When Donating is Wrong

When Donating Is Wrong

Recently I attended a meeting where Catherine Meloy, President and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington spoke about the donation process and how Goodwill runs their stores.

Her discussion included what types of items they accept for donation and what they cannot. Especially, when donating is wrong.

It was surprising how much they take, including torn and soiled clothing. They resell it to salvage companies.  Donating is a great way to let go of things that are still useful. But there are some things that can not be donated.

Expired food can’t be donated. This is why it is important to have an organized pantry. Know what you have and use it up while it’s still good.

Expired medication can’t be donated. It could be dangerous to consume expired medicine. Find a pharmacy in your area that will correctly dispose of expired medicine.

Old paint can not be donated. Paint lasts about 5 years and only when it is stored in a climate-controlled space. The best way to eliminate those old cans is to take them to your dump.

Open bottles of personal products should not be donated. If you have opened the shampoo or deodorant and don’t want it anymore, you’ll have to throw it out. It’s a health issue and charities can not use these items.

Some chemical products have expiration dates on them as well. So if you are cleaning out your garage of old lawn products, check for dates. If they are old, they may not be effective any longer. You can take these to your dump to be properly recycled.

While most things can be donated, keep in mind that some things don’t have a life beyond you.