Ohio Valley Goodwill Makes Downsizing Easy!

Downsizing can be a difficult task. Whether you’re moving from your longtime home or helping an older loved one relocate to a retirement community, the process of sorting through decades of accumulated ” stuff” is time-consuming and emotionally draining. Luckily, Ohio Valley Goodwill makes it simple to declutter your home of unneeded items with our convenient donation centers. If you are downsizing your home or the home of an older loved one, use these tips to make the process a little easier:

Tackle one room at a time

Depending on the size of the home, it can take months to downsize. One way to approach the downsizing process is by tackling it one room at a time. Choose a room or area to start, then schedule days to work on the other parts of the home. This way, you’ll give yourself plenty of time to organize and clean each room without becoming overwhelmed or discouraged.

Donations box

Decide what to keep, toss, and donate

Perhaps the most time-consuming aspect of downsizing is sorting through belongings and deciding what should stay and what should go. Start by dividing items into piles to keep, toss, or donate. Determine what you (or your loved one) will really need upon moving to the new space. If you’re unsure about whether or not to keep an item, ask yourself these questions:

How often do I use or wear this item?

Will I regret parting with it?

Do I love it? Do I need it?

How many items do I have that are similar to this one?

Does it make life easier, or does it just contribute to clutter?

Would someone else use this more than I do?

Anything that you no longer use, want, or need should be placed into the ” donate” pile. Try to avoid throwing away reusable items unless they are broken or unsalvageable.

Drop off donations at Goodwill

Once you’ve gathered up the clothing and household goods you want to donate, all you have to do is load them up in your car and drive to your nearest Ohio Valley Goodwill donation location. We’ll handle the rest! While Ohio Valley Goodwill gladly accepts most donations of new and gently used items, it’s always a good idea to check out our donation guidelines to verify what we can and cannot accept before donating.

Once collected, your donations will be sorted and sold in our network of retail stores, outlet stores, or online at shopgoodwill.com. When items go unsold in our stores, Goodwill works with local recycling partners to help keep reusable materials such as metals, plastics, paper and glass out of our local landfills.

Goodwill’s Cycle of Success

Make a difference!

Your donations are important to us for so many reasons. First, the donated items we sell in our stores give community members the opportunity to purchase quality goods at affordable prices. But the positive impact of your donation doesn’t end there! The money raised from the sale of donated goods in our stores stays local, helping to support Ohio Valley Goodwill’s job training and employment services for individuals with disabilities, veterans, and others facing barriers to employment. We work hard to maximize the value of your donations to provide life-changing programs for community members in need of work. By donating to Ohio Valley Goodwill, you’re not only decluttering your home, but you’re also becoming a job creator! Learn more about the impact of Ohio Valley Goodwill’s vocational programs by reading some of our latest Success Stories.

As you approach the task of downsizing, we encourage you to make Ohio Valley Goodwill your go-to destination to donate new or gently used clothing or household goods. You can feel great about decluttering while giving back to a meaningful cause! View our donation directory to find the nearest location to donate your items. As always, thank you for your donation support!