Editor’s Note: We first ran this article in 2011, but continue to revise it each year, so it is current for 2014. We also have an article that details where to recycle, and several devoted to consignment.
We can also tell you where to donate all those stuffed animals that your kiddos are finished loving. Happy purging!
By Rachael McMillan
Got extra Stuff? We can tell you who will take it in Champaign-Urbana! Photo Credit: morgueFile.
New Year’s Resolution or not, getting rid of clutter seems to be a popular goal lately.
What I love about donating stuff we never use is that it is one of those rare win-win-win-win opportunities.
Win #1: After a good decluttering, our house has less junk spilling out from everywhere.
Win #2: By donating our goods, a worthy non-profit organization benefits — many of them local to Champaign-Urbana.
Win #3: Someone who can’t afford to purchase brand new items–or, someone who prefers to reuse–can shop the donations.
Win #4: The environment has less waste floating around in it when donated items are purchased vs. discarded.
Win #5: Making donations can result in a tax deduction. Be sure to get a receipt (but not all places/events will give them, so ask before you donate).
Of course, getting rid of excess stuff can also be an opportunity to make a few bucks. But, that’s an article foranother day.
The following lists can help you figure out what to do with your excess. Whether you’re looking to donate right now, don’t mind waiting a little bit longer, or have a very specific donation item, this information can hopefully point you in the right direction.
Get Rid Of It NOW
The following organizations are always ready to accept clothes, toys, household items, and more. Clicking on the links will lead to more information about hours, drop-off locations, and individual store policies regarding what they will/won’t accept.
Consider the condition of your clothing items when donating. Some organizations (Goodwill and the Salvation Army are known nationally for the practice) will accept worn and stained garments, which they sell to a clothing recycler (who knew? thanks commenters!). Mark such donations with recycling, and separate them from other goods that may be resold.
Also, if you want an item to be re-used but aren’t sure where to donate or recycle it, check out the The I.D.E.A. Store in Champaign. It accepts items that are safe to reuse in art projects, and the list of what they’ll take is fairly large. It includes scraps of fabric, mismatched game pieces–even pop tabs and bottle caps. All are welcome to peruse their collection of art supplies, and proceeds benefit the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation.
Direct Service Agencies:
Crisis Nursery 1309 W. Hill St., Urbana: baby/child clothing, baby/childcare items, office supplies, kids’ snacks, misc. items. Be sure to check out the link if you’d like to donate to them, as their needs are very specific. They prefer new items or items in excellent condition.
Empty Tomb 301 North Fourth St., Champaign: in-season clothing, household items, furniture. If you live in Champaign, Urbana, or Savoy, call 356-2262 to arrange pick-up of furniture donations.
Restoration Urban Ministries 1213 Parkland Ct., Champaign: in-season clothing, furniture, appliances, and household goods. Call 355-2662 for drop-off hours and information.
Salt & Light Ministry 1512 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign: like-new condition clothes, furniture, and household items. This organization also accepts food donations, as does the Eastern Illinois Foodbank.
Thrift Stores That Benefit Direct Service Agencies:
Goodwill 912 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign: clothing, accessories, some furniture, household items, books, cds. Ever wonder who Goodwill benefits? Read about it here. There are also two new convenient Goodwill drop offs, one in Urbana (at the LaBelle Boutique at 114 N. Vine) and one in Savoy (111 Calvin St.).
ReStore 119 E. University Ave, Champaign: furniture, appliances, building materials, household items, books, some accessories. They offer pick-up services (call 355-6460). Benefits Habitat for Humanity
Salvation Army 2212 N. Market St. and 109 W. John, Champaign: clothes, accessories, some furniture/household items, books, toys. Both locations accept donations. Call 373-7825 to arrange for pick up of furniture donations.
Transitions Located inside Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana: adult and children’s clothing, accessories, and toys. Proceeds benefit the Center for Women in Transition.
Twice is Nice 607 W. Elm, Urbana: clothing, household items, small appliances, books, cds, toys, accessories. This is a program of the First Presbyterian Church in Urbana; the website has more information about who benefits when you donate/shop there.
