Giving to Charities

There are many different ways to donate to your favorite charity besides just writing out a check or dropping change into a donation jar. Although charities will never turn away money, they also need more items than just money. You may have some of these items sitting in your home unused that the charity could need.

Charities like animal shelters, homeless shelters and the Salvation Army often need old clothes, towels, bedding baby toys and baby formula that has not expired. These items are given out to the homeless or made to help a barred cage a little more inviting for a pet that has to live in a shelter. Baby formula not only helps out homeless babies, but also can be modified for orphaned pet babies.

Contact your local charity or check out its website to see if they have a list of items that they need. For example, some charities need computers, fax machines and mobile phones, no matter how old. They will always need to communicate as quickly as possible with members and volunteers and may not have the money to get the latest technology.

You are not limited to just scouring your closets for these items. You could start a collection drive for items like old blankets or old mobile phones in your office, neighborhood or house of worship. People often do want to help out charities but do not have the financial means to do so. Starting a non-monetary charity drive may help you see the generosity inherent in your community.