It’s a new year, so I shout “Out with the old, and welcome the new!” It’s time to declutter your mind, heart, and CLOSET! Get rid of the access, simplify, and do it properly. I have found that my junk can be another person’s treasure. Being the generous girl that I am, I would gladly give my belongings I don’t use to someone who can or have learned to dispose of them properly. Here are my tips…
Cell Phones: Send your old or broken cell phones to Cell Phones for Soldiers. The phones are sold to a company for recycling, and the money is used to purchase calling cards for our deployed troops to call home for free. www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
Bridesmaid Dresses and Formal Attire: Donate your bridesmaid dress or formal attire to The Bella Project. The mission of The Bella Project is to make prom affordable for every high school woman by collecting formal dresses and accessories and providing them free of charge to those unable to purchase their own prom attire. They also accept donations of shoes, accessories, and unused/unopened cosmetics. www.thebellaprojecthawaii.org
Eyeglasses: Drop off your prescription glasses, bifocals and nonprescription sunglasses in bins at LensCrafters, Target Optical, and Sears Optical. OneSight provides free eye exams and used specs to those who cannot afford them at 20 clinics around the world. www.onesight.org
Video Games: Send your old video games to www.donategames.org. They will post them to sell on their website at a discounted price, and the purchases fund medical research to help fight and cure rare, life threatening diseases.
Medications: Flushing or pouring medications down the drain and into our water supply harms the sea life, environment and our health. Instead, medications should be tightly sealed in a bag and placed in the trash. Local pharmacies in Honolulu do not have a take-back program where they will dispose your unused or expired meds.
