There was an article in the Chicago Tribune recently about the drop-off boxes that have been popping up in many places for unwanted clothes, books or other household items. The boxes often stand in parking lots attached to grocery stores or gas stations, which is way more convenient and available for most people than the drop-off locations of actual organizations. However, I learned that not all of these boxes are from reputable non-profit organizations like the Goodwill or Salvation Army.
The question the article posed is whether people should be careful about using the boxes, since some of them are owned by for-profit companies and others are for “non-profits” that have sketchy reputations as far as how much of their funding goes to the causes they support. Would you be discouraged from dropping items off at a box if it served a for-profit group, or if you weren’t sure who owned it? Does it matter if purged items go in a box owned by a for-profit company as long as it helps you get the unwanted stuff off your hands? Of course that would mean that you wouldn’t receive any tax credit for the donation, which can pose a dilemma for some. Would you rather make the time to call a reputable organization to arrange a pick-up, drop items directly at your favorite organization or use a drop-off at box for convenience even it is owned by some for-profit or not legit? I am curious to hear what you think.
Here’s the full article to read.
I would be very wary of using those boxes, especially after reading the article. Besides, why would I want to drop a book into a container; it would seem to me that would injure it. And my philosophy on donating clothing is that it should be clean, pressed, and hung on a hanger, or folded nicely. People who purchase clothes in a second hand shop out of need should not be treated with the indignity of having to sort through rumpled clothing.
J- Thanks for sharing your input. ~E
This is for all readers as I’d love to hear your input on this comment, sent via email, which the writer gave me permission to post:
The Charity Navigator is a website that tells you exactly how money is spent by each charity, and it gives the charity overall scores with respect to how much of a charity’s money actually goes to furthering the mission. Additionally, it lists how the organizations get their funding and spend their money raising money (i.e., do they spend more on mailings than they receive in return), and it details the compensation given to employees. It’s an easy site to navigate, takes a minute to review, and is my go-to resource to determine whether some friend’s new cause is worthy of my hard-earned cash. If I’m going to give away my stuff, then I want it given to the people who put it to good use. Otherwise, I might as well just toss it in the trash.