What Pet Donations are Needed

One of the best ways that you can support animal related organizations is to donate pet supplies. Pet donations are always greatly appreciated by animal organizations as they are in constant need of these supplies and go through them frequently. If you want to donate pet supplies to a local animal rescue organization, here are some of the most needed items:

Towels and Blankets: These can be used for various needs at an animal shelter. The towels can be used to clean up any messes and the the blankets can be used for the animals that are staying at the shelter. Usually any kind of bath towel and blanket will do and most organizations aren’t too specific with what types they need.

Pet Beds: Pet beds are great for the animals that are staying at a shelter and often have nothing to lay down on. Having pet beds allows animals to lay down on something comfortable instead of the floor while they wait to find a new home.

Pet Crates: Often times if an animal shelter has more pet crates they can increase the amount of animals that are staying at the shelter, which leads to more animals being saved. Check with an organization to see what size crates they are looking for. Folding crates are often preferred because of space limitations.

Toys and Treats: These help enrich the lives of the animals that are staying at a shelter and are waiting to be adopted. The animals can play and have fun while staying at the shelter. Check with an organization to see which types of toys and treats they are looking for as these vary greatly for dogs and cats.

Dog and Cat Food: High quality dog and cat food is always needed at animal organizations as this is something that they often have to buy themselves. Receiving pet food can allow an animal organization to use its resources on something else that is needed.

There are a few Chicago based Zealous Good charities that are focused on animals and are always in need of these types of pet supplies.These charities include Found Chicago, Chicago Pit Stop Rescue, Animal Rescue Foundation and New Leash on Life. You can easily submit your pet donations and receive requests directly from charities that are in need!

Make a Statement: Top 5 Ways to Reuse Items

With just a little instruction and a short amount of time, you can repurpose many used household items to make them useful again. Here are our top 5 favorite ways to reuse items:

1. Turn your t-shirt into a tote bag. Recycle your old shirt, cut down on plastic bag consumption, and make a fashion statement when you rock a handmade t-shirt tote bag.

2.  Make a scuff-marked high heel pretty again. Messing up a shoe that’s meant for a formal event is upsetting, but all hope is not lost. Consider spray painting the toe for a beautiful color blocked look.

3. Turn vinyl records into a dessert rack. Sure, records are nice to listen to but how many times do you actually pull them out? Put your records front and center by turning them into a vintage dessert tray.

4. Turn an old DVD case into an art kit. Make DVD cases useful again by turning them into a mini art kit perfect for traveling.

5. Makeover old shutters into a shabby chic necklace holder. Even shutters can find purpose again, hung up on the wall and displaying your favorite pieces of jewelry.

The number of ways to reuse items is endless. With a little patience you can transform an old item into an earth-friendly work of art. If you don’t have the time to upcycle an item, Zealous Good will take your unused and excess items and donate them to a charity of your choosing.

Where to Donate Toiletries in Your Community

We’ve all been there: You stay in a hotel and snag the unused toiletries for your own stash at home. After all, you did pay for the hotel room, so those are your toiletries!

Then, slowly but surely, your toiletry stash at home begins to look like a CVS or Walgreens. Don’t fret! We have the perfect solution! Donate your toiletries so that individuals in need can benefit from your stash of shampoo, conditioner, and all things hygiene related!

If you’re in Chicago, just use Zealous Good to find out exactly which charities need your toiletries. If you’re not in Chicago, here are some ideas of where to donate toiletries.

Homeless shelters

Homeless shelters are one of the most direct ways to get your toiletries to someone who needs them. You can rest assured that your shampoo will be washing the hair of someone who is trying to get their life back on track.

You can find a homeless shelter near you on the Homeless Shelter Directory.

Women’s Shelters

Women’s shelters provide a great support system and safe place for women in danger and need. Giving the women in these shelters access to toiletries of their own gives them a sense of ownership and the opportunity to start fresh.

To find women’s shelters, visit WomensShelters.org. It’s a great resource with shelters across the country.

Human Services Organizations

Human service organizations, like those that serve the developmentally disabled, often have housing available for the individuals they serve. These homes need all sorts of items and donated toiletries. Your donation can help keep these houses stocked with the items their individuals need.

To find a list of human services organizations in your community, visit your local United Way’s website or you can search on Charity Navigator.

If you’re in the Chicago area, check out Zealous Good for where to donate toiletries. Click here to submit your donation and we’ll find a charity that can benefit.

Brittany Graunke is the founder of Zealous Good, an in-kind donations marketplace in Chicago. You can find Brittany on Twitter at @ZealousBrittany or Zealous Good on Facebook and Zealous Good on Twitter at @ZealousGood.

How to Donate Tools

This is part of our charitable “How To“ series. Today we are talking about how to donate tools. Check back for more charity, donor related instruction!

