Mother’s Day gifts don’t need to take up a lot of space to be appreciated. Try giving a basket full of her favorite gourmet foodstuffs, a box of fresh fruit or a case of wine, says Abundant Life With Less; such gifts will remind her that you care again and again as they disappear. Another idea? Give a digital course or subscription — it will take no space at all and perhaps expand Mom’s mind. You can also give a gift card toward a stay at an AirBnb or a photo-filing service such as Dropbox, the blog says; either will enrich her life without adding to the clutter.
Author: Jordank
Editorial Coordinator
What Your Donations Do for Veterans
If you’ve donated clothing and other household items to ClothingDonations.org in the past, you may be aware that your stuff helps fund programs that support veterans throughout the country. But do you know how, and what your donations fund?
When you give the things you no longer need, the Vietnam Veterans Association (VVA) resells them in bulk to partner thrift and secondhand stores, where other people can shop for great deals on lightly used stuff.
VVA takes the proceeds and uses them to underwrite range of programs. On the national level, the association helps veterans tap government benefits and health care guaranteed to those who have served, and lobbies on behalf of veterans in the nation’s capital.
Aware that war can have challenging health effects for decades after a deployment, VVA offers outreach programs to veterans suffering from Agent Orange exposure, homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse.
It offers programs targeted to POW/MIAs and their families, minority veterans, women veterans, and justice-involved and jailed veterans. In other words, it is a comprehensive, wraparound service organization operated by and dedicated to Vietnam veterans.
As Vietnam veterans have aged and the country has continued to engage in overseas conflicts, VVA has expanded its mission to welcome veterans of all U.S. conflicts. “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another” is its motto.
VVA programs are supplemented and supported at the local level by the organization’s more than 500 chapters nationwide. The chapters use some of the money raised through ClothingDonations.org to host educational and social events, honor veterans, and give back to their communities through parades, scholarships and sponsorships.
Last month, for example, dozens of VVA chapters celebrated National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29, hosting luncheons, memorial observances and educational programs around the country to thank veterans living and dead for their service.
While donations to ClothingDonations.org don’t pay for the entirety of the programs VVA offers, the money raised eases the organization’s fundraising burden while providing you — the loyal readers of the Organizing Blog — with an easy, earth-friendly way to get rid of your unwanted stuff.
The nation’s veterans appreciate every donation, and thank you for your support!
Purge, Organize and Store Extra Stuff
If your space is stuffed to the gills with junk, a ruthless purge is the first step to a new, more #organized you, says Living Well Spending Less. “If you don’t love something, if it’s broken, if it doesn’t fit, or if you don’t use it, get rid of it!” Then, make an assessment of your storage space: Does it have room for a new set of storage shelves, hooks or bins? Deep-clean the area and invest in a uniform set of bins or boxes; then, reassemble the space, grouping all like items together. “Once you’ve organized your storage space, commit to keeping it intact,” the story says, and you’ll be able to find things when you need them while keeping #clutter to a minimum.
DIY Projects That Maximize Storage Space
If you’re handy with tools, there’s no reason to let #clutter get the best of you. The DIY Network suggests 20 clever projects that can help homeowners cut the #clutter and maximize storage space, including under-stair drawers and nooks, built-in bookshelves, bicycle wall racks, drawer organizers, and crafting and study stations. “If there’s a nook or cranny not being used, then there’s plenty of room to expand,” the story says — and all you’ll need to complete most projects is a few pieces of wood and basic tools such as a drill and screwdriver.
Streamline Storage in the Kitchen
While #decluttering is important, you may need to keep a wide variety of stuff in certain areas of the home. If you or someone in your family cooks on a regular basis, the kitchen is one area that may house hundreds of items; keep them organized so they can’t become #clutter. Reader’s Digest suggests investing in easy-stacking food containers, extra shelves and catch-all industrial bins to make the most of the space in your kitchen and pantry. Stack items to take advantage of vertical space above the refrigerator, the story adds, and “zone” its interior to organize foodstuffs and avoid spoilage.