ONE MAN'S TRASH...
ILLUSTRATION/CATHERINE COQUILLETTE
Moving out? Don't throw unwanted items away — donate them to a charitable organization.
by Courtney Hagen
Right about now Jennifer Farwell is wading through a mountain of old clothes, furniture and books. Farwell, Leavenworth senior, is graduating next week and moving out of the place she's called home for the past few years. She's heading off to the Peace Corps and she has a lot of stuff to get rid of.
Instead of selling her old items on eBay to make some fast cash or dumping them in the trash, Farwell is considering donating to the Goodwill, 2200 W. 31st St., and the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. She's donated before and likes knowing her stuff is going to be enjoyed by someone else.
"The benefits of donating are that someone will be able to get use out of something that you don't need anymore," Farwell says. "It's nice to give other people stuff you know they'll use and it feels kind of good to shed all the old stuff."
As you're leaving town, join Farwell in donating your old
stuff. From books and shoes to business suits and nearly every item in an apartment or dorm, local and national organizations accept donations to redistribute to those who need them. The following organizations represent just a few ways to make the most of the move out.
Soles 4 Souls
Soles 4 Souls began in 2004 as a relief effort for victims of the Asian tsunami. Wayne Elsey, the organization's founder, was watching CNN and saw a single shoe float by during coverage of the disaster. Elsey worked in the footwear industry and quickly rallied friends, coworkers and even competitors to send hundreds of thousands of pairs of shoes overseas to help, says Chris Carmichael, communications director for Soles 4 Souls.
More than a year later, the organization regrouped to send about 750,000 pairs of shoes to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Since then, Soles 4 Souls has been operating out of two warehouses to collect shoes to send to places in need all over the world. In the past three years, the organization has redistributed more than 2.5 million pairs of shoes.
Soles 4 Souls takes any pair of wearable shoes with no split seams or holes.
"Basically, we'll take them if you'd still wear them," Carmichael says. "For individual donations, the shoes almost always stay in the United States. Some people think that one pair of shoes won't make a difference, but it does because it will mean something to one person."
For more information, visit www.soles4souls.com or send donations to:
Soles4Souls Inc.
315 Airport Road
Roanoke, AL 36274
Books For Africa
For almost two decades, Books For Africa has distributed much needed books and educational supplies to
impoverished regions in Africa. Last year alone the organization shipped more than two million books, says Kristin Kane, a program associate at Books For Africa. The books go to underfunded libraries or community centers that don't have any books.
"These books greatly impact the community because they put materials in hands of children who don't have any," Kane says. "They promote literacy, education and leadership, and give these communities better opportunities in life."
Books For Africa takes individualdonations—including old textbooks — but requires that all books be less than 20 years old and not written only for American readers. Donations and shipping costs are tax deductible.
For more information, visit www.booksforafrica.org or send books to:
Books For Africa Warehouse
715 Minnehaha Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55106
Dress For Success
Dress for Success Since 1997, Dress For Success has worked to promote financial independence and professional stability for women. The organization provides business attire and accessories for disadvantaged women to wear to job interviews and build a professional wardrobe. Dress For Success also helps with career development once women begin working.
"It has a really big impact on women of all ages and backgrounds," says Suzanne Armstrong, a spokeswoman for the organization. "We don't try and just help women get back in the work force. We try to help them get on track and gain their independence."
Dress For Success accepts individual donations such as suits, blouses, shoes, handbags and other accessories. The organization has an affiliate in Wichita and more information can be found on their Web site at www.dressforsuccess.org.
They suggest calling ahead to see what items are most needed, but donations can be sent to the Wichita affiliate at:
Dress For Success Wichita
1422 High St.
Wichita, KS 67203
Goodwill
Goodwill Industries takes donations of nearly any kind, excluding some bedding, large appliances and stained clothing.
The organization is one of the world's largest non-profit providers of education and materials to people in need. Goodwill has stores across the United States to carry on their purpose.
Lisa Doherty, an employee at the Lawrence Goodwill, says she notices a rush of donated items around the end of the school year. The store is open for donations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, visit www.goodwill.org.
05. 10.2007 JAYPLAY <07