1. Decide which tools you want to donate: Now that it’s spring and the weather is nice, it may be time to start doing some work around the house, and that could mean upgrading the tools that you use. There are many kinds of tools that you can choose to donate. These can include hand tools, carpentry tools, power tools, landscaping equipment and gardening tools. Find the tools that you would like to donate and set them aside.

2. Clean and prepare your tools: Before you donate tools make sure to clean them so that they are in good and usable condition for the next recipient. Cleaning tools often just requires a bucket of water and some cleaning solution. You can find detailed instructions on cleaning tools in this guide. If your tools have rust on them then be sure to remove it before you donate them. Tips on how to remove rust from tools can be found here.

3. Find your item’s home: There are a few Zealous Good charities that are always in need of tools and landscaping equipment on an ongoing basis. These include Chicago Gateway Green, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Neighbor Space and Growing Home, Inc. Environmental organizations are the best fit for receiving your donated tools as they often are working directly with the tools in projects to preserve and beautify the community. You can easily submit your donation and receive requests directly from charities that are in need.

4. Schedule Delivery: Now that you have chosen an organization for your tools donation, you can schedule the donation drop off or pick up directly with the organization.

5. Feel good: You have just donated tools to an organizations in need! Now a local charity will have the tools needed to preserve and improve a local community, or they’ll be able to fix and make repairs to the equipment they already have.

Do you know anyone that is upgrading their tools? You can can tell them how easy it is to donate tools to local charities in need!

How Positive Is Your Inbox?

Call us biased, but the emails we get at Zealous Good are phenomenal. Just the other day we received this heartwarming message from the volunteer manager at Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley region,

“Our kiddos are so thankful for all of the new toy (donations)! They made new play dough, so they can “cook and create” with all of the new play dough toys! Imaginations are running wild in the room now, with dreams of being vets as they play with the toys and dreams of being parents as they take care of their baby dolls!

Thank you donors!”

This email has since been forwarded to the donor, so that she may delight in her decision to donate! At Zealous Good, we bring the positivity to your inbox. This means, after your donation has been matched, we’ll follow-up with you on how your item is being used. Nonprofits may even provide photos and/or a longer story of your item’s impact.

Aside from nonprofit and donor emails, we are constantly delighted by newsletters from these companies:

1. Give Forward: an online fundraising platform that allows you to raise money for a loved one in need.

2. GOOD: a global community of, by, and for pragmatic idealists working towards individual and collective progress.

3. Orbit Media Studios: a web design studio the provides accessible, informative, and quirky blog posts, among other things.

4. Panzanzee: a social enterprise incubator and co-working space.

5. Mac ‘N Cheeses’s Smatterings: a curated list of the web’s best articles, job openings, events etc. created by uber-connector and founder of Mac ‘N Cheese Productions, Saya Hillman.

What about you? Where does your inbox positivity come from? What companies should we be following and listening to? Let us know! And  be sure to subscribe to the Zealous Good newsletter!

Where to Donate Childrens Books in Your Community

It might be time to part with your (or your kids) copy of the Bernstein Bears and Dr. Suess’s Green Eggs and Ham. If you can donate childrens books, there are tons of great recipients! If you’re in Chicago, use Zealous Good to submit your donation and we’ll get requests for the donated childrens books sent directly to your inbox.

If you’re not in Chicago, here are some ideas of organizations that could benefit from your childrens book donation and how to find them.

Community Centers

Community Centers are the backbone of many neighborhoods. They allow kids and families a place to gather, to study, to learn, and to connect. Because they provide so many services their needs are also great. Kids often find these community centers to be their second homes and books provide an easy way to learn and be entertained.

Your city might have a good list of Community Centers on their website or you can always Google “Community Center”. 

Youth Organization

From after school programs to nursery and day care to helping kids with health issues or special needs, there are tons of youth organizations doing great work. When you donate childrens books, you provide an escape for some kids and an adventure for others.

You’ll find that there are tons of kid focused charities in your community. Ask around as some friends might have volunteered and had great experiences. Or, you can see this Wikipedia page for some national and international youth organizations.

Schools

Schools need books! This may be quite obvious, but elementary schools can benefit from your childrens book donations. Think of how your books could be a great addition to the school library or classroom!

For school donations, you can reach out to the vice principal, the local PTA, or swing by the school and ask who would be best to contact about the donation.

Again, if you’re in the Chicago area, check out Zealous Good for where to donate childrens books. Click here to submit your donation and we’ll find a charity that can benefit.

Brittany Graunke is the founder of Zealous Good, an in-kind donations marketplace in Chicago. You can find Brittany on Twitter at @ZealousBrittany or Zealous Good on Facebook and Zealous Good on Twitter at @ZealousGood.

 

 

Mother’s Day Gifts Delivered to Women in Need

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12, and that means it’s time to thank the moms in your life in a big way! Mother’s Day is also a time to consider less fortunate moms.  National moving company, Two Men and a Truck, know a thing or two about helping down on their luck moms. They run an event each year called, Movers for Moms, to get Mother’s Day gifts delivered to local women’s and family shelters.

