Donating off season items?

[DevaMajka]

What do you do with your decluttered off season items? Right now, I'm decluttering some summer stuff, like kids clothes, shoes, and maternity clothes. It seems like it would just take up space for a thrift store, but I don't want it in my house anymore.
I suppose I could have a storage tote for stuff to store until the right season, and donate it then. But that sort of defeats the purpose, kwim?

[crunchy_mommy]

The thrift stores around here sell all-season clothes as far as I can tell. They have a section of 'sweaters' that's still there in the middle of summer, for ex. So I would just donate it now. Maybe pick a larger store to donate to, because they might have more space to store or display off-season stuff.

[Tjej]

Our local thrift store rotates things out - some off-season, but they also keep the seasonal stuff in boxes in their own backroom to pull out at the right time. Let THEM deal with the seasons, YOU don't have to worry about it!

Tjej

[DevaMajka]

awesome! I'm happy to hear that
I didn't want my donation to be a burden, but I really want this stuff out of my house!

[laohaire]

I've had the same thoughts as you - feel guilty for donating the wrong season stuff. But I'm just not that organized - I wait and wait and then do a massive purge every 2-3 years. I should just donate every season and be done with it.

[clutterwarrior]

Originally Posted by Tjej

Our local thrift store rotates things out - some off-season, but they also keep the seasonal stuff in boxes in their own backroom to pull out at the right time. Let THEM deal with the seasons, YOU don't have to worry about it!

Tjej

Oh I needed to hear this too! I am currently weeding out some winter clothes to donate..(beginning of spring here)..and wondered if they will just be thrown away if I give them at this time of year.

[karemore]

The smaller thrift stores here can't take off season stuff, but the larger ones (Salvation Army and Goodwill) will take them.

[wombatclay]

same here... the independent shops often wont take out of season goods unless they're pretty fabulous (the "mama thrift" shop actually mentions this on their donation guidelines list, something about only accepting out of season items that "make financial sense to store") but the larger thrift stores like Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul's or Savers are happy to take anything at any time... they can store some or they can ship seasonal outfits to branches that can use them. For example, "summer clothing" in northern NY might be fine "fall or even winter clothing" in southern FL.