Tag: donation

Marking the Milestone of Graduation

Posted on by Jordank

May and June are #graduation season. The academic calendar is coming to an end, and those in their senior years of high school and college will make the transition out of their respective schools and take the next steps in their lives. Many schools and families take note of middle and elementary school graduations, too.

The first thing on the minds of many #graduates and their #parents (after the ceremonies) is a #celebration. Graduation parties tend to be low-key, multigenerational affairs, gifts optional. If you plan one, ask the honoree what kind of gathering they would like to have, who should be on the guest list and what kind of refreshments might be served, says Emily Post.

However you #elebrate, graduation marks important milestone in life. The end of high school and college often carries bittersweet connotations, because the student will soon be saying goodbye to friends, accepting more adult responsibilities, and perhaps moving and/or entering a profession for the first time. Many will be seeking meaning or a new goal in life.

The reason many ceremonies are referred to as commencements is that while graduation is the end of one phase, it’s also new beginning — the culmination of years of work and a window into the great unknown. It can be an unsettling and emotional period; be prepared to help your gradate (or yourself) cope with new and unfamiliar demands.

One thing you can do to get the graduate’s next phase off on the right foot is to help them #edit and store the artifacts of those school years. With few exceptions, your high school grad isn’t going to need most of souvenirs of the previous four years for college or career, and college grads won’t need dorm-room trappings following them to their next homes.

Encourage your #grad to weed through their documents and keep the essentials — transcripts, writing samples, portfolios — in digital formats to save space. They can return textbooks and #organize #keepsakes in bins or boxes, PODS says. They can get rid of #clothing that won’t suit their next phase, along with extra appliances, dinnerware and other furnishings. Anything that doesn’t make the cut can go to ClothingDonations.org with a #free #donation #pickup.

Graduation is a milestone — and all milestones are an opportunity for reflection and goal-setting. #Decluttering can help graduates recognize and appreciate where their journey has taken them and move forward to the next big thing. Congratulations to all the grads!

Moms May Be the Ultimate Organizers

Posted on by Jordank

As families around the country prepare to celebrate #moms on May 10, one thing that we should remember is that a lot of #mothers take charge of housekeeping and #organization. #Minimalist or not, it takes special skills to manage a home.

Maybe they’re born with it? The Organizing Blog’s #mom certainly was, sorting #stuff until only a small and tidy collection of essentials remained in every category of possession — clothing, jewelry, appliances, books, etc. — and encouraging us kids to do the same.

#Organized moms have some similarities, says Mother Like a Boss. They have a routine and stick to it. They get ready first. They do laundry every day. They #clean often. They say no. They #delegate tasks and accept help.

These moms avoid procrastination. If they can do something in the moment, they do it instead of telling themselves that there will be a better time. And finally, they #declutter often and “for maximum organization.”

“Put it on the calendar, have a set day or do it at the same time daily. I have said it many times, decluttering is like showering: You can’t just do it once and expect it to stick. It has to become a part of your life and routine.”

A schedule and delegation can get family members to contribute, adds This Crafty Home. And #mothers who appreciate the power of #decluttering should see nothing wrong in asking for a little help — after all, it’s their #clutter, too!

Real moms — even new moms — swear by bins and organizers that help contain the #clutter, says Registry Finder. When #stuff has a home within the home, there’s less chance for it to get strewn around and create chaos.

#Organized moms keep a #donation box nearby when going through things to streamline the #decluttering process. And they know to contact ClothingDonations.org to arrange a #free #pickup for the goods they no longer need when those boxes fill up.

They also know that #organization is a process, not a one-time event. Happy Mother’s Day!

Check the Thrift for Gardening Supplies

Posted on by Jordank

If you plan to establish a #flower or #vegetable #garden this spring, first make sure your tools are in good working condition. Sharpen pruners, clean rakes and tillers, and inspect planters and garden infrastructure for damage. If you need any tools, seeds, planters, pots or decorative items, check the #thrift stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org first. They are a great source of lightly used #gardening equipment and supplies, and buying #secondhand can #save money over buying new at a big-box store or garden center. #SpringtimeGardening #DosAndDonts

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day Through Service

Posted on by Jordank

Earth Day is coming up on April 22, and thousands of events worldwide are scheduled to celebrate and protect the only planet we have. While progress has been made since the first Earth Day in 1970, the grassroots effort is ongoing.

This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” stressing the fact that the need to protect the land, air and water transcends election cycles or political affiliations. It is “a responsibility and a long-term investment” for everyone, says EarthDay.org.

The environment has a powerful impact on human health, economic security and quality of life; protecting it is a matter of survival. Individual, local and community actions often have a payoff that extends to real change.

What can you do? You can attend one of the more than 9,000 Earth Day events worldwide to learn more about environmental protection, join a community cleanup or plant a tree. You can organize an event, teach-in or trash pickup. You can host an Earth Day movie night.

If you can’t observe Earth Day in person, there are plenty of ways to spread the word about environmental protection and climate resiliency. You can share climate facts on social media, contact your representative to support Earth-friendly legislation or shop a farmers market.

You can hold a #clothing swap to reduce the waste of fast fashion. Or you can #donate a few of your unused #garments and other household items to ClothingDonations.org by arranging a #free #donation pickup. People can reuse the goods and keep them landfills.

Or you can simply visit a park or go for a hike to remind yourself that there is only one Earth, and it’s up to everyone to protect it. Remember to leave no trace of your visit — or better still, pick up any litter you see.

While we celebrate Earth Day every April, protecting the planet is an ongoing process built upon awareness-building and millions of individual acts of service. Get started and get involved to lend your efforts.

Donate Clothing, Get a Tax Deduction

Posted on by Jordank

Did you know that when you #donate good-quality used #clothing and household items to ClothingDonations.org, you are likely eligible for a #tax #deduction? You must determine the fair market value (FMV) of the items you donate, “based on desirability, use, condition, scarcity and market demand for that property,” says IRS Publication 561. In the case of clothing #donations, for example, FMV is based on the item’s condition and what a typical buyer would actually pay for clothing of that “age, condition, style and use.” Fortunately, many tax-preparation software applications include a #donation calculator. #LastMinuteTaxDeduction