Movers with donation boxes

Moving to a new home is a great opportunity to declutter. And one man’s junk is another’s treasure. If there’s one business that knows this well—it’s thrift stores. The thrift shop business model relies on donations of gently used clothing and home goods to make money. Many of the most successful thrift shops operate to serve a charitable need. Some directly provide goods to families living in poverty while others use the thrift stores to fund bigger causes like therapy programs for addicts and homelessness to target the root causes of poverty.

If you’re looking for somewhere to donate your stuff, here are some recommendations from some experienced Orange County long-distance movers.

The Salvation Army

The same charity that rings bells outside of retail stores during the holidays also operates a chain of thrift stores that operate on donated goods. The organization was founded in 1852 by a pastor who chose to abandon the traditional church and take his ministry down an unconventional path. Over the past 170+ years, The Salvation Army has seen tremendous success with programs ranging from fighting homelessness and addiction to disaster relief and spiritual healing.

The Salvation Army typically accepts clothing, furniture, automobiles, household goods, and appliances. Items donated to their thrift stores help support adult programs to treat addiction and substance abuse as a root cause of poverty and human suffering. In many cases, these programs indirectly help the dependent children of addict parents by providing the help their parents need to overcome their struggles and provide a more stable home.

Habitat for Humanity ReStores

Habitat for Humanity is another well-established organization that predominantly works to fight homelessness in the US and around the world. You’re probably familiar with their volunteer programs where communities come together and donate their time and labor to build a home for a family in need. The organization also operates a chain of thrift stores that helps raise money for these projects.

Habitat ReStores accept:

  • Furniture
  • Home Goods
  • Building Materials

Goodwill Industries

Goodwill Industries is another well-known thrift store-based organization. But their take on the program is a little different than other organizations. Goodwill Industries was founded with the intent to provide opportunities to underserved populations. Today, many individuals living in poverty or with disabilities who are excluded from the traditional workforce can find gainful employment and skill-building opportunities at Goodwill. From there, many employees will take their skills and grow into traditional employment roles within their communities. Goodwill stores typically accept furniture, home goods, clothing, and more.

Alex Moving & Storage is a local Orange County, California moving company with more than 30 years of industry experience. Founded in 1989, we have been making it easy to make local and long-distance moves to and from the Orange County area. Our residential movers in Orange County always get asked for our best tips to prepare for moving. And the number one thing we always share is to get rid of as much stuff as possible before you begin packing. Every move begins with a good decluttering and donation, when you’re ready, give us a call to start planning your next move.