Spring is here!  Time to open the windows, get some fresh air circulating, and clean out the clutter that has accumulated.  To make this task less daunting, make it a family affair and have your kids help you organize items to give away to worthy causes. Even if you have large items such as furniture or never-used items such as unopened gifts,  there are groups that are eager to receive them and put them to good use.  Here are a few organizations that would value your spring cleaning donations:

The National Furniture Bank Association:  Helps struggling families furnish their homes. Needs include beds, dressers, tables, chairs, couches, and lamps.

Dress for Success: Helps disadvantages women find professional attire for jobs and job interviews.  Needs include women’s larger-sized skirts, pants suits, blouses, blazers, jackets, and shoes.

iLoveSchools: Preschool through high school teachers list classroom resources they don’t have.  Needs include  new or gently used notebooks, binders, art supplies, or backpacks.

Child’s Play:   Fulfills wish lists of kids staying in hospitals for long periods.  Needs include new items such as video and board games and toys (no stuffed animals).

Books for Africa: Provides educational materials for kids who cannot attend school.  Needs include fiction, nonfiction, textbooks, encyclopedias, dictionaries, pens, pencils, paper, and more.

Be sure to check out the website for details about what and how items can be donated.

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

There are a lot of social gatherings around holiday time.  This year, turn one of your gatherings into a giving experience. Here are a few ideas:

Holiday Game Party:  Hold a game party for kids and friends. Pick your favorite board game, try charades, organize a Wii competition, or open up a box of trivia.  The twist is that to participate in the gathering, guests must bring an item to donate such as canned food, clothing, or a toy.  As hosts, you and your kids can select the type of item you would like friends to bring.  Let everyone know what charity will receive the donations.

Holiday Cooking Party:  There are a lot of great aromas coming from kitchens this time of year.  When you and your kids are making holiday cookies, consider baking an extra dozen or two to give to a local shelter or senior center.  Or, invite friends and their kids to help make bread, soup, or a holiday specialty.  You can make enough so that everyone goes home with a dish and has an extra goodie to donate.

Just a few ideas to have good fun this holiday season!

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

Winter’s a-coming!  Time to make sure the kids have all their cold weather gear!  Unfortunately, not everyone is in a position to dress their family warmly.  It’s hard to believe, but 1 in 5 children in the U.S. live in households whose earnings fall below the poverty level (2010 U.S. Census).  To make matters worse, we have experienced some of the century’s worst storms, expansive unemployment, and depleted budgets for agencies that support those in need –  extreme circumstances that make meeting basic needs (like warm clothing) a challenge for many families.

In times like these, we need organizations like One Warm Coat that works to ensure that anyone who needs a coat has one.  Providing something as simple yet necessary as a warm coat helps people live better lives.

One Warm Coat helps individuals, groups, and companies collect and deliver coasts to local agencies that distribute them for free.  You can get information for your area by entering your zip code.  In addition to outgrown coats, you can donate sweatshirts, sweaters, gloves, and hats.

So many of us and our kids toss on our fleece sweatshirts or bundle up in our down jackets without giving it much thought.  This season may be a good time to remember that many families have to choose between paying their rent and buying a warm coat for the winter.   Here’s a real opportunity to take the chill out of the air this winter with warm hearts!

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

If you’re like us, the back-to-school time of year involves digging into closets, drawers, and sometimes frightening nooks and crannies to see what we don’t need anymore and what we need to replenish.

While you are de-cluttering your life, you can help out someone else’s through The Giving Effect — a free website which lets you browse among 1,300 charities, find out what items are on their wish lists, and complete a simple form to arrange for pick-up, drop-off, or shipment.  You can explore the site by your zip code, items you’re donating, and even special interests to find causes you’d like to support.  Each cause has a webpage that describes who they help and what they needs.  All donations are tax deductible (unless noted otherwise).

Items can include gently-used clothes, books, shoes, toys, nonperishable food, cleaning supplies, medical equipment, and even boats or cars!

So if you have bought too many 32-ounce cans of artichokes from the discount store or your youngest refuses to wear oldest’s hand-me-downs or your brilliant birthday gadget gift was a “miss” and non-returnable to boot, check out The Giving Effect as a great way to make good use of items you don’t need anymore, have outgrown, or have in excess.

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

(As published in VolunteerSpot, August 20, 2010)

With school just around the corner, we are featuring some inspirational stories and giving back ideas that help those less fortunate get ready for the new school year! 

Get Inspired By: “Share What You Wear”

It’s back-to-school time.  For many, this means the annual ritual of giving away clothes that don’t fit any more and getting some new things for the school year. While you and your kids are going through this process, take a minute to read about two pretty terrific girls:  Zoe Baris and Samantha Zabell from Orange Village, Ohio.  Both are only 18 years old and are cofounders of Share What You Wear (SWYW).  Four years ago, they began hosting a back-to-school, one-day shopping event each August for needy kids of all ages.  They gave away 2,000 items their first event and almost 5,000 last year.

With mentoring by and collaboration with the Cleveland Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), the young ladies now accept donations all year; store clothes, shoes, accessories, and school supplies in their basement; and have drop-off sites at their homes and school.  Zoe and Samantha are headed to college but they plan to start SWYW sites near their universities and hope that kids of all ages are motivated to create their own local chapters.  Something valuable to think about as we pick out new outfits with our kids for the new school year. 

(If you are interested in making a financial donation to SWYW, click here and specify that your gift is for SWYW.  They use monetary contributions to buy new underwear and socks.)

Find or Start a Clothing Drive Near You

Here’s another way to teach your kids not just to think about getting themselves ready for school, but also how to help others do the same. Participate in Family Circle and GoodWill’s back-to-school clothing drive.  Joining this Donate Movement is easy:

• You and your kids clean out the closets and bring unwanted clothes to one of more than 3,500 Goodwill donation centers and stores nationwide from now until September 30.
• Set up your own Back-to-School Clothing Drive at your school, office, or anywhere friends and neighbors gather.

Click donate back-to-school clothing to learn more.

YesKidzCan!, 2010