I am not exactly sure how January became the perfect time to clean out closets and organize our lives, but it has.

   Newspaper ads offer storage containers, bins, and labels that are the perfect way to “organize” stuff. Magazines offer the secrets of how to purge closets of clothes and the kitchen cabinets of dishes.

   So, we clean out the closet and now have bags of clothes that we wore two sizes ago. There are now boxes of dishes that haven’t seen the light of day for years. All these items are perfectly good and very usable.

   Think “green” when disposing of these items. Help the environment and others in our community. Keep the discards out of the land fill. There are number of thrift stores in the area that benefit local nonprofits that can recycle these unwanted items. I have put together a short list of local non-profits that have thrift stores; however, it is not an all-inclusive list. 

   Big Brothers Big Sisters picks up and accepts drop-offs of re-saleable small household items and gently used clothing. For more information about donating goods to BBBS check out their web site at www.bbbskc.org.

   Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas has Turn-Styles located on 87th near I-35 (913-648-6795). They have a second location in Olathe (913-909-2485). They accept gently used clothing, furniture, small household appliances in working condition and household goods. Items can be dropped off Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For a small donation, arrangements can be made to have items picked up. More information is available at www.catholiccharitiesks.org.

   Cross-Lines Community Outreach operates a thrift store near 7th and Shawnee in KCK. They accept large and small appliance in good working condition, furniture including sofas, beds, dressers, kitchen tables, chairs, and lamps; bedding; knick knacks; house wares and gently used clothing. You can go to www.cross-lines.org and find when to deliver your goods or to schedule a pick-up for large items. 

   The Salvation Army Kansas and Western Missouri Division have Family Thrift Stores and Donations Center in the Kansas City area. They accept working appliances, household items, furniture, computers, children’s’ gently used toys, clothing, and books.  You can go to www.kansascity.satruck.org  to schedule a pick-up or find a drop-off location.

   Vaughn-Trent Thrift Store in Bonner accepts gently used furniture, household items and clothing. Drop offs can be made Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. or on Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call 913-441-2194.

   Heartland Habitat for Humanity has two ReStores with a third planned for the Northland. You can schedule your donation pick-up by calling 913-596-6597 in Wyandotte County or 913-648-6001 in Johnson County. The ReStore accepts donations of lumber, working appliances not more than 10 years old, full cans of paint, new or gently used carpeting, tile, furniture, tools and much more. For a complete listing of accepted donations please visit www.heartlandhabitat.org/restore. There are two convenient donation drop-off locations: the first Saturday of the month at Lowe’s on North Oak Trafficway and the last Saturday of the month at Lowe’s on west 65th in Shawnee.

   For more information on how you can give, advocate and volunteer, contact me at 913-371-3674 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can find volunteer opportunities by checking out our website, www.unitedway-wyco.org and click on Volunteer.