Donate Items to Milwaukee Area Charities by Year End
Need to create some space for gifts you will receive during the holidays? Or are you looking for a last minute tax deduction? If so, time is running out to donate to local charities by year end. This is a great time to take action since charities in the Milwaukee area are experiencing an increase in need, and you may be able to benefit with some last minute tax deductions.
Goodwill, Purple Heart, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society are all well known charities that accept used clothing and other goods. Here’s more information for each charity to assist you in making donations by year end:
Use the locator on the Goodwill site to find the Goodwill location nearest you. There are sixteen Goodwill Donation Center’s in Southeastern Wisconsin, so chances are you’ll be able to find one by you. According to Goodwill, they will accept your new or gently used clothing, appliances, automobiles, computer equipment, electronics, and furniture and sell them in their Goodwill retail stores. Read more about Goodwill’s donation acceptance guidelines here. Goodwill has also published a donation guide that donors can use to help determine the value of their donations for tax purposes.
There isn’t much information on the internet about Purple Heart’s Pick Up Service operation in Milwaukee. However, Yahoo! Local lists their phone number as 414-281-4281.
St. Vincent de Paul Society accepts donations of clothing, household items, appliances, and furniture that can be distributed to the poor in our community. In addition, they are always in need of non-perishable food, and cleaning and serving supplies. To arrange for pick-up of larger items such as furniture, call 414-462-7863. Drop off locations in Milwaukee are:
- SVDP Store – 2320 W. Lincoln Ave
- SVDP Council Office – 9601 W Silver Spring Drive
- St. Stephen – 5880 South Howell Avenue
- St. Catherine – 8661 N 76 Place
In addition to the three organizations above, JSOnline 2009 Giving Guide Database and OnMilwaukee.com’s 2009 Wish List are robust resources with specific requests from hundreds of local organizations. Not only can you find opportunities to donate before year end, but you can also find volunteer or donation opportunities that extend into 2010.
Do you have a special charity that is close to your heart and could use donations by year end? If so, feel free to leave a comment and make our readers aware of the opportunity!
New Goodwill Store in Wauwatosa Opens Today
JSOnline reporter Doris Hajewski recently reported that Goodwill is opening a new store in Wauwatosa on Sept. 25 at 12121 W. Feerick Street. To help celebrate their store opening, Goodwill has announced several special activities at the new store:
Saturday, October 3, 2009
For every $20 purchased, you will be entered into a drawing for valuable electronics, sports merchandise and other prizes!
Halloween Table Setting and Costume Tips
10:00–11:00 a.m. and Noon–1:00 p.m. Join Merri Cvetan, Goodwill’s Home Decor Expert and local interior designer from MEC Design Studio, as she presents table decorating ideas and themes for that perfect Halloween party, along with costume ideas to coordinate with your celebration.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Free with purchase to the first 200 customers a festive dip chiller/server and spreader for your entertaining this holiday season! Limit one per customer. No coupon necessary.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
6:00–8:00 p.m. Join Milwaukee Brewers catcher, Mike Rivera, for an autograph session. Limited to the first 300 shoppers. Limit one item for signature per person.
Club Goodwill Frequent Shopper Program
If you like to treasure hunt at Goodwill, not only can you find some great deals, but you can also sign up for their frequent shopper program for free. The Club Goodwill program offers these benefits:
- 5% off any purchase of $20 or more every day
- 25% off birthday coupon
- Seniors 15% off Wednesday
- Students 10% off Saturday
- Discount coupons by mail
- Advance notification of sales and promotions (such as Holiday, Halloween and Grand Opening Events)
According to the Goodwill website, it is easy to sign up. Just visit the Goodwill store nearest you and ask a cashier how you can sign up for Club Goodwill. After filling out a form you will receive your Club Goodwill card instantly. In addition, Goodwill sends out offers and discounts all year long.
In an effort to pass along more tips about shopping at Goodwill or other local thrift stores, we asked our readers panel if they had any advice to share. Renee responded with her thoughts on Retique, Goodwill’s store in Milwaukee’s 3rd Ward:
I went to the new Goodwill store that they have in the 3rd Ward. It’s supposed to be all name brands and like a boutique. I thought it was overpriced. The stuff I saw were name brands like Charlotte Russe, Wet Seal, etc, and the items were priced about the same as if I were to go to those stores themselves and buy the stuff on clearance. The way I looked at it was: I could go in those stores, buy this stuff on clearance for the same price or cheaper, and it would be new. This Goodwill store had stuff priced at like $12 – $14, and it was worn…being the bargain shopper that I am, that was not appealing to me.
Renee also stated that she likes shopping at the Goodwill store in Kenosha because it is clean and organized well.
Nicole responded with some helpful advice on managing time while shopping at a thrift store:
I try to keep a list of specific items I’m looking for. I never just randomly walk into a store to look without any specific direction. I simply don’t have time to just wander and search through racks.
Do you have any advice to share about shopping at thrift stores in Milwaukee? If so, please leave a comment to share with our readers.
On a related note, don’t forget about the Boston Store Goodwill Sale Event going on now thru September 29th.