It feels good to donate. But many families don’t have the means to give cash these days. Here are several other ways to make a difference without reaching in your pocket.
- Clothes and Household Goods Just about everyone I know has half a garage full of stuff that they don’t need and probably don’t want. Sometimes it can be hard to let go of those sentimental things that see much use anymore. You know, the leather pants you were wearing when you met your husband or the pink bunny sweater grandma sent you a few years ago. But letting go of those things can be cathartic and rewarding. And those cherished items will go to much better use at a charity than they will sitting in a box in your garage. You can also donate unwanted furniture, electronics, toys and anything else an average family might need. Just be sure that everything is in decent condition. Well used is okay, just no holes or stains. And electronics should be in working condition. Many people automatically go to Goodwill or The Salvation Army(which are both great organizations). But there are other charities that need clothing too. These include The Red Cross, Planet Aid, Dress For Success and your local homeless shelter.
- Cars Sometimes it can be hard to sell your old car, especially it doesn’t run well or at all. Instead of going through that hassle, do something generous. Donate your car to a worthy charity. Many charities will pick up or tow away your old car for free in 1-2 days. And you will get a top-dollar tax write off for the value of your car. Visit www.donatecarusa.com, where you can choose to donate your car to one of over 300 non-profit organizations across the country.
- Frequent Flier Miles Many great charities involve flying people across the country or the world. These organizations can always use transferable frequent flier mile or travel voucher donations. Some of these charities include The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Operation Hero Miles and The National Marrow Donor Program.
- Hair You can donate your hair to help create wigs for children and cancer patients who have lost their own hair. Most groups require a length of at least 8-10 inches and hair usually cannot be permanently colored or chemically treated. Vegetable dyes, rinses and semi-permanent dyes should be okay. Also hair should not be more than 5 percent gray and should be freshly washed and free of styling products. Some good organizations to check out include Locks of Love, Beautiful Lengths and your local Cancer Society chapter.
- Blood and Other Life Savers Blood is always needed, especially if you have a rare blood type. Visit www.redcross.org for more info. You can also donate plasma (the process is similar to donating blood). For more info on plasma donations visit www.donatingplasma.org . Another easy donation is cord blood cells. If you are are pregnant or plan to be soon, you can donate your baby’s cord blood. Many new parents bank their infant’s cord blood in a private bank for their own family’s use, which is the best match. But this can be expensive and above the means of some new parents. If this is the case for you, consider donating the cord blood to a public bank. It is completely unobtrusive to your baby. The cord blood cells are collected from the umbilical cord and placenta that would otherwise be discarded after birth. For more info on donating cord blood contact your birthing hospital or visit www.marrow.org .
