Totally FREE Ways to Give Back to the Community

At this stage in our lives, my family’s desire to give unlimited stacks of cash to our favorite charities exceeds the realities of our pocketbook. So, we prioritize our financial gifts, maximize our volunteer time and then we get creative. There are plenty of ways to give to organizations and causes you’re passionate about that are cash free and take minimal time. You alone are not going to dramatically affect the bottom line this way, but there’s power in numbers. If I do these things and you do these things and we get our friends to pitch in too, soon a lot of people are participating and a little can go a long way.

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Many of these organizations could also use cash or larger in-kind donations. These suggestions are not meant to be in lieu of cash gifts or volunteer efforts, but to supplement them. They are things of value that you may be literally throwing away.

Diaper Rewards & Formula::

Do you use Pampers or Huggies wipes or diapers in your house? You can donate the Rewards Codes to The Treehouse. Don’t throw away coupons for Similac (or generic equivalent) formula or unopened cans of formula you may receive as a sample- they will take those too! {For a complete list of new and gently used items accepted for donation go here.}

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Clothes & Accessories::

Once upon a time I was given the misinformation that donated items that couldn’t be resold ended up costing organizations money and you were better off throwing away anything beyond ‘gently used.’ Then a couple years ago I was fortunate enough to tour Goodwill Industries and learned that while that might be the case with some resale retail outlets, it isn’t always the case. Donations at the Goodwill are sorted and processed by individuals with disabilities and barriers to employment. Items that can’t be resold will be repurposed. Holey t-shirts or blow-out ruined onesies may be cut, stacked and packaged then sold as shop rags to auto service shops.  Shoes with broken heels or worn soles will be mined for leather. Busted jewelry may be sorted for chain or sellable metals or stones. Hopefully your donated items make it to the sales floor of a retail location, but worst case scenario they’re repurposed. Regardless, their processing provides income and employment training to a Goodwill client. Rethink your “toss” pile next time you do a closet clean out. {For a complete list of items accepted for donation go here.}

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Pull Tabs::

Did you know the pull tab on a soda (or beer) can is pure aluminum and fetches a higher price than the rest of the can when sold for scrap metal? The Ronald McDonald House Charities additionally receive a premium price for their pull tabs when they cash in the product of their annual drive. We collect ours in a darling little house that lives on our kitchen counter and travels with us to tailgates where the whole endeavor earned its nickname: “drinking for the kids.” Stop by a Ronald McDonald House for your own house and extras to put in the break room at work. {For a complete list of items accepted for donation go here.}

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And, while we’re drinking…

Aluminum Cans::

The Kansas Humane Society will take your cans at nineteen area collection sites including locations in nearly all Wichita suburbs as part of their Recycling Program. This is a perfect example of a little thing can add up big time. In 2015, KHS expects an additional $50,000 of revenue from can recycling. {For a complete list of items accepted for donation go here.}

Box Tops::

Every redeemed Box Top for Education is worth ten cents for your child’s school. That’s unrestricted  cash that can be spent on technology, field trips, arts programs and more. There are schools that cash in for tens of thousands of dollars each year! Since 1996, over $600 million has been donated to participating schools. You’ll see box tops on all types of products. Just clip, stash and surrender to the school of your choice.

I don’t have a child in elementary school yet and these do expire; I save them for the neighbor kids who are happy to take them off my hands. They’re always collecting them and competing for fifteen extra minutes of recess or whatever the latest fun incentive is.

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Dillons Community Rewards::

In 2015 Dillons is awarding $2 Million to area schools, churches and non-profits via their Community Rewards Program. It’s simple: you register your Dillon’s Plus card, select an organization to support from the list or by providing a five digit code, and shop normally. At the end of every quarter Dillon’s pays out $500,000 proportionately to all organizations based on points earned on registered cards.

Amazon Smile::

Select a Charitable Organization here and make your standard Amazon purchases via AmazonSmile. Amazon in turn donates 0.5% of every eligible purchase to your chosen organization.

“No one can give everything, but everyone can give something” -Unknown… but so, so true!

Ginny Ellis
Ginny Ellis is a hometown girl who happily resides in East Wichita with her husband, two young sons, two rowdy dogs, and one spoiled tortoise. Together they enjoy taking part in all our city has to offer, especially if it involves being outdoors, supporting the arts, or is particularly delicious. She is a WAHM who serves as WMB's Events Director as well as holding volunteer positions in Junior League of Wichita, on her neighborhood elementary school's PTO Board, and for United Way of the Plains. Ginny is a podcast enthusiast, laundry folding procrastinator, and insatiable reader who loves the Shockers, theme parties, and her margaritas on the rocks.

2 COMMENTS

  1. This list (and ideas) are great! Our school earned almost $4,000 in box tops and we only have a little over 300 kids! All of these can help organizations supplement when you can’t give cash! Thanks for the tips!!

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