You know the feeling: one minute you look around your apartment, and you wonder how you’ve accumulated so much, well, stuff? Clothes you’ve kept from high school, old clawed up furniture covered in pet hair, books you read once for a school project and never opened again…sooner or later it has to go. Whether you’re about to move to a different place, or you’re just embarking on some much-needed cleaning, you might want to put your old stuff to good use rather than just tossing it out. If you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, here are a few places you can donate old furniture and clothing to help you with either moving or your cleaning efforts.
ReStore
Part of the Dallas area habitat for Humanity, ReStore accepts new and gently used home decorating and improvement products, selling them to the public at discounts of 50 to 75 percent off retail prices. You can donate old light fixtures, appliances, carpets, dining room sets and other pieces of furniture. The store also sells flooring, paint and accessories and plumbing fixtures. Make sure to call the store ahead of time to discuss your donation and make sure they are prepared to accept it.
Where: Three locations in the Dallas area
Dallas Furniture Bank
The Dallas Furniture Bank takes all types of furniture, particularly mattresses, sofas, dressers, chairs, tables and lamps, as long as the pieces are in good condition, stain free and pet-odor or smoke-odor free. They will pick up your donation as long as it includes at least one of their most-needed items. You can also drop off donations, but you must call in advance to schedule a drop off.
Where: 1417 Upfield Drive #104, Carrollton, TX 75006
Goodwill
Goodwill prefers to accept small furniture items like end tables, lamps or chairs that one person can move easily. The good thing about Goodwill is that you can also donate other items, like clothes, books, shoes, toys and accessories, making it essentially a one-stop-shop.
Where: 20 locations in the Dallas area
AMVETS
AMVETS is a leadership, advocacy and service organization serving American Veterans. The organization also runs several thrift stores across the nation, and there are two in the Dallas area that accept furniture, lamps and old televisions to help out military veterans.
Where: Two locations in the Dallas area
Dress for Success
Dress for Success is an organization that provides professional attire, career development tools and a network of support to disadvantaged women in an effort to promote economic independence. The Dallas-area location accepts suits, jackets, blouses, skirts, slacks, dresses and accessories such as shoes, handbags, jewelry and scarves.
Where: Valley View Center, 13331 Preston Road, Suite 1094, Dallas, TX 75240
Photo credit: iStockphoto/delectus