by Tone Deinema, PAW Writer
As the refreshing spring breeze fills the air and the familiar furry animals return from their hiding places, it seems safe to say that the long Minnesota winter is over at last. Many people take advantage of this new weather to clean and reorganize their houses, often dubbed “spring cleaning.” Although spring cleaning is typically done only for your own benefit, consider helping others by donating the things you don’t need, such as the fuzzy slippers Aunt Sally gave you for Christmas that you never wore.
When going through all of your things, remember to keep the question, “Do I really need this?” on your mind. There are so many people who lack the basic things that we take for granted, such as clothing, shoes, blankets, and personal care products. By giving away the things you don’t need any more to a charity, you can truly make a difference.
There are a plethora of charities in Minnesota, among them Goodwill, ARC, and the Salvation Army. According to Goodwill, “When you donate to Goodwill, you’ve taken the opportunity to become a job creator and make a significant difference in the lives of individuals living in your community. After you drop off your shirts, shoes, blankets, electronics and other items, we sell them in one of our 3,000 Goodwill stores or on our online auction site, shopgoodwill.com. When someone buys your item, we use that money to fund job training and other services.”
So, keep the many people in need close to your heart as you start your spring cleaning this year. And remember, “For it is in giving that we receive,” (St. Francis of Assisi).