Millions of Canadians have fallen in love with Marie Kondo, the pint-sized queen of decluttered homes and military like folding. But once you determine what stays and what goes, what's the next step?
Kondo's show on Netflix entitled "Tidying Up" has sparked a movement of home tidying like your favourite sweater sparks joy.
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However, if there's still a large number of items in your home waiting to be discarded, you may be asking yourself what the most responsible way to pass on your items is in Toronto.
Clothing is pretty simple, it seems like there's a donation bin on every corner, then there's also Value Village and The Salvation Army which are both fantastic options.
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For all those "komono" or miscellaneous items that Kondo encourages you to purge, you may need a specific form of donation service to pass on your previously loved items on to someone else in need. Things like old electronics, furniture, building supplies, and odds and ends aren't as easy to dump in a bin to donate but that doesn't mean they should go in the dump either.
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After all, giving your items to those who really need them is just another act that can be life-changing.
1. Red Door Family Shelter
What To Donate:
Red Door Family Shelter is currently asking for dressers and wardrobes, kitchen tables, chairs and coffee tables. Other high priority items include table and chair sets, dining hutches and sideboards, chests of drawers, dressers and night tables, end tables, shelving units and desks. They are unable to accept mattresses, bed frames, sofas, armchairs, large appliances and sofa beds.
How To Donate:
Pickup for furniture is available from Bathurst Street to Markham Road in the east, and from Lake Ontario North to Lawrence.
Where Your Donation Goes:
Red Door’s Moving Program is the helping hand when families leave their shelter. They provide them with donated furniture which means the family can turn more of their “start-up money” on priorities like food and clothing.
2. Furniture Bank
What To Donate:
Chairs, tables, end tables, bookshelves that are no taller than six feet, sofas and loveseats, dressers, and desks that are not larger than four feet.
How To Donate:
Standard service areas listed are Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Brampton, Markham, Pickering, York and Vaughan.
There is also a drop-off unit in Toronto. When you drop off your furniture, fill out the Furniture Bank’s tax receipt form to ensure you receive a charitable tax receipt for your donation. You can also fill out the online furniture pickup request form to get a quote for your pickup.
Where Your Donation Goes:
Donated furniture items are redistributed to individuals in the Toronto community such as people who are transitioning out of homelessness, women and children escaping abusive situations, and newcomers and refugees coming to Canada.
3. Habitat for Humanity
What To Donate:
Kitchens, cabinetry, sinks, home furniture including tables, couches and shelving and storage units, office supplies and furniture, seasonal tools and supplies, working appliances, home decor and lighting fixtures.
Where To Donate:
Habitat for Humanity GTA serves Brampton, Caledon, Toronto, Scarborough and York.
You can drop off your items at the ReStore closest to you. Alternatively, you can schedule a free home pickup for your used furniture. You’ll receive a charitable tax receipt for donations valued at over $100.
Habitat also accepts material donations of brick/siding, shingles, drywall, flooring, windows, doors, kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, bathroom fixtures, lighting fixtures and new paint from corporate donors through their Gift-In-Kind program.
Where Your Donation Goes:
Donated furniture items are put into Habitat’s ReStores which raise funds for Habitat’s home building projects. Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes for local low-income families.
4. reBOOT Canada
What To Donate:
reBOOT accepts all your old electronics like computers, monitors, accessory devices, mice, keyboards, printers, routers, hard drives, digital cameras, video cameras, speakers, and cell phones.
Where To Donate:
If you have more than 10 working computer items, you can arrange a free pick up in the GTA. Otherwise, a $40 fee will be added to the cost of pick up. If you'd rather drop off, they have drop-off centres in Mississauga, Toronto, and even Peterborough.
Where Your Donation Goes:
reBOOT Canada is a registered charity that refurbishes donated computer equipment to provide non-profits, charities, and individuals, with access to subsidized technology, software, and training.
