Charity starts at home

The Baltimore Sun

With end-of-the-year festivities a day away, make this the weekend you do something worthwhile to help those in need. Then you can ring in the new year in a charitable way.

Forget singing "Auld Lang Syne" and don't bother with the cocktails. If you truly want a case of the warm-and-fuzzies deep in your belly, take a moment to donate some gently used goods and valuables to a local charity.

That's not to say that financial donations aren't needed, because they almost always are. But if your cash is tight after a long season of giving, look for those things lying around your house collecting dust. Many can be useful to charities in the area.

If you're renovating your house, cleaning out your closets or looking to downsize your life, don't just toss your unwanted possessions into the garbage. Give them a second life by donating them to groups that help others find a better life.

"This is the best time of year to help a charity," says Lafeea Watson, a director of community relations for the Salvation Army. "People feel good, so they want to do good. What the community donates now is instrumental to how we can operate during both this time of the year and throughout the winter season.

"The extra bonus is that you can get a tax break, so there is some benefit and reward for you, too - besides the fact, of course, that you feel good from donating an item that you want to get rid of forever."

Not sure what local groups might need? Log onto mdcharity.org, pick your favorite charities, check out their background with the Maryland Office of the Secretary of State's Charities Registry and then call the charities to ask what essential items top their wish list.

Some charities will come pick up your donation. Others ask that you drop it off at a branch in your area. Just ask which option they prefer when you call. To assist your philanthropic work, we called a few groups for you.

Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake. 410-837-1800. good willches.org

Mission: Goodwill is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides career-development services and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other special needs. There are 21 retail/donation locations in the area and two donation-only centers.

Need: Clothing is the organization's No. 1 need. There's no prerequisite to wash or clean the clothes, but all should be in good condition. Gently used books, electronics (except computers), furniture and other housewares are also accepted.

Goodwill recently started a program to accept cars that are sold at auction to help low-income people with transportation and other needs.

Donations of other goods may be delivered to any of the stores or donation centers. Goodwill will pick up goods only if you're donating your estate to them.

"The proceeds from sales help fund job training and placement programs for people with disabilities or other disadvantaged conditions," said Jonathan Balog, marketing director. "We employ 550 people in Central Maryland and the Eastern Shore. We always have a need for items. We have actually been down in contributions a little bit compared to last year."

Salvation Army. 410-783-2920. uss.salvationarmy.org

Mission: The Salvation Army provides community programs for Boys and Girls Clubs, homeless-shelter and feeding programs, crisis intervention relating to eviction, food needs and utility turn-off services, and seasonal programs for the holidays.

Need: The two biggest needs it has are time and money. On the time front, volunteers are always useful to offset some of the organization's costs. On the financial front, the Red Kettle Program is its most widely recognizable fund raiser. Last year, the Salvation Army collected $349,000. This year, the goal is $410,000.

Most household items that are donated, such as clothing and furniture, are sold in the Salvation Army's thrift stores to raise money for the charity's Adult Rehabilitation Centers program. Donated vehicles are sold at auction to raise funds for the program.

Donations should be delivered to one of the thrift stores. Unsure how much you can write off on your taxes for the donation? Visit the Salvation Army Web site to check out a value guide.

"We really, really need to exceed what we raised last year," Watson said. "We're not seeing a decrease in need. Our thrift stores - there are eight in the Baltimore region - will be open through New Year's Eve to accept last-minute donations."

The Arc of Maryland. 410-571-9320. thearcmd.org

Mission: This is Maryland's largest statewide advocacy organization devoted to children and adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Initiatives include family-leadership training, self-advocacy empowerment and public-policy advocacy.

Need: Financial contributions are best, but each of the 10 local chapters is in need of specific items. For example, the Arc of Howard County is sponsoring a linen drive for its residential homes. Needed items include new bath towels, kitchen towels, pillows, pillow cases, twin and double sheets, mattress pads and comforters. Ten moderately priced digital cameras are also needed to help people in the employment program create personal portfolios.

The Arc of Montgomery County needs cars and vans to help people get to work, furnishings in good condition, and property such as homes, condos and timeshares that will be used to give families in the programs a vacation. Donated stocks and bonds are also helpful. You may avoid capital-gains taxes and you may receive a deduction for the full fair-market value at the time of the gift.

"Ninety percent of your $1 goes to those in need," said Cristine Marchand, executive director of the Arc of Maryland.

Suited to Succeed. 410-528-1799. suitedtosucceed .org

Mission: Provides business attire and job-search-related workshops to women transitioning from welfare and training to work.

Need: The organization has a shortage of professional clothing for larger sizes (16 and up), maternity clothes, pocketbooks, scarves, new toiletries, new cosmetics and winter coats. There's also a desperate need for nylon hosiery.

"Women come in, they spend an hour selecting two outfits to start a job-training program and then they volunteer an hour with us," said JoAnn Holback, executive director. "We have tons and tons of clothing donated to us that needs to be sorted and cleaned. When they get a job interview, the women get two more outfits. Once they get the job, they come back and we give them a fifth outfit.

"Job training isn't enough," Holback said. "No one will hire someone who comes in torn clothing, old clothing or inappropriate clothing. We take before and after pictures, and the transformation is amazing."

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mid-Atlantic Inc. 410-484-1232. midatlantic.wish.org

Mission: The foundation fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. This branch serves children who reside in Maryland, Washington, Northern Virginia and Delaware.

Need: It's difficult to anticipate what nonmonetary items kids will ask for, but Make-A-Wish could use travel points for kids who ask for a dream trip to various destinations around the world. There's also a need for stuffed animals and small games that aren't extravagant; they're used as icebreaker gifts to kids when they first come to the foundation for interviews, said John Rosa, director of communications.

Have a car to donate? Auctions by Hunt in Gaithersburg will come pick up a vehicle that is in running condition and auction it off for the foundation. All proceeds go to the charity.

"Financial contributions are best," Rosa said. "But we could always use your time, too. Volunteers are always needed."

dan.thanh.dang@baltsun.com

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