Carle Carle Auxiliary Resale Boutique Corner of Lincoln and University in Urbana. Accepts clothing and shoes in good, clean condition, household items, home décor, books, DVD’s and CD’s, small working electrical items, jewelry, linens, holiday items, antiques, games and puzzles. Funds the Carle Auxiliary Guest House, student scholarships, baby shirts for newborns, Professional Excellence Awards to Carle nurses and other philanthropic projects.
Community Green. According to our readers: “Community Green out on Main St in Urbana. One of the great things about them is they are open Sunday afternoons when pretty much no one else is–great for dropping off after a weekend of sorting.” We could not find anything when we searched for Community Green, but when we do, we will update this post.
When You Don’t Mind Waiting A Bit Longer
The following organizations take donations later in the year to supply their annual rummage sale-style fundraisers. If you see one you would like to support, you may wish to hang onto your items until it’s ready to take them (click on the links to learn more and/or for contact information).
One benefit to going this route is that it allows you to clear clutter at your own pace. My husband and I like to keep a box in the garage for storing things we no longer have use for as we come across them throughout the year. We move a lot of junk this way, and are always ready to support our favorite annual fundraiser when it comes along.
NOTE: The information in the links tends to be about past years’ events; contact each organization for information about the 2014 sale.
Humane Society Garage Sale Sale is on Memorial Day weekend, drop-off occurs the week before. You may also want to consider donating your time to this event when it comes around. Not only do volunteers help out a great cause, they also get first pick of the cool stuff for sale.
St. Patrick Church, Urbana The Cellar to Garret Sale (late summer). Note: This is my church’s garage sale, and it’s awesome. Keep in mind, though, that your place of worship may also hold such an annual event. (Know of one? Add a comment!)
Community Center for the Arts Ginormous Garage Sale. C4A’s Annual Garage Sale usually takes place on a Friday and Saturday, in February. C4A takes gently used and once-loved but now forlorn stuff: clothes, jewelry, furniture, books, games, toys, bikes, DVD’s, household goods, kitchen appliances, sports gear, music gear, camping gear, transmission gears, and more – all tax deductible!
YMCA Dump and Run Sale Drop-off of items occurs at the end of U of I’s spring semester. The main concept behind this fundraiser is to collect items students would otherwise dispose of (read: abandon) during the spring move-out and sell it to the incoming crop of young academics in the fall. Genius.
Vintage Vinyl Sale by WILL. Will be a sale this May, it appears via Facebook. The sale includes vintage audio equipment, records, CDs, video games and DVDs and is fueled by donation of those items. This is a fundraiser benefiting Illinois Radio Reader, which provides services for the visually impaired in Central Illinois.
Judah Christian School. According to our readers, Judah Christian School is having a dollar clothing sale to raise money for students to go on a mission trip to Puerto Rico. Donations can be made starting February 3, 2014.
Donating Very Specific Stuff
If you’re flush with books to donate, consider benefiting local libraries including Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet, and Tolono. Each has its own rules on how, what, and when to donate. Depending on the library, your donation might end up in the general collection, but more likely it will end up in a book sale. Some libraries also accept media including DVDs, CDs, and video games.
You can also donate books to the Books 2 Prisoners program; it has various drop-off locations around town.
If you have an old bike, even if it needs some repair, consider donating it to The Bike Project of Champaign-Urbana. They sell restored bikes at reasonable prices, and advocate for a bike-friendly community.
If you have a prom or semi-formal dress that you would like to donate, consider giving it to the Perfect Prom Project, a student organization at the University of Illinois. The mission of the Perfect Prom Project is, “through collaboration with campus and community members, to provide high school girls in and around Central Illinois with free prom dresses and accessories.” Donations can be dropped off at the Illini Union.
If you need to unload some old eyeglasses, take them to one of the drop box locations provided by the Champaign Lions Club. They recycle used specs and donate them–along with a free exam–to people in need.
Am I missing anything? Add a comment!
Rachael McMillan is a former high school teacher, social worker, cake decorator, and just about any other profession you can think of do-er. In addition to writing, tutoring, and giving talks about fair trade, she is currently staying home with the highly entertaining Jack and Kate.
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