Before you begin boxing up the items you'd like to donate, consider what lies before you. Do you have a wide variety and lots of items to give away? Or do you have a lot of one type of item?

For the wide variety you may want to think about donating to one of the larger charities who take and use just about everything. These are places like Community Aid (www.communityaide.org) and Salvation Army. This will save you from making multiple donation stops around the county.

If you want to donate a large volume of one type of item, then you'll need to locate a charity that focuses on that item. For example, you could donate books to your local library, as discussed in our June 28 blog, or craft supplies to Lancaster Creative Reuse (www.lancastercreativereuse.org) or Art of Recycle (www.artofrecycle.org). By donating to these specialized centers you can be sure your items are reaching their intended recipients who will appreciate them as you do.

As you look at your donation pile also consider the charities that best suit your passions. Are you a pet lover? Old blankets and towels that may not be resold can be donated to animal shelters like the Humane League (www.humaneleague.com). Love working with tools? Habitat for Humanity Restore will accept tools for home and garden.

Find a way to give back to your community and feel good about making a difference in your life too.

Beyond The Fork In The Road supplies our clients with a booklet “Too Much Stuff: The Dilemma of Downsizing” which highlights donation centers, offers contact information and a table that shows you the variety of locations that will accept each type of donation. Contact us today at 717-335-8482 for a consultation.