I was reading another board about Goodwill and how many people feel they overcharge for some items. I agree, but was wondering where else I should donate or if this was the best place?

I have multiple Goodwill's locally, but only one Salvation Army store that is quite out of the way and very few other thrift stores. The Goodwill for me is the closest.

Do you have a preference to where you give your donations?

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-Kristi

I actually give mine to a local thrift store run by the Menonites. It's a nice store and they have handcrafts made in third world countries that they sell to help them. Otherwise I would give it to Goodwill.

There might be churches in your area (or other organizations like schools) that have clothes closets. If there's a food bank they might also accept clothing and other items. One thing I often do is take things to the free box outside the free clinic and put them there.
And if you feel comfortable you can always post them on freecycle or craigslist and meet people at a public place and give it to someone who could use it.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I give mine to a local shelter for abused women. I don't give to Goodwill, because the last time I was donating, an employee was SCREAMING at some handicapped kids working there about how they weren't doing things right.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I donate to a local thrift shop as well. They price their items reasonable, and have a good reputation, so the business is good. If I couldn't find one, I would probably give items away on Craigslist.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

I donate to Medina Children's Home, the Baptist Children's Home, Christian Hope Resource Center and sometimes, Goodwill. When I was at Burlington Coat Factory, I noticed a box where they were collecting coats for the homeless. I saw that promotion on Good Morning America. I need to go back and donate some coats and jackets.

I donate most of my things to Catholic Charities. They don't charge the people anything for the items they need. They also have a thrift store, where they do charge, called Turn Styles. Something most people don't know is that Catholic Charities also will accept magazines. Even though they are out of date for us, people still like to look at and enjoy them. I was donating to a place called Through Our Children's Eyes, for battered women, but the people working there keep all the nice things for themselves and I suspect they then resale them for their own profit. I guess that can happen anywhere. I one time put a notice on Craigs list and said it would be on the curb first come first serve and it didn't take long to be gone but I didn't have to meet with anyone that way.

I used to buy new/gently used paperback books to send to the troops at the Salvation Army store near my workplace. They always charged tax on the books. One time the women didn't. I thought it was odd, but then realized that she didn't ring up the purchase and hence no tax. Then she put my money in her pocket. Stealing from the Salvation Army..wth? I think it's far more likely to happen at places like these where there is no notion of inventory, or any loss prevention department, etc.

In any event, I stopped donating and buying there. I now schedule a pick-up date when Big Brother - Big Sister will be in my neighborhood. I just have to box/bag the stuff and put it out on my front porch. Much simpler. Yeah, there's probably donation theft there too, but I don't have to see it.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

We donate to the Vietnam Veterans of America. About every 6 weeks to 2 months they mail a pink bag with a pickup date. You fill it and set it out if you have anything and they come pick it up and leave a receipt.

You can always tell Veterans day because a bunch of the houses have pink bags sitting out front. Very easy because you don't have to take it to them, they come pick it up.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

I give mainly to ARC and the thrift store run for a local animal rescue.
I also buy used towels, blankets and comforters when the hotels on the river are renewing their rooms. These I donate to several local animal shelters and rescues.
I try to help places that help the local community.

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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

We donate directly to families in need if we can. We give our clothes to people with kids who can use them and I have put *feelers* out to my friends & family on Facebook if we have other items that we are wanting to give to someone in need. If it's a bunch of stuff we don't have time to sort through, my dad will run it all down to the Goodwill. I don't like to take it there as they resell it at high prices but it's better than keeping it at my house. We also have a shelter we can donate to and some schools will take some kids clothes (for when they have accidents or get wet, etc)

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

When I have stuff to donate I give to the first place that calls me. It is usually Amvets. They seem to call every other week so I never have to wait too long.

Local Food Bank
Home for Unwed mothers (I didn't think those existed anymore, but we actually have on here!)
Local shelter for abused women.

Arkansas Childrens Hospital.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

We think alike on alot of things! I do the very same thing. They don't mail a bag to me though...We just bag it up in trash bags, set by the garage door, and they pick it up. They'll leave a receipt on the door. You can call and schedule a pickup using their automated system or go online and do it. It's so much easier than carting everything off in your car. I know that it goes to local thrift stores Bargain City and Value Village because I've seen the stuff I've given away in there. Here's the link if anyone is interested... ~Lisa

Free Clothing Donation Pick Up - Donate Clothes & Household Items

It depends on what the stuff is.

Things such as household items and clothes go to the local battered womens shelter.

Odds and ends of stuff that really wouldn't be of a help to getting a household started or stuff such as holiday decorations that would need to be stored for a long time before they are used go to the Salvation Army. I pick Sally only because there is a big one right across the road from where I work so it's not out of my way.

I really don't care what prices are charged by Sal Arm/Goodwill/etc. I figure the purpose of those thrift stores isn't so much to provide goods to the poor as it is to provide employment/experience/stability/etc. to the people that work there. Many times the people who work at Sally or Goodwill are handicapped/recovering addicts/homeless/etc, that may not be able to find employment elsewhere. Yes, it would be nice if everything in the store was very cheap but then there probably wouldn't be enough income to support the workers so the prices on some things are higher to help raise money.

Honestly, I find the prices at the local Sally and Goodwill to be quite reasonable.

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Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons!