Do Good With Your Spring Cleaning

Don’t throw away as you declutter—check out these five options around Bergen and donate instead.

Though you’d never know it from the weather (hang in there!), we are entering the season of spring cleaning. Not only is a yearly deep clean good for your physical and mental health, it’s also a great way to declutter your home and reflect on what you really need to keep. That top you never wear? Those old toys in the attic? In the words of television personality and best-selling author on organizing Marie Kondo, does this object spark joy?

If you’re decluttering your house, you don’t need to fill landfills—you can donate instead! After all, we observe three major spring holidays—Easter, Ramadan and Passover—that encourage community togetherness, reflection and giving back.

Here are five options around Bergen where you can donate gently used items:

• If you’re looking to part with larger pieces of furniture, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in Westwood is a great option. The organization resells gently used furniture, household goods and building materials for discounted prices, and proceeds go toward building affordable housing for local families.
  *121 Carver Ave., Westwood; 201.500.5009

• Cleaning a lot of business casual out of your wardrobe? Englewood’s Woman’s Rights Information Center runs a Career Closet to help women who are trying to enter the workforce. You can drop off clothes appropriate for interviews, office and networking settings at the Past & Present Consignment Shop in Closter. Call ahead for drop off hours!
  *253 Closter Dock Rd., Closter; 201.784.7441

• Goodwill NYNJ has donation drop-off bins all around the county, or you can swing by either of their store locations in Elmwood Park or South Hackensack during business hours. In addition to clothing and jewelry, this organization accepts small electronics and houseware items.
  * 30 Broadway, Elmwood Park; 201.794.4670; 400 Huyler St., South Hackensack; 201.727.8215

• Hackensack’s branch of The Salvation Army is also an option for donations, and the organization is known for taking larger items such as furniture and electronics. Their needs are always changing, so call 973.742.1126 for more information on what and how to donate.
  *P.O. Box 128, Hackensack; 201.894.8492

• Community thrift shops, such as the one in Midland Park, accept donations of just about anything you can think of, including home décor, books and toys. You can drop things off during business hours on Mondays. Profits benefit 60 local charities all around Bergen County.
  *85 Godwin Ave., Midland Park; 201.652.7661

How’s your spring cleaning going? Tell us about it on Instagram @bergenmagnj!