It is amazing how much stuff we can accumulate!
I was at our community group meeting Sunday evening and a request was made for Socks and warm clothing to be donated to the warming shelter.
I went through my dresser drawers and found that not only had a received a new pack of socks this Christmas but obviously I have received them for a LOT of Christmases!
It was funny as I went through them, two drawers and a big bag in the closet full. I'm still laughing because I was holding back some but only momentarily and then relinquishing knowing that living here in South Carolina I will not need that many socks in a million years!
That led to culling the sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets and coats, I might have worn one sweater in 5 years! Why in the heck did I have 2 dozen sweaters?
Next up, half a dozen pair of Boots I bought over the last few years and didn't ever wear.
It felt good twice, once knowing I cleaned out stuff that was just taking up space and the second time when the lady who runs the shelter told me nothing was left .
After talking with the Shelter manager I became more aware of their needs I wouldn't have guessed it but spare book bags, knapsacks reusable handle bags Etc. she said that was a huge request of the homeless because they have no way to carry around most of their stuff.
Now is a great time of the year to rid yourself of excesses and bypassing the places that then sell the items they are given by giving directly to the Churches that run the warming shelters.
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For sure that has happened to me. I have been slowly purging my closet of clothing I haven't worn in years. I'm even letting of shoes!!
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I purged some clean well worn athletic socks after ordering a dozen crew socks.
The difference is the old socks were given directly to a homeless man, Mark, along with a bag of food. He frequents the top of an interstate exit ramp. Mark, said he can always use socks and thanked me. I like to go directly to the end user if possible.
Jim
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When my mother passed away we took her clothes to a nursing home for the ladies there to go through....it took two trips in my Traverse! I think it ended up being something like 25 big black garbage bags full of clothes. I left them all on the hangers so they could hang everything up. It was an INSANE amount of clothes. So, I felt inspired to clean out my own closet and I was shocked when I actually had about 10 bags myself. I gave all of that to my aunt to pick over before she donated it to the thrift store. We meet up at least once a week and she's always wearing something from the great purge when I see her. I was just glad someone could get some use out of that stuff.
Its hard to make yourself go through clothes because you find things you forgot about and think over and over again...."I forgot all about that!" Then you push it all back in place and forget it again.
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Looking through accumulated clothing makes one think that "one day I can use that (fit in that) again."............
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When I retired almost 7 years ago, I donated three suits, half a dozen sports coats, 15 + pairs of pants and dress shirts, a bunch of ties and shoes to a Christian based program that helps folks get back on their feet and helps them find jobs....
Every year or so I pass on those clothing items I have not used....No need cluttering up the closet....
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I am also a bit guilty of "hording " for lack of better words or the if one is good three is better in case two break ( especially tools ) I blame some of it on growing up with very little and making up for it as I got older .
we hauled off at least a dozen big trash bags of clothes while reorganizing a couple rooms back in the fall to the salvation army and good will
I remind my sons what a great time they will have when I kick off and they start finding and selling off my life time collections of every thing LOL
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WTG
Having a handicapped son, my choice is the local ARC store. Last time I went there, the attendant took one look at my truck (piled 2 feet over the cab) and said, just a minute. He went back inside and came out with some help. When we were through he asked, do you have any more? (in a tome that definitely said, I hope not) I said yes, but not today. He breathed a loud sign of relief and wiped his brow, like he had actually been working. LOL He then asked me if I wanted a receipt for tax purposes. I said no, there was no way I could price all that stuff. (you have to put your own value on items)
I does feel good to know that you are helping others.
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Thanks for helping folks out. I have a lot of jeans that are worn out , holy and downright nasty from working when I was younger. I should get them out run them on fleabay to sell since the young kids love to wear that stuff and donate the money to the food bank .
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I talked to an fellow the other day who owns storage units. He confirmed what us55 said. Most of the stuff in the storage units isn’t worth what a months rent is.
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Ditch-Runner: 31514375643163/comments/31514398517403
I am also a bit guilty of "hording " for lack of better words or the if one is good three is better in case two break ( especially tools ) I blame some of it on growing up with very little and making up for it as I got older .
we hauled off at least a dozen big trash bags of clothes while reorganizing a couple rooms back in the fall to the salvation army and good will
I remind my sons what a great time they will have when I kick off and they start finding and selling off my life time collections of every thing LOL
Sounds about like our outfit here.
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I agree that most of us have too much stuff . George Carlin did a whole monologue on “stuff” , hilarious stuff! Part of the reason for the proliferation of storage buildings is that modern apartments have no storage space . For what it is worth I tried the storage auction locker buying nearly thirty years ago . Even then it was a tough way to make a buck . More trash than treasure
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I have enjoyed reading these posts as they have an application to me personally. My mother reminded me only once:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."
Since then I've tried to follow most of what you all suggest and for those very same reasons. Thanks for the reminders!
It's most interesting though, in these times where we find a lack of reloading components available publicly, that when we go to do some cleanup or organization, we often find some of those very same components which have been pushed to the back and forgotten. We get relief in the form of replenishing our supplies or choosing to sell them as excess to our needs. Either way we win.
Good thoughtful thread!
Best.
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you just made me get off my behind and purge my closet of sweatshirts, wool caps, jackets and other cold weather gear. my daughter is on the way to the homeless shelter with them now.
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We raised 3 kids in this house and everyone had a place to sleep and keep their clothes. Now all are gone and there's not an empty space anywhere. Housekeeping pretty much went away when Daughter got married and moved out.
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