Donating Unwanted Items During A Move

During the process of a move, you often find yourself faced with a lot of unwanted items. Like an old box TV that no one uses anymore, an outdated dresser that doesn’t match your new home, children’s books you haven’t read in years, and even the clothes that haven’t been touched in a while. You can try your best to get rid of these items by selling them online, estate sales, and handing them down to other family members, but what should you do with the items you can’t get rid of?

Throw them to side of the road? Drop them off at the dump? The best solution is to donate your unwanted items. Not only will you save money on your taxes, but your move will end up being cheaper since you have less items to move, you’re less likely to have clutter in your new home, and you are helping thousands of people who will reuse and recycle your unwanted items. Below is a list of places in the Chicago-land area who specialize in taking in a wide variety of items from old electronics to the canned goods in your pantry. 

  • St Vincent 

    • https://stvincentdepaulchicago.org/
    • An international non-profit organization dedicated to serving the poor and providing others with the opportunity to serve 
    • There are over 20 different donations drop off locations in the Chicago-Land area

  • Habitat for Humanity   

    • https://www.habitat.org/ 
    • Global nonprofit housing organization that works with local communities across the US 
    • Multiple different locations available for drop offs; there is also an option for pick up

  • Sharing Connections

    • https://www.sharingconnections.org/mission-financials.html
    • Collects gently used furniture and household items and works with other partner organizations like domestic violence shelters, housing organizations, foot pantries, and schools. 
    • Items can be donated at 5111 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515. Or call 630-971-0565 x300 to schedule a pick up.

  • Sabra Books

    • https://sabrabooks.com/
    • Collects unwanted books and donates the ones they do not use to local nonprofits. They also donate 8% of their proceeds to Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry 
    • Located in Naperville, IL. To schedule a drop off, visit their website. 

  • Salvation Army 

    • https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/ 
    • Collects and donates unwanted items. Uses proceeds to fund a variety of places like adult rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters, disaster relief centers, and LGBTQ support systems. 
    • Visit their website for more details and how to schedule either a pick up or drop off. 

  • Human-I-T

    • https://www.human-i-t.org/
    • Organization that repairs donated technology and repurposes to help people in need. 
    • Visit their website and fill out a form to schedule a pickup of your donation

  • Move for Hunger

    • https://moveforhunger.org/ 
    • A non-profit organization that uses sustainable ways to reduce food waste and fight hunger. Over the past few years, Boerman Moving & Storage has partnered with Move for Hunger by encouraging people who are in the process of moving to donate their non-perishable food items. During these moves, Boerman boxes up the non-perishable items that the customer does not want to take and donates them to local food pantries, like the West Suburban Community Pantry located in Woodridge, IL. Donating your non-perishable items will ultimately make your move cheaper since you will have less items to move! 

 

Giving back is so important.

Giving back to the community is so important right now because we are all trying to persevere through this pandemic together. There are plenty of ways to show our appreciation to the community from donating your unwanted items during your move, thanking our essential workers, paying for the person’s coffee behind us in the drive thru, to just being kind to one another. Everyone is experiencing hardships and loss but coming together as one and helping each other out is what is going to help us stay strong.