If we want to see our clients eyes light up, all we have to do is tell them we’re going to get rid of all of their unwanted items and they are in heaven! It’s definitely a pinch point for most of them because, even if they want to get rid of stuff, where should it go?
Here are a few of our favourite locations to take items in and around Calgary. (Full disclosure: I’m sure there are dozens, likely hundreds, of amazing places to donate items in Calgary but these are the ones we use most frequently with our clients).
Our favourite place to donate furniture
ReStore. You do have to upload pictures of what you’re getting rid of, but they will come and pick it all up for free! For a full list of what they do (and don’t) take, click here.
Our favourite place to donate women’s business attire
Making Changes (formally known as the Walk in Closet). They not only take business clothing for women needing a hand up, it is also a great place to take your gently used bras. They also accept unused make-up, cosmetics and personal care products. And, as an added bonus, they also take teenage girl clothing as well, so it’s perfect for some of your more kids (or even possibly your) more casual clothing as well. For the full donation list, click here.
Our favourite place to take unwanted, non-expired food
The Calgary Food Bank, of course! But, listen up because here’s the easy part.
Most grocery stores have a food bank drop bin right by the entrance or the tills. It doesn’t mean doing an extra trip. It just means throwing the stuff into one your re-useable grocery bags and making the switch on your next shopping trip!
Where to take unwanted and/or broken electronics
Be careful on this one. Thanks to some adjustments in funding, a lot of items formally acceptable for e-waste removal were taken off the list. Here is a photo I took on one of my last drop offs to the E-Waste drop off in the curry barracks a couple of years back.
If it is computer related, you can look at nearest Best Buy location as many of their locations take old printers, laptops, ear buds, etc. And, of course, there is always the Calgary landfill, but it will cost you.
For more information on this, visit this page on the City of Calgary website.
What to do with paint, chemicals, aerosol containers & lightbulbs?
If you want to avoid the costs of the Calgary Landfill, there are a few firehall locations around the city that do take these items. For a full list of these locations, click on this link.
Where we take everything else
There are a number of great places around the city to donate the rest of your gently used items. (And yes, please only give items that have been gently used. The last thing these locations need is to sort through stained, ripped and broken junk.)
The Calgary Drop In Centre. Click here for a list of their most urgent needs.
WINS (Women In Need Society). Click here for a list of what they accept.
Goodwill. There are donation centres all over the city but I frequently visit the large donation centre just down from Chinook Mall, because of it’s central location. For their full list of what you can donate, click here.
These are just a few of the places we frequently visit. If you have any other great suggestions for donating, please share them below!
