new roofing and gutter materials with no damage
Sheet Rock – (Drywall) 4’ lengths and up, conditions must be that 4’ of sheet rock is salvageable, 8’ length and up accepted
Tools – Hand or power tools
TVs – Working only, cable connector, no consoles
Vents – Floor, ceiling, returns, clean and in good condition
Windows – Double pane only (no single pane) pre-inspected and free of rot with glass intact, no cracks or fogging in glass

Cincinnati Ministries…

The Healing Center 513-346-4080

**Great place to donate bicycles, baby items, eyeglasses, and kitchen items.

11345 Century Circle W., Springdale, Ohio 45246

The Healing Center strives to meet the needs of all guests holistically. For example, while individuals struggling financially will receive help with immediate and basic needs, they also are equipped with the skills necessary to break the cycle of poverty.

While we are able to respond to people’s immediate needs for food, clothing, and emergency assistance, we work with each individual to identify additional areas of support or development to build self-sufficiency.

Hours of Operation: Wednesday–Saturday, 9am–12pm noon, Thursday evenings, 6:30pm–9pm

Donations Accepted (Donations may be left outside in donation bins):

Bicycles (in any condition)
School supplies
Clean and gently used clothing and coats for men, women, and children (especially large & tall men’s items). Can only accept in-season clothes.
Non-perishable food items
Toiletries and cleaning supplies
Baby items, baby furniture, and other items such as changing tables, beds, strollers, carriers, and car seats
Baby diapers and formula
New and gently used household items such as pots & pans, dishes, blankets, sheets and comforters, pillows, curtains, and utensils.
Small appliances in working condition

Eyeglasses

Haven House Emergency Shelter 513-863-8866

**Great place to donate paper products at the end of a party, drink mixes, and sheets.

550 High Street, Hamilton, Ohio 45015

Haven House is committed to helping provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to homeless children and families. Beyond providing emergency shelter and food, its goals are to minimize the psychological trauma of homelessness insofar as it can and to facilitate the family’s smoothest and most rapid transition possible to a more stable and permanent future. 70% of the people at Haven House are children.

Donation Wish List (Open 24/7):

Food Items – Coffee, drink mix, eggs, butter, bacon, hamburger, spaghetti sauce, canned meats, milk.
Paper Products – Forks, knives and spoons (plastic), paper napkins, paper towels, Reynolds Wrap (large), styrofoam plates (sectional 8″ or over), styrofoam bowls, styrofoam cups (8oz. hot & cold), toilet paper, Ziploc Baggies.
Personal Items – Diapers, baby wipes, sanitary napkins, bath towels, washcloths, twin-size sheets, pillowcases.

Cleaning Products – bleach, bathroom cleaners, Windex, oven cleaner, fabric softener, Tide, Spic n Span, Comet.

Reach Out Lakota 513-779-7515

** Great place to donate jeans and personal care items.

6561 Station Road, West Chester, Ohio 45069

Creating new and innovative initiatives to better serve our clientele base. Through required classes, each client must participate and complete a required set of hours of meeting and learning from individuals in financial, insurance, emergency, and workforce services. This helps all clients better understand the services available in our community and lay a solid foundation to build upon going forward. Our hope is that we help each and every client bridge the gap between today and tomorrow, where they no longer have a need for our services, and can give back to those who helped them achieve their dreams and goals!

Donation Time: Anytime in the sheds behind the building.

Donations Accepted: Non-perishable food items, gently used clothes, housewares, small appliances, cleaning products, personal hygiene (such as razors, shaving cream, shampoo, and deodorant), new socks, and underwear.

Matthew 25 Ministries 513-793-6256

** Great place to donate unused latex paint and hospice supplies.

11060 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, Ohio 45242

Caring For A Needy World With The Things We Throw Away

The work of Matthew 25: Ministries helps the poorest of the poor and disaster victims throughout the United States and around the world.

We accept monetary donations and product donations of misprinted, slightly damaged, over-stocked, or gently used supplies from corporations, organizations, and individuals nationwide. We also supplement outside donations by manufacturing, assembling, and blending products in-house including school notebooks, pencils, rice-soy meals, and paint.

With the help of our volunteers, these goods are processed at our 168,000-square-foot Processing Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then shipped via forty-foot seagoing containers and by semi-trailers to the poorest of the poor and disaster victims.

Donation times: Monday–Friday 9 am–4 pm and Saturday 9 am–3 pm

Donations Accepted: Gently used clothes, non-perishable food, school supplies, first aid and medical supplies, hospital supplies, personal care and hygiene supplies, cleaning products, baby products, household items, and latex paint.