January is National Get Organized Month, a time to sort through and declutter your home. Consider donating your unwanted household items and clothing to your local Goodwill. Revenue from the sale of these items fund job training programs and career services that help local residents with disabilities and disadvantages get to work.
- Often times the number one reason why going through your closet is time consuming is simply because you don’t do it often enough. Instead of purging once a year, keep a bag or box in all of your closets and place items in them continuously throughout the year. Once full, head to your local Goodwill to drop off your donations.
- Don’t try to overhaul your whole house or apartment in a day. Baby steps. Take one room at a time.
- Ask for help. If you are not the only one living in the space, you are not the only one creating clutter. Make a game of it with kids—challenge them to see who can purge the most.
- Take before and after photos of each room that you declutter. This can be immensely satisfying!
- Use labels to designate what goes where. It will keep your family or others sharing your space on track.
- If it hasn’t fit in a year; if it’s not your style anymore; if it’s uncomfortable; or you no longer love it, get rid of it! When you donate clothing and accessories to Goodwill, you give a value conscious shopper the opportunity to discover true treasures!
- Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Once you have conquered your living space, stick with the mantra that everything has a place and only hold on to the items that bring you joy (thanks Marie Kondo!). Make a commitment to keep it neat and tidy.
Goodwill thanks YOU for your generous donations. Last year, we diverted 100 million pounds of textiles along from area landfills. Instead, those items you no longer want or need help turn on the power of work for individuals faced with employment barriers at Goodwill.