Up until May 12, Two Men and a Truck will pickup donation items including soap, hair products, shampoo and conditioner, pillows, blankets, slippers and basic clothing items. In 2012 more than 116,000 items were collected and donated to shelters across the country. To learn more about how you can be a part of the Movers for Moms campaign, check out their site!

The Facts on Drop-Off Donation Bins

Dropping off your bag of clothes at a drop-off donation bin is a quick and charitable way to unload your excess items. And while many bins clearly state where your donation is going, a majority of drop-off donation bins are more vague.

If you’re planning on using a drop-off bin to donate your items, here are a few things to consider:

Appearances can be deceiving.

Donation bin companies, Planet Aid and USAgain, operate and manage bins across the country. However, both companies are for-profit clothing recyclers. The clothes you donate to their bins, are bundled and sold to recyclers who ship them overseas and reuse them as apparel, rags or insulation material.

Always do your research before choosing to donate to a drop-off donation bin.

You have other options!

Goodwill is a reputable charity that’s been around since 1902. Use the Goodwill locator search and check the “donation site” box to find the closest drop-off spot near you.

Nonprofit, Bin Donated, allows companies, businesses and hotels, to place bins at their work to collect donations. If you live in Chicago, contact Bin Donated about finding a bin or hosting a donation bin where you work.

For an alternative to drop-off donation bins, consider donating through Zealous Good. Submitting your donation takes 3 minutes, and once your donation is requested, you get to choose which charity it goes to.

Where to Donate Art Supplies in Your Community

Have an arts and crafts box that hasn’t been touched in years? Just complete an art project and now have tons of odds and ends left over? If you’re in Chicago, use Zealous Good to submit your donation and we’ll get requests for the donated art supplies sent directly to your inbox. You can donate to the cause you prefer and directly see the difference you’re making!

If you’re not in Chicago, here are some ideas of organizations that could benefit from your art supplies donation and how to find them.

Schools & Teachers

Schools are routinely low on supplies because kids power through art supplies like it’s oxygen. Just imagine your extra ribbon, glitter, and glue, becoming someone’s new favorite art piece, proudly displayed on their refrigerator at home.

For school donations, you can reach out to the vice principal, the local PTA, or swing by the school and ask who would be best to contact about the donation.

Made4Aid

Leftover supplies from knitting, painting, and sewing projects can be donated to Made4Aid.org. Made4Aid sells them to artists and crafters and donates proceeds to Doctors Without Borders.

Simply email them what you have to donate, and then when they’ve found a buyer, you ship the items directly to the artist buyer. Pretty simplem especially if you can’t find a local school or charity to donate to! Visit Made4Aid.org for more details.

Crazy Crayons

If you find yourself with crayons coming out of your ears, ship them to Crazy Crayons, an organization that recycles old crayons and turns them into new ones. It’s a very Earth friendly, pretty and fun way to make sure your old crayons get reused!

Visit crazycrayons.com for more details!

Again, if you’re in the Chicago area, check out Zealous Good for where to donate art supplies. Click here to submit your donation and we’ll find a charity that can benefit.

How to Donate a Washer and Dryer

This is part of our charitable “How To“ series. Today we are talking about how to donate a washer and dryer. Check back for more charity, donor related instruction!

1. Prepare your washer and dryer to be donated: Your washer and dryer have probably been used hundreds of times before, so they are most likely going to need a good cleaning. Before you donate a washer and dryer be sure to give them a thorough cleaning so that they are in good condition for the next recipient.

Cleaning the washer and dryer could also help it to run more efficiently and could prevent safety hazards. Cleaning your washer can easily be done with just bleach and vinegar and also running a long cycle without any clothes. When cleaning your dryer make sure to focus on removing any excess lint in the washer, and also in the dryer exhaust where it can easily build up. More tips on how to clean your washer and dryer can be found here.

2. Remove your washer and dryer: Also before donating a washer and dryer make sure to disconnect them so that they are ready to go and can be moved out quickly. You will need to remove the washer hose and turn off the faucets that go to the washer. If you have an electric dryer then you will just need to disconnect it by removing the plug. More information on how to remove your washer and dryer can be found here.

3. Find your item’s home: There are a few Zealous Good charities that are always in need of washer and dryers on an ongoing basis. These include Aspire and Neumann Family Services. Human services organizations tend to be the best fit for receiving your donated washer and dryer as they often serve clients that are moving into apartments that need to be furnished. You can easily submit your donation and receive requests directly from charities that are in need.

4. Schedule Delivery: Now that you have chosen an organization for your washer and dryer donation, you can schedule the donation pick up directly with the organization.

5. Feel good: You have just donated a washer and dryer to an organization in need! Now someone, either at a charity or one of the clients they serve, will be able to have their own washer and dryer to use.

Know anyone upgrading an appliance? Tell them how easy it is to donate a washer and dryer to local charities in need!