daveybot's photo of a BIG chair
Big furniture, small car. We really didn't set out to do The Spring Cure. But this past weekend we suddenly found ourselves in the midst of some Curing of our own. It ended up with our deciding to move out a dresser and chair that weren't working for us. And just when we were getting frustrated by the number of potential Craigslist buyers flaking out, and trying to figure out how we were going to get the pieces to the thrift store since they wouldn't fit in our car, buyers actually showed up and took them away. If they hadn't, we would have tried out The Salvation Army's donation website.
It's so easy. Just fill in an online form with information about the items you have to donate, your address and phone number, and when you'd like them picked up. Although they can't guarantee an exact time of pickup, our friend who's used it twice says that both times the goods were gone by the time she got home from work. Receipts are left at the residence, and are also available online.
The website is here.
Image: daveybot
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Comments (14)
I filled the online form yesterday and the Salvation Army came by this afternoon to pick my old furniture up. Easy as pie!
I would never donate to the Salvation Army, because of their blatant (and in some areas of the world, illegal) discrimination against their gay and lesbian employees and clients. In Canada, they've even been struck from the United Way's list of member agencies. There's many other better local agencies in my city and (I'm sure) any other major city.
I purposely kept reading to the comments to see what would be wrong with the Salvation Army...because i knew there would be something.
I have heard there is sometimes a minimum quantity of stuff for pickups...not sure if that's everywhere or in certain areas.
I, too, have heard of their horrible Gay and Lesbian descrimination. I have also heard that they resell donated goods to the communities they claim to help for a profit. These funds are then used for missionary work to convert the same poor people who bought the used clothing and housewares.
Housing Works is always my top choice (in NYC).
I guess with the Salvation Army, it's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
And Kuri and j-girl right. I don't donate to the Salvation Army either for the very same reason. It's basically a church with a military-style hierarchy, of which gays and lesbians cannot be a part. I think most people equate them with the Red Cross or something--and just donate to them without question.
the words "Salvation" and "Army" together sounds like "Crusaders" to me.
Thanks, Kuri, j-girl, Michael W. Good to know!
A great bay area alternative is the White Elephant Sale, benefiting the Oakland Museum of California. You can also schedule a time for them to come pick up your donations.
The sale itself was covered on AT a while ago.
http://www.whiteelephantsale.org/donations.html
It's good to hear your Craiglist "buyers" are flaky, too. I was beginning to think it was just me.
I'm sure you're not flaky, patrick!
In San Francisco, Community Thrift on Valencia and 17th is a good place to donate. Although they don't do curbside pickups (you have to bring your stuff to them), you can choose from a long list of organizations to decide where the profits from the sale of your donated items will go. I always donate to the Breast Cancer Research Center, but there are many others to choose from. The drop-off dock is on Sycamore, the alley between 17th and 18th and they are open 7 days a week.
Ha ha, Michael W... I KNEW that structure was begging for a remark!!!
More resources - check it out
http://www.theclutterwizard.com/donating.htm