Not everyone has the extra cash lying around to donate to the charity of their choice, no matter how much they may want to help. If you’re in this position, know that you aren’t alone and that your desire to help is commendable. Thankfully, money isn’t the only thing you can give to help someone in need. We’ll take you through what you can donate to charity other than money. You don’t need to be rich to make a difference.
Clothing
You’re probably familiar with the idea of donating your old clothing, but it really does make a big difference. Clothing can be exorbitantly expensive, especially when you want something that will last longer than a few months. As long as the clothing is in decent condition, places like the Purple Heart Pickup will take them off your hands right from your front door. It’s a good way to get rid of clothes you no longer want without letting them go to waste.
Hygiene Products
Many things we use to keep ourselves clean and healthy can be cost-prohibitive to people having financial troubles. Donations of hygiene products can help many people, and you don’t have to break the bank in the process. Many hygiene products go on sale for multiples. When you can pick up a few extra for the same price, donate the extras! Consider donating some of these products, unopened, to your local shelter:
- Dental care products (toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss)
- Deodorant
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Soap and body wash
- Menstrual health products
Furniture
Of everything you can donate to charity besides money, why would you want to donate furniture? While having access to cheap furniture is nice, you can actually turn that old furniture into money. A number of charities will take in items like old furniture or clothing and sell them for you to secondhand or thrift stores. Then, they put the money they get from the furniture right into the pockets of charities in need.
Your Time
If you simply can’t give any sort of tangible thing, you can always volunteer your time. Helping out a charity by becoming a volunteer is another great way to give without needing to spend money. Charities like shelters and food banks are almost always looking for people to assist in delivering aid to those who need it. You’ll feel good about helping out, and the charity will get more work done. It’s a win-win situation.
