Creating a Household Donation Station

Read time: Approximately 3 minutes

What do you do with household items that you want to donate but that are still awaiting transit?

This was a question that I was recently pondering as I stepped over multiple toys that I wanted to donate but that, as of yet, had not made it to the donation center.

As I cleaned the toy/spare room, there were multiple toys that I wanted to donate. I didn’t want to put them back in the room because they would just have to be sorted out some future day. I wasn’t ready to make a trip to the local donation center, so, for lack of a better idea, I sat them out in the hall.

For weeks!

One would think that the fact that I had to step over them daily would be incentive enough to pick them up and make the trip. But, nope.

Incentive came in the form of a phone call that airplane reservations had been made and soon, very soon, the room would indeed have an occupant. That provided the needed motivation to make the trip to the donation center!

But really, I needed a long-term solution for donation items that were awaiting transit.

Setting stuff in the hall/on a shelf/on a table/in the trunk, is not a real solution for items awaiting donation.

One of the foundational ideas of decluttering is that everything should have a place.

That way, you know exactly where to put something when you are in the process of cleaning.

Donation items are no different. They need their own space

In order to corral all my donation items into one area, what I really need is a household donation station.

Since repeatedly stepping over all the items in the hall, I have given this concept much thought.

Creating a household donation station really is the solution to the problem of what to do with items awaiting transport.

What is a household donation station?

Simply put, it is a designated area where donation items awaiting transit are automatically deposited.

Where is the best place to put a household donation station?

Everyone will need to establish a place that works for them.

Even though space in general is at a premium in any home, for the concept of a household donation station to take root and grow, the area is going to need to be easily accessible.

Inconvenience is the best path to procrastination.

What kind of container should you use for a household donation station?

Any container will work as long as it easily fits in the designated space. For myself, I have decided on a cardboard box that I can simply close and transport.

I know myself. If I go with a nice plastic tote, I will procrastinate on transferring the items from the tote to a bag or box. The items will languish there for weeks or even months.

If I can grab the box and go, my chances of success are going to be much higher.

And finally,

How often do you transport?

As soon as the receptacle is full, transport it.

This will be the determining factor of the success of the donation station.

Make a special trip if necessary.

If you leave the container until it is full and overflowing you will simply have accomplished creating another clutter hotspot in your home.

Transporting the donation items is where the self-discipline will come in.

Unfortunately, I can’t help with that.

But I can assure you that you are not alone! I am right there with you.

However, by creating a household donation station, I have at least taken a step in the right direction.

A note on donating:

I have a heart for middle class, struggling families.

I have heard many people state that they do not want to donate to an organization that sells the items. While I understand the sentiment, I would like to take this opportunity to offer another perspective.

Donation centers that sell items allow middle class, struggling families to purchase clothing and other household items they may not otherwise have been able to afford.

These same people are ones who will not go to the local mission or soup kitchen to go through piles of donated items that are being given away.

By continuing to donate to these organizations that sell, you are actually assisting struggling families in their quest to find affordable clothing and household items.