Very often our organizing clients, for one reason or another will go through a huge purge and discard items no longer desired. As we help clients decide what may or may not “fit” into their current lives and or spaces, they decide what to donate, sell, or recycle (or re-purpose). The Salvation Army, Goodwill, NCJW and Out of the Closet are popular donation sites for the Los Angeles area. Typically, however, our clients don’t find their old treasures hanging in a sandwich shop…
Jared's story and connection to Salvation Army:
When Jared Fogle “The Subway Guy” achieved a significant weight loss on the since coined “Subway Diet”, it caught the attention of Men’s Health. Jared was featured in the magazine’s article “Stupid Diets…that Work!” in 1999. And by January 2000, he was a household name. Recently TMZ caught up with Jared and asked “What did you ever do with your old clothes?” He saved a couple pair of pants and shipped 60 bags of clothes to The Salvation Army in the late ‘90’s. In 2008, in honor of a decade of maintenance, his old pair of 62-inch pants (after a final "Tour de Pants") were hung in a Subway restaurant.
A major weight loss is in itself a type of decluttering and can inspire many to move on to other organizing projects. Embracing “out with the old, and in with the new” can, not only help one to maintain a healthier lifestyle, it encourages developing new habits. If something no longer fits, serves a purpose in your life, moves you forward or encourages growth consider letting it go…
Tips for donating clothing:
- Only donate usable clothing (no tears, stains)
- Items should be cleaned and repaired before donating
- Check the pockets – even if you don’t recall the last time you wore it
- Don’t forget your receipt – donations are tax-deductible
- Put a box or a bag in your closet – when it’s full, it’s time to donate!
What did we miss/Comments:
Have you ever experienced a major weight loss? What other areas of your life did it affect? Do you donate to an organization or share with friends? What criteria do you use for letting go of items that no longer “fit“ your life? Let us know what you think here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check us out on Instagram (@johntrosko).
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