What they want & what they don’t want
We all want to repurpose items we no longer need or want; and there are numerous organizations that are happy to receive them. However, there are some items, no matter how sad it may seem, that just need to be trashed. Hopefully the guidelines below will help!
Better Homes & Gardens interviewed Alyssa Grigg, senior director of marketing and communications at Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington. Here’s a summary of what she had to say.
The 3 Items Thrift Stores Always Welcome
1. Quality Housewares
A donation that thrift stores are always happy to receive is quality housewares. “A recent favorite has been crockpots,” Grigg shares. Other items to consider donating are quality cookware, small countertop appliances in good working condition, or dishware. When donating housewares, make sure they are clean, all parts are included, and the items are in good working condition—especially if they are electric.
2. In-Season Items
People shop at thrift stores the same way they shop at other stores—seasonally. This means that the list of things thrift stores want you to donate changes based on the season.
“We see the same shifts in demand like any other retailer,” Grigg says. In the fall, Grigg says donations of warm layers, boots, and cozy home goods are always appreciated. Then, as the holidays approach, festive home decor, gift-worthy items, and kitchenware all sell out quickly.
“If you’re doing a closet purge, think about what’s relevant now—your donation will go further and do more good,” Grigg shares.
3. Collectibles and Limited-Edition Items
Thrift stores have become a popular source for people hunting for treasures for their homes. Whether it’s original artwork, a beautiful piece of pottery, or a hard-to-find collectible item, you never know what you might come across at a thrift store, given the ever-changing inventory. Grigg says collectibles and limited edition items are always welcome donations for thrift stores. Shoppers often search thrift stores for valuable and rare items at good prices, so these donations are guaranteed to sell quickly.
What Thrift Stores Don’t Want You to Donate
“We’re incredibly grateful for every donation which fuels our non-profit mission, but we do see a lot of items that unfortunately can’t be resold—things like broken furniture, food, household chemicals, or beauty products,” Grigg shares. She explains that these items often end up costing the thrift store in disposal fees that, in the case of Goodwill, take away from the resources the store can invest in its mission.
“A good rule of thumb is: Would you buy it yourself? If the answer is yes, it’s probably a great donation,” Grigg says.
In Summary:
- Thrift stores welcome seasonal clothing, nice household items, and limited-edition or collectible items.
- Check with a thrift store to see what items they accept before dropping off your donations.
- If you are unsure, ask for a list of items they don’t accept because the store cannot resell them.
Lorie Kroeger
https://www.grassmuckrealty.com/
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