Donate Used Furniture
From LoveToKnow Charity
One of the best ways to help out a charitable organization is to donate used furniture from your home or office that you no longer need.
Reasons to Donate Used Furniture
There are many reasons that making a donation of used furniture is a good idea.
Someone Can Use Your Castoffs
If you are replacing furniture items in your home or office, there's a good chance that the pieces you no longer want or need can be put to good use by a nonprofit organization. Charitable organizations often rely on donated furniture to outfit their offices, to share with people who aren’t able to afford furnishings of their own, or to raise money via thrift store sales.
Tax Advantages of Furniture Donations
In addition to getting your used furniture into the hands of people who really need it, making this type of donation provides offers tax advantages for the donor. Assuming that you are donating your old furniture to a recognized nonprofit organization, you will be able to write off the donation on your income tax return, resulting in a possible savings on your year-end tax bill. When you donate furniture or items to a nonprofit organization, be sure to get a charitable donation receipt to document the gift.
Environmentally Responsible Option
Sharing unneeded furnishings with charitable organizations can also be part of efforts to incorporate green living strategies into your lifestyle. Donating furniture pieces that you no longer need is certainly an environmentally responsible alternative to throwing them away. There's no sense in allowing items that someone might be able to use to clog up landfills, especially when there are charitable organizations actively seeking donations of used furniture to use, sell, or share with needy individuals and families.
Making a Furniture Donation
It's likely that there are a number of nonprofit organizations in your community that accept used furniture donations. Contact local charities whose work you admire to see if they accept the type of items you have to share. If you contact a charity that doesn't accept this type of donation, ask for suggestions of similar organizations that might like the items. Nonprofits often help each other out by referring donors.
Any organization that operates a thrift store, such as Goodwill Easter Seals or the Salvation Army, is likely to appreciate your gift. Additionally, charities that provide support and assistance to underprivileged families often accept these types of donations. If you'd like to help provide a needy family with furniture, contact local charities that help women get back on their feet after escaping a situation of domestic violence or who are recovering from a catastrophic event such as a fire or hurricane to offer your donation.
Many charitable organizations that actively seek donations of used furniture are willing to pick up items from donors. This can provide an easy way for you to have large items that you no longer need removed from your living or working space with minimal effort on your part. When you are looking for an organization that will be willing to take your old furniture pieces, be sure to ask if pick-up service is available if you don't have a way to transport the items to the charity's office or store front.
Furniture Donation Tip
You should only donate used furniture pieces that are in good enough shape to be used by someone else. They don’t have to be in perfect condition, but they should be safe for used and in good enough shape that they could be put to use without too much effort. If the items you donate are in great condition, they charity will be able to use them right away. If they aren't in great shape, however, a charitable organization may have a volunteer who can refurbish the items so that they can be put to good use by people who need them or can be offered for sale to help raise funds for the organization.
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This page has been accessed 649 times. This page was last modified 16:01, 9 July 2009.
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