The fewer things your moving company has to pack into boxes and transport to your new home, the less you'll pay for their services. For this reason, most people choose to get rid of any non-essentials before they move. You can throw away damaged items, sell the very valuable things, and then donate the rest. But where should you make your donation? Here are some ideas.

Local Staffing Agencies

Look for local staffing agencies that help find felons and recovering addicts work placement. These companies often need suits and other professional attire for the people who they help to wear to job interviews. They may also accept desks, chairs, and other smaller furniture that you have laying around since they can use it in their offices and reception areas.

Homeless Shelters

Homeless shelters are always looking for donations of clothing, but they also need hygiene and personal items like hairbrushes, towels, and linens. They might even accept open bottles of cosmetics and toiletries like shampoo and body wash, which is good news since many moving companies don't want to transport items such as this in case they spill.

Local Religious Organizations

Many religious organizations collect used clothing, furniture, and other items and give them to families in need. They may even send the items to impoverished countries where they can be put to good use. Reach out to friends and family members who belong to such organizations and see if they are in need of any of your spare items.

Families In Your Area

You could always post an ad online stating that you have various items and are willing to donate them to a family in need. Someone who has recently had a fire in their home or has lost their job may contact you and explain that they need the items. It helps if you list specifically what you have so that several different families can claim what they each need most.

Thrift Stores

If you are in a hurry to get your move on and don't have time to search for the most worthy recipient of your goods, drop them off at a local thrift store like Salvation Army or Goodwill. These stores sell the items and use the proceeds to help those in need. Try to make sure you only donate items in good condition so they don't have to sort through and dispose of too much.

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