Donations to Epilepsy Foundation...anyone done it before?

[sarahlovesmickey]

For a few months, we've received bright green postcards in the mail from the Epilepsy Foundation asking for donations of clothing, toys, books, housewares, shoes, bed and bath items, etc... They are going to be in our area on March 16th so if we want to put a box together, they will pick it up for free.

My question is: has anyone ever donated items to them before? What do they do with them? Is the donation tax deductible? Do they give you a specific time they will be there to pick up the items or can I leave it boxed up next to my mailbox???

We usually bring our items to Goodwill or sometimes we will put our clothing in the Planet Aid bins, but I may give this a try, especially if they will pick it up.

 

[crjack]

I've donated to them and the VVA lots of times. For each group there is a designated day for the pick up. They usually do a reminder call the night before and confirm where you are going to leave the boxes or bags.

They send a truck and leave a slip you can use for your taxes but it's up to you to estimate the value.

You dont have to be home for the pick-up and it's very convenient.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

oh great info! Thank you so much. I'll call them now and gather our stuff together. I figure it's such a great cause and we DEFINITELY have stuff to donate! Now time to clean out some closets!!!!!

 

[hercamore]

If the weather predicts rain on the day your stuff is picked up, be sure to cover with a plastic tablecloth or the like. Or put stuff in plastic bags.


I usually just take stuff to the savers store donation center which is run by the Epilepsy Foundation.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

Yup, I will cover them with a tarp if there is going to be rain. We don't have a savers store, but I have some rather large things to donate (ex: a baby changing table) that won't really fit all that well in my mini van along with the other things I'm going to donate.

 

[FergieTCat]

Thanks for this heads up. Our family is effected by epilepsy and I would love to make a donation.

Doesn't look like I can do this in New York City. Darn!

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

Thanks for this heads up. Our family is effected by epilepsy and I would love to make a donation.

Hi! I received a lime green postcard in the mail from them saying the date they will be in my area. The postcard I got is just for Mass, Rhode Island, NH, and Maine residents, but I'm sure they must be everywhere--I hope so anyway. The phone number on it is 888-322-8209.

 

[pediatric-rnp]

In our area they are one of the "Savers Stores" (thrift)
, just like Big Sisters. The Savers in No Attleboro, MA has the large Epilepsy Foundation sign in front and the donation paperwork for your taxes also has their logo.

 

[akcire]

Just to be clear. Savers is a for profit company. They buy donated boxes from charities to sell at their stores. I have no idea what they are paying per box.

I do wonder about tax implications for this type of activity. If you are claiming a donation value of $50 per box of donated goods to the Epilepsey Foundation (which would be a reasonable current value for a box of clothes); however they are selling the boxes for $5 to Savers.

Personally, I would rather just donate directly to a charity that is going to sell the items. My local Goodwill gets 100% of the value they derive from my box of stuff.

 

[Lucille1963]

I also like to donate directly to a charity that will sell the clothing and Savers is NOT a charity. They will give the Epilepsy Foundation approximately TWENTY CENTS a pound for what you donate.

Read more about it on this site.
http://www.smartgivers.org/your_rags_whose_riches_charity_donations_vary_at_second-hand_stores.html

This isn't the only store that will pick up, call around to local charity shops. They may offer this service and more of your money will get to where you want it to go.

I do wonder about tax implications for this type of activity. If you are claiming a donation value of $50 per box of donated goods to the Epilepsey Foundation (which would be a reasonable current value for a box of clothes); however they are selling the boxes for $5 to Savers.

Personally, I would rather just donate directly to a charity that is going to sell the items. My local Goodwill gets 100% of the value they derive from my box of stuff.

The article above addresses your concern regarding donating to this type of company. As you thought, you only get to deduct the 20 cents a pound.

 

[valee]

I prefer to give directly to small local charities that distribute the donated goods directly to those they provide service to. In the DC area, I give my work clothes to Suited for Change, which distributes the clothes to women to use as they return to the workplace, and my casual clothes and household goods go to a shelter for battered women.
I've heard stories about how much of what is donated to Goodwill or other charities in drop off boxes winds up being thrown out or sold as rags, because of exposure to weather and damage from other items thrown in the collection box, so prefer handing the items over directly.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I have in the past donated clothing (women's and children's) to the local woman's shelter. I think I will still have them come pick up my donations. As I said, I have some larger items that I don't feel like loading in my mini van and then finding the time to unload them again at Goodwill.