As the semester winds down, one problem students may face is getting rid of items they no longer need.
Whether it is because they are graduating or simply do not want to bring certain items back home, students may consider donating things they no longer need or want.
Below is a list of several locations and organizations in the Bloomington-Normal area that accept donations:
General Donations
When donations are mentioned, places that immediately come to mind are ones such as Goodwill and similar organizations.
Goodwill accepts a variety of items, so it is a good option to fall back on.
Thrift stores such as Abundant Thrift in Bloomington are also worth mentioning since they will accept almost anything.
Though convenient, these locations may not accept certain items such as food. There are other donation centers in the area that specialize in certain types of donations such as food and furniture.
Donating Food
Having to throw away perfectly good food is never ideal.
Thankfully, there are several food pantries in the Bloomington-Normal area that will accept any unwanted food.
One of the closest locations is the School Street Food Pantry, located inside the First United Methodist Church in Normal.
It is important to note that they only accept non-perishable food items.
If you are looking to donate perishable food items, Home Sweet Home Ministries in Bloomington will accept any and all types of food. They also accept non-food items such as toilet paper, dish detergent and notebooks.
Donating Textbooks
Textbooks can cost a lot of money, only to either be thrown away at the end of the semester or forgotten about inside a cabinet.
Instead of discarding them, they can be donated to help future students.
One location that accepts textbooks is The Share Shop, located inside the Office of Sustainability. In addition to textbooks, it also accepts items such as clothing, shoes and small household items.
Donations are accepted all year long and can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Donating Furniture
For those who have furniture in their apartment that they do not want to take home, there are several places in the Bloomington-Normal area that will accept them.
One notable location is Recycling Furniture for Families, located on Center Street in Bloomington.
Recycling Furniture for Families is always in need of clean, gently used furniture and household items such as tables, chairs, couches, end tables and shower curtains.