It’s the season for reselling unwanted gifts and rearranging our homes to accommodate new stuff. Out with the old and in with the new. Before you profit or purge, consider that there are others who will find value in the things you don’t want.
If you believe you don’t have anything to give, think again. There are many charities that will put your unwanted belongings to good use. Here are a few that accept common items.
UNWANTED SHOES: If you have shoes taking up space in your closet, I encourage you to donate them to Soles4souls.com . It provides shoes to people who need them desperately.
UNWANTED SKIRTS, BLAZERS, BLOUSES: Dress for Success.org provides professional apparel to disadvantaged women to help them dress for job interviews. It provides a professional wardrobe, too, for women who find jobs. It is particularly in need of large-sized professional attire.
GENTLY USED STUFFED ANIMALS: If you’re looking for a way to introduce your children to donating, SAFE is a wonderful place to consider. It’ll accept your gently used stuffed animals, then clean and repair them and distribute them to children in need.
HAIR: If you have long hair and are considering a shorter haircut, please donate your hair to Locks of Love. Your donation is used to make hairpieces for disadvantaged children experiencing medical hair loss. Simply place your hair in a ponytail or braid when having it cut, and mail it to Locks of Love, 2925 10th Ave. N, Suite 102, Lake Worth, FL 33461-3099. Colored and permed hair is accepted, but bleached hair is not. Hair should be at least 10 inches long and packaged in a plastic zipper-type bag, then in a padded envelope that includes a slip of paper with your name and address. Call (561) 963-1677 if you have questions.
COATS: While some charities accept only new coats, One Warm Coat accepts gently used coats. Visit the Web site to locate a coat drive near you or start one yourself.
USED GLASSES: Help people in developing nations improve their vision by donating your used glasses to Lions Club. Children’s glasses are particularly needed. You can locate collection boxes in your community or mail to Lions Clubs International, Attention: Receiving Department, 300 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523.
CRAFT, SCHOOL AND OFFICE SUPPLIES: If you have craft items (yarn, paper-towel tubes, ribbon, knitting needles or buttons) or office supplies (pens, pencils, rubber bands, used calendars or CD jewel cases), they can be donated to SCRAP, which creatively reuses these materials through various art workshops; the organization also resells the materials through its store for educational and creative use. While SCRAP serves the Portland, Ore., area, it has a list on its Web site to help you find similar organizations near you.
SEWING MACHINES OR COMPUTERS: If you have these items collecting dust, consider giving them to the Filipino’s Children Fund. Donations are shipped to schools and organizations to help needy people. A simple sewing machine can be a way for a disadvantaged person to earn a living. For more information, contact Ross Inciong at ross@fcfinc.org.
GARDEN SEEDS: WinterSown accepts donations of seeds. The seeds are used to help further its winter-seed-sowing educational efforts. Seeds are given in bulk to worthy organizations and also provided for only the cost of postage to interested individuals. WinterSown will accept saved seeds as well as packaged seeds.
FREE SAMPLES: If you have personal-grooming samples or trial-sized items stacking up, they can be sent to our soldiers. Visit Any Soldier to find a soldier. Of course, they can use much more, but these individual-sized items can be useful.
译文:
你可以帮上忙得十个地方
现在正是转售掉自己不想要的礼物，重新整理我们的屋子来安置新东西的时期。旧的不去新的不来。在你清理不想要的东西或有所赢利的之前，试着想想有其他的人将在你不想要的东西中发现价值。
如果你相信你没有任何可以给与的东西，请再三考虑。有很多慈善机构可以把你抛弃的东西用于好的用途。下面就是一些他们经常接受的物品。
不想要的鞋子：如果你有鞋子只是摆在你的衣橱中占用空间，我鼓励你把它们捐给Soles4souls.com。这个网站可把你的鞋子提供给那些迫切需要鞋子的人。
不需要的短裙，上衣，衬衣：网站Dress for Success.org为那些经济上不占优势的女性提供参加工作面试的职业女装也为工作的女性提供专业衣柜。大号的职业装是特别稀缺的。
保存较好的二手动物标本：如果你正在寻找一种方式让你的孩子接触到慈善捐助，网站SAFE是你应该考虑的好地方。它会接受保存较好的二手动物标本，然后进行清洁修理并把它们捐给那些需要它们的孩子手中。
头发：如果你一头长发，但正考虑留个短点的发型，那就请把你的头发捐给网站Locks of Love。你的捐赠将被用来为那些身体条件不好，因为药物治疗脱发的儿童制作假发。只要简单地把头发扎成辫子剪掉，并把它们邮寄到Locks of Love，地址是：292510th Ave. N, Suite 102, Lake Worth, FL 33461-3099。染过的和烫过的头发也被接受，但漂染的头发不包括在内。捐来的头发至少要10英尺长，包装在带拉链的塑料袋中，再放入一个信封，附上一张写有你名字和地址的纸片。如果有问题请拨打(561) 963-1677。
大衣：当一些慈善机构只接受新的外衣，一个叫Warm Coat的网站却接纳保护较好的二手外衣。浏览这个网站找一个在你家附近的租衣店或自己开一家。
二手眼镜：将你用过的眼镜捐给Lions Club来帮助发展中国家的人改善他们的视力。儿童的眼镜尤其需要。你可以在你住的社区中找到捐赠箱或者把眼镜邮寄到Lions Clubs International，注意：收件部门，300 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523。
手工艺品，学具或办公室用品：如果你有手工艺品（纱制品，丝带，针或钮扣）或办公室用品（钢笔，铅笔，橡胶圈，用过的计算器或CD和首饰盒）可以捐给SCRAP，这个网站创造性地把这些材料送到艺术品创作室加以重新利用。SCRAP为荷兰地区提供服务，在它的网站上有一个清单，在这个清单上你可以找到离你较近的类似组织。
缝纫机或电脑： 如果你有东西只是放在那儿落灰，那就考虑把它们捐给Filipino’s儿童基金吧。捐赠的物品会被送往学校和组织去帮助需要的人。一个简单的缝纫机可以成为一个经济上有困难的人谋生的一种方式。若要更多的信息，请联系Ross Inciong at
ross@fcfinc.org。
园艺种子：WinterSown接受种子的捐赠。这些种子被用来深化冬天播种得教育意义。种子被大量送给相关组织，也向有关个人支付邮资。WinterSown收取用瓶子和袋装保存得种子。
免费样本：如果你有个人梳妆用品或试用品己经堆得很高，你可以把它们送给士兵。访问Any Soldier你就可以找到这样一个士兵。当然，士兵们可能要用到更多得东西，但这些私人用品却已非常有用了。