Many nonprofit thrift stores face the problem of conveying to their donors one simple message - “don’t give us your trash!”. People tend to assume that by donating household goods, worn furniture and old appliances to a nonprofit, it's going to help someone in need. What many donors might not realize is that if the donation can’t be resold, they might hurt the organization they were trying to help.
While these thrift stores don't directly pay for the donations they receive, there is still a cost associated with goods being dropped off and picked up from homes. The staff handling these goods are typically paid, and there are transportation costs associated with the pick-up process as well. Many donors might not know that their donation must be resold in order to benefit the organization they're donating to. Many of these donations end up sitting in storage for months, forcing the nonprofits to dispose of these goods themselves. Waste bills for some nonprofits ReSupply has spoken to range from hundreds, to even thousands of dollars each month.
So - how can donors help? First, start by asking the simple question “could this item be resold?” If the answer to that question is "no", they should think twice before dropping it by their local thrift store. Before making a donation, donors should also be sure to check out the organization's website beforehand, read what items these stores do and do not accept, and adhere to their donation guidelines.
The generosity of donors is what allows nonprofit thrifts stores to benefit their surrounding communities; but by remembering a few simple guidelines when it comes to which goods they should donate, they can help their favorite nonprofits thrive even more
