Freecycle

Over the past three years I have found new owners for a KitchenAid cooktop (a young woman was adding a kitchen to a studio she rented), a bike (another young woman who needed cheap transportation), an old computer (twin middle school children), a washing machine (single mom with her first home), a twin bed (young family in transition), a big pile of useless CDs (the children's museum art program) and a broken bread machine (mr. fixit) via the fabulous Freecycle Network.

Unless you live way off the beaten path, there is a Freecycle group in your area. You post a message to OFFER the item, get responses, decide on the recipient and they come and pick it up. The washing machine was gone in 4 hours. How can I let these things end up in a landfill when there are plenty of takers. Oh, and you can also post a message if you need something.

A friend needed to clean out the home of a deceased relative recently. I mentioned Freecycle a number of times. But my friend went the traditional route -- Vetrans, GoodWill, etc -- and some of those organizations did collect items. In the end, some nice furniture and kitchenware was left. My friend called a junk hauling company who CHARGED them to cart the stuff away. And the junker literally smashed everything into a truck. Very sad for my friend to watch their relative's possessions going off that way.

Not every item finds a home. I was unable to find a taker for an old (still working) dishwasher. Still, there are many folks out there ready to reuse just about anything.

Try it. I think you will see that it is easy and satisfying for both the giver and the receiver.