Where to Donate Gently Used Items After Decluttering

Sure, you could drop off your old clothing at a thrift store, but we have another idea: sort out your business clothes and donate them to Dress for Success, a nonprofit that provides professional attire to low-income women. Your favorite blazer or pleated skirt will help someone else nail their next job interview.

Instead of feeling guilty about those never-been-worn shoes in the back of your closet, give them to Soles4Souls, a nonprofit based in Nashville. They distribute shoes to communities all around the world and even sort their donations by season, so your sandals will go to someone in a warm climate and boots to someone who lives in a colder region.

While there's nothing wrong with holding on to your wedding gown, we love the idea of gifting that special garment to someone else. To make a difference, you can donate your wedding dress to Brides Across America, where it will be given to a military or first responder bride for free. Alternatively, you can send it to The Brides Project, where it will help raise funds for families impacted by cancer. And if you have a piece of formal wear? Reach out to Operation Prom.

If you've recently changed prescriptions or started wearing contacts, you could pass your old eyeglasses onto someone who needs them. Look for a Lions Club International recycling center in your town or mail your pair to the group's headquarters. From there, volunteers will clean and repair the lenses before distributing them to someone who otherwise couldn't afford them.