It is a core value of Happy Homes Organizing, LLC to maintain socially & environmentally-conscious practices. This includes: reusing, recycling, and repurposing items already in the home when organizing (up to your individual preference); encouraging safe and proper recycling/disposal of hazardous household materials; and identifying creative avenues to donate or recycle unwanted items to populations in need.

donate

LOCAL

• ANEW Place (Burlington) | ANEW Place’s mission is to provide a holistic continuum of services for adults experiencing homelessness, centered in love and dignity, that foster growth, cultivate community engagement, and provide tools for lifelong change so that each person may start anew. Check out their website and give a call to coordinate potential donation drop-off.

• Bear Pond Books (Montpelier) | Sell your good-condition books in exchange for store credit. Check out their website for contact info and reach out to set up an appointment.

• Crow Bookshop (Burlington) | Trade your gently loved books in exchange for store credit towards the purchase of other used books. Visit their website and save the date for the next scheduled Book Trade.

• COTS (Burlington) | The Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) advocates for long-term solutions to end homelessness and provides emergency shelter, services, and long-term housing for Vermonters who are experiencing homelessness or are marginally housed. Check out their wish list to see if you have any new/unopened items they might currently need.

• Front Porch Forum | Connect with your local neighbors on this free online community-building service and post large or small household items you have available for sale or to giveaway.

• Goodwill (South Burlington & Williston) | Donate your lightly used clothing, household items, electronics and more; check out their list of acceptable donations for more specifics!

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Williston, Milton, Swanton & Waterbury) | The Habitat ReStores are nonprofit donation centers and thrift stores that help support Green Mountain Habitat’s homebuilding efforts in Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, and Lamoille counties. By donating your new and gently used furniture, appliances, home décor, and clothing, you help start a chain reaction of investment that builds homes, community, and hope throughout Northwest Vermont.

• ReSOURCE (Barre, Hyde Park, Burlington & Williston) | Your donations of gently used household goods and building materials help to keep usable goods out of the landfill while providing economic opportunities to Vermonters. Review their Donation Guidelines for more information, and be sure to check their current hours before visiting!

• The Shalom Shuk (Burlington) | The Shalom Shuk gratefully accepts donations of gently used clothing, jewelry and household goods; be sure to visit their website for a brief list of items that are not accepted.

NATIONAL

• Becca’s Closet | Donate new and gently worn long and short formal dresses in all sizes, especially sizes 0-4 & sizes16 and up. Regional chapters across 30 states help distribute prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who can not afford to purchase them.

• Dress for Success (New York) | Help support their mission to empower women to achieve economic independence with your donation of nearly new, contemporary, seasonal career-appropriate apparel, accessories, handbags, shoes, and jewelry. There is a particular need for sizes 00 to 2 & sizes 14 and above.

• Replay | Pass on your much-loved LEGO® bricks to share the power of play with kids involved with organizations such as Teach for America and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston.

recycle

LOCAL

• Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District | CVSWMD provides education, advocacy, and services for residents and businesses in reducing and managing their solid waste in order to protect public health and the environment. A helpful resource for Central-Vermonters on the where and how of recycling hazardous household materials (like electronics, paint, and batteries). Check out their A-Z list to answer that pressing question, “How do I get rid of all this stuff?”

• Chittenden Solid Waste District | CSWD provides Chittenden County residents with helpful information about recycling hazardous waste and other special recycling items (such as propane tanks or tires). Search their handy A-Z list to find out “Where do I chuck this?”

NATIONAL

• Wands for Wildlife (North Carolina) | Collect your used mascara wands, wash thoroughly and dry, and donate to help animals and the environment! Wands are shared with wildlife caregivers to use in their work providing care and treatment to wild animals. [NOTE: Wands for Wildlife will not be accepting wands for the foreseeable future; updated August 2024.]

upcycle

PROJECT IDEAS

• Cat Coolers | If you have an old cooler otherwise destined for the landfill, take a page out of Philip Rogich’s book and make your own Cat Cooler to provide winter shelter for stray cats.

• Cleaning Rags | Upcycle old t-shirts into cleaning rags for dusting and other household cleaning.

• Memory Bears | Turn a loved one’s old clothes into a sentimental treasure.

• T-Shirt Quilt | Save your old t-shirts from the landfill and preserve the memories by turning them into a cozy-keepsake.