Spring cleaning for a cause

It is that time of year again, when the weather starts to change and you start sorting through those clothes or items that you want to save for next year and items that you might want to give away. It’s also an excellent time to start thinking about donation options for the things you are willing to part with. Here are some organizations that are great for lawyers to think about donating things that you won’t need again next season!

One of my favorite organizations for donations is Share Baby. Federal and state assistance programs do not help with baby gear and diapers, which are essential for infant care. As a new mother, I know how quickly those young ones outgrow that diaper size — leaving you with an unopened box of sitting in your basement — or how that rocker or chair you depended on in the first three months quickly becomes a dust collector in the corner. Share Baby provides a way to donate formula, diapers and infant gear. (Visit Share Baby’s website for a complete list of accepted items.) It is a great way to free up space for all the new items your little one requires and help another family get the things that they need.

For those of us who are trying to purge our own closets and not our children’s, there are a ton of organizations that are looking for professional clothes to help people prepare for employment. For women’s clothing, there is Dress for Success to help women enter or re-enter the work force. You can either donate to the organization directly or host a drive in your office (or at a happy hour, as I’ve mentioned before.) This is a great way to have people do service in the office and help them clean out their closets!

Last year, I helped organize for the Bar Association of Baltimore City a clothing drive for men’s business clothing, which we donated to Manna House. Other organizations accepting business attire are included in this wonderful list provided by Johns Hopkins Hospital; pick one of these organizations for your workplace to assist.

We all are busy, of course, and it is hard to find the time to drive to a donation center. So think of this as a great way to just bring your old clothes to your office with you! It is an easy way to make a big difference in the lives of others.