Get Rid of the Clutter

I tend to accumulate a lot of stuff because I want to save it for someone who might be able to use it. But it's not doing anyone else any good if it's just sitting around my house. Here are a few ways to help get rid of the clutter and help someone else at the same time.

Office Equipment

Do you have things around the house or office that are still good but that you aren't using? Do want to get rid of those items, but feel bad about trashing them? Conversely, do you run a nonprofit that is in need of supplies? Would you rather not spend your organization's precious dollars to get them? Excess Access may be your answer.

This site serves as a clearinghouse and bulletin board for donors who want to get rid of things, and nonprofit recipients who need just those items. Just complete their free registration and list your wish list or the items you have to donate. The folks at Excess Access will review your post and make it available to their online community. Then the matchmaking magic begins! They have an 81% success rate, so consider listing your items today. Since the items are going to a nonprofit you'll get a tax deduction.

As of May 1, 2004, people have donated $2,008,946.15 worth of items through ExcessAccess.com and diverted 5,494.5 tons of useful items from US landfills. Excess Access serves "the US, Canada and beyond" so sign up today! Remember one person's trash is another person's treasure!

Frequent Flyer Miles

Do you have extra frequent flyer miles for an airline you never use? Do you wonder if you'll ever get enough miles for an upgrade or free trip? Are your miles just sitting there doing nothing? Why not consider donating your frequent flyer miles to charity. You can choose to use your miles to:

- Fly children to a hospital for medical treatment.
- Fly aid workers (from CARE, Red Cross, etc.) to serve in the aftermath of natural and other disasters.
- Fly military personnel home to visit family.
- Fly families to visit hospitalized military personnel.

Here are five programs I found, though I'm sure there are more:

*Delta Skywish
*Northwest AirCares
*US Air Dividend Miles
*Continental OnePass
* American Airlines AAdvantage Miles for Kids in Need

So find out if your favorite airline has a miles donation program. It's a great way to help someone in need.

Furniture

It can be hard to find an agency that will accept and use good quality, used furniture. That's where NFBA comes in. The National Furniture Bank Association (help1up.org/) "is a non-profit association representing almost 70 furniture banks across America." Your donation will help a family get a new start after a crisis and will reduce landfill waste and pollution.

And they make it easy. They maintain a database of US furniture banks, many of which will pick up your donation. And donating is tax deductible! So next time you need to dispose of furniture you're planning to replace, consider donating it to the furniture bank nearest you.

Spare change

Modest Needs is a nonprofit that uses small donations to help keep people out of poverty by helping them through financial emergencies. Visit modestneeds.org to apply for help or donate the contents of your penny jar.

"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato