With the holidays just around the corner, and the spirit of giving swelling in every heart as each day passes, reaching out to those less fortunate becomes a priority. But helping a good cause doesn't mean dropping a lot of cash. Why not donate the things you already have?
It may not be spring just yet, but a little winter cleaning can make your house or dorm room easier to live with. The old stuff you find in the back of your closet that you no longer want or need, can be donated to a good cause.
There are many stores around town to donate old stuff, but for those who don't feel like going off campus to help those less fortunate, there are plenty of places around campus to donate as well.
Many students bring too many clothes to college and find they never need them all. Some find the clothes they brought don't fit them thanks to the freshman 15, and others grow tired of that same brown sweater.
There are a plethora of places to give old clothes a new home. The Salvation Army and Goodwill accept old clothes still in good condition, but that's not all they will take off your hands.
"People can donate a variety of things," said Michael Jones, assistant manager of the Salvation Army on Niagara Falls Boulevard. "Anything you would keep for yourself we will take - clothes and furniture without stains, dishes. Stuff that is in good condition."
If your old cell phone is collecting dust or serving as a paperweight, don't throw it out. Used cell phones can be donated to Phones 4 Charity, Collective Good or any local major cell phone company.
Phones 4 Charity recycles cell phones by giving them to victims of domestic violence and the elderly so in an emergency they can call 911. There is also a box for domestic violence cell phone donations in the Undergraduate Library at Capen Hall on the main floor.
All major cell phone companies also have their own recycling programs. These companies benefit charities such as Keep America Beautiful, American Red Cross, American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, Easter Seal and the National Organization on Disability, among others. Collective Good also helps recycle cell phones through partnerships with multiple charities.
Additionally, cell phones can be donated to the military so they can be sent to troops overseas. Cell Phones for Soldiers provides calling cards for soldiers to help them call home without racking up ridiculous phone bills. They are also now collecting ink cartridges, all brands except Epson, to help their cause.
"I normally just thought of things like that being thrown out," said Jayce Grefrath, a senior civil engineering major. "It would be really helpful if they had signs around garbage bins telling us stuff like that is donate-able because I know a lot of people just gut cell phones and toss them."
Those stinky old sneakers, believe it or not, can also have a second life. Nike uses old sneakers and athletic nonmetal shoes to make new sports surfaces, including tennis and basketball courts, tracks and playground surfacing, and soccer and football fields. The drop off sites in New York State are located in Rochester, Utica Metro, Latham, and New York City. They can also be mailed. For an address and more information visit Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe web site.
Leftover paint, bricks, linoleum, carpet, building supplies and household items can all be donated to Habitat for Humanity. These types of items are typically overlooked when it comes to cleaning. People throw these things out without a second thought, but Habitat for Humanity uses these products to build affordable housing for the underprivileged.
Have younger siblings? Harvest House, a non-profit organization located on the corner of Juniata Street in Buffalo, has a Baby and Children's ministry that is always looking for blankets, clothes and baby related items and furniture.
Old pairs of glasses can also be reused. Drop them off at any LensCrafters and they will repair them and donate them to people in developing countries. Local chapters of the Lion's Club have been recycling old eyeglasses for over 80 years. They can be mailed or dropped off at most grocery stores, including Wegmans.
In the end, all it takes is a little ingenuity to find somewhere to donate unused items. After all, one man's junk is another man's treasure.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
