You’ve hopped on the KonMarie bandwagon and are clearing your home of items that don’t spark joy. Or, perhaps you’re getting ready to sell your Philadelphia home and are decluttering to get it ready for photographs or staging. No matter your reason for cutting down on clutter, you might find yourself wondering what to do about all the extra stuff in your home. While you can sell it, doing so can take a long time and might not be worth the effort. Donating items can be the way to go, as your stuff will get a new home, and you’ll get to support several nonprofit organizations in Philly.

Career Wardrobe

If you have professional attire that you no longer need or wear, consider donating it to Career Wardrobe, an organization that provides interview outfits and work clothing to women who are returning to or entering the work force. Women who qualify are able to shop at the organization’s boutique and pick out clothing they need for free. The organization will take business suits, separates, and accessories in good condition, as well as lightly used shoes and outerwear. It also accepts clothing, such as scrubs, uniforms, and work boots, for women who might work in a medical or non-office setting. Recently, Career Wardrobe opened a boutique for men, and is now also accepting donations of men’s business suits and work clothing. You can drop your clothing off at one of the organization’s three locations, in Fairmount or East Falls in Philadelphia or in Haverford, PA.

Resource Exchange

The Resource Exchange encourages creative re-use by collecting sets and costumes from theater and film companies and by salvaging other materials from a variety of industries. They also accept donations of certain items from people who are decluttering their homes. If you’re reducing your collection of craft supplies or your fabric stash, you might want to give the Resource Exchange a call or send them an email to see if they will take your donations. The company typically accepts crafts supplies, building materials, classroom and office supplies, and home decor items.

ReStore

If you are renovating your home and clearing out cabinets, fixtures, and appliances that are still in good condition or if you have a number of pieces of large furniture that you no longer want, you can donate them to ReStore, which is run by and supports Habitat for Humanity. The store will pick up donations, no matter how small or large, or you can bring the items to it yourself. If you do schedule a pick up, make sure to leave plenty of time, as the store typically needs at least a week’s notice to arrange it.

Friends of the Free Library

The Friends of the Free Library run two bookstores in Philly that support the library’s programs, one in Center City, and the other located next to the Central Library branch. Both stores are stocked entirely by donations and the organization will gladly take your unwanted books off of your hands, with some restrictions. For example, it won’t accept encyclopedias, textbooks, or books that are very worn out or otherwise damaged.

Before you donate to any organization in Philly, it’s a good idea to call ahead and make sure it can accept what you have to offer and to arrange a drop off or pick up. Don’t forget to claim a receipt from the organization for the value of the items you donate, as you can deduct the value when you file your tax return.

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