You benefit by qualifying for a tax deduction, cleaning out your home, and knowing that you have helped others. The charity may even pick up your items, saving you the hassle of carrying them out. Remember, the used furnishings must be in very good or like new condition. The charity is not a trash pickup service and it does not wish to provide furnishings in poor condition to its clients.

The proper tax deduction amount is based on the current fair market value of the donated item. Refer to IRS Publications 526 and 561 for guidance. Always obtain a receipt for your donation and don’t overvalue your gift. Unless the item is new or rare, the proper deduction value is probably a fraction of the purchase price.

The donation benefits the charity by supporting its mission and helping it grow. It benefits the charity’s clients (e.g., unemployed, low-income, abused or homeless people) by helping them establish comfortable and cheerful living spaces. Since most such donations are local, helping these people get a fresh start can raise the standard of living in your community.

Giving your used home furnishings to charity creates a chain of environmental benefits. Many furnishings contain toxic substances that can pollute your air or water supply when they are incinerated or placed in landfills. The U.S. EPA reports that in 2009, we as a nation discarded 9.8 million tons of furniture and furnishings, more than double the 4.8 million tons discarded in 1980. The 2009 amount comprised 4.1% of the nation’s municipal solid waste for the year.

Keeping usable items in use minimizes unnecessary production of new items. Product manufacturing consumes natural resources and creates waste byproducts. Shipping burns fossil fuels and pollutes the air. Donating good used furnishings delays this cycle as we develop cleaner, more efficient technologies for manufacturing, shipping, and disposal.

Don’t throw furnishings away when they are in very good condition. Donate them to a local charity and create a chain of benefits for yourself, your community, the charity, and the environment.

- Written by Alan Biehn of ab.editing, a member of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia

To see a list of donation items Deserving Decor is accepting, please visit the Donate page.

• Cleaning
• Assessment & Replacement
• Decorating

The first phase is Cleaning. Cleaning time varies depending on the size and condition of the apartment. The apartments range in size from one bedroom to four bedrooms, the majority of apartments are one or two bedroom units.

The second phase is Assessment and Replacement. We go through the apartment and look for furniture and housewares that are in need of repair or replacement. Anything that is not functional is discarded and replacement items are brought in. This includes sofas, end tables, dining tables, chairs, dressers, nightstands, lamps and other furnishings. We also supply TV’s, DVD players, microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, pots and pans, dishes, glasses, flatware and home decor.

The third phase is Decorating, which includes making beds, hanging artwork, installing window treatments, area rugs and other decorative items to help make the apartment feel like a home. A bedroom is decorated for the mother, father or parents and the kids bedrooms are decorated according to their age and gender.

The entire process takes about two or three days, depending on the size and condition of the apartment.

We have provided over 65 transitional homeless shelter apartment makeovers throughout Bucks County since June of 2008  and supplied numerous newly housed families with furnishings and household goods.

The whole process can be hectic, but always comes together in the end. Although we don’t usually meet the families moving into the apartments, we receive feedback from the housing Case Managers and Volunteer Coordinators who convey to us how happy the families are in their new “homes”. It a very gratifying and moving experience and what keeps us going.

In addition to shelter makeover projects, we would also like to supply furnishings, housewares and home decor to families leaving shelters and acquiring their own residences. The families would be able to pick out what they need free of charge. We are in the process of trying to find a warehouse to establish a Furniture Bank to provide these services.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with cleaning services or the decorating process, please email us at volunteer@deservingdecor.org

In addition to volunteers that help with makeovers, there are other volunteer positions available, some of which can be done from home. Please view our Volunteer page for current volunteer opportunies listed on Volunteer Match.

Without our dedicated volunteers, we couldn’t do what we do!

Written by Beth Baker, Deserving Decor Founder

Like a Food Bank supplies food to the disadvantaged, a Furniture Bank provides newly housed families with furniture, including kitchen tables to share meals, sofas and chairs to sit and converse or watch TV and bed’s to sleep in. Additional furniture, household goods and home décor are also offered to make the house into a functional and attractive home. All the things that most of us take for granted.

Such provisions are gently used and donated by members of communities in Bucks County.  There are many generous donors in Bucks County willing to contribute furniture and household goods; currently we have to turn them away due to the lack of adequate storage space.

We have three small donated storage units in Bucks County, not nearly enough space to fulfill the demand. In order to help the families in need of furniture and household goods, and to store the numerous furniture donation requests we receive, we are in dire need of warehouse space.

Specifically, we are interested in a accomodations in Bucks County. If you have a warehouse or building that is currently unused and are able to donate the space, and take a tax deduction for the fair market value of the space, to help fulfill this great demand, please contact us. Help us help our neighbors in need, call today!

The alternative, raise enough funding to rent a warehouse. If 1000 supporters give $10.00 each, we could rent a space for a year.  Give $10.00 today to help us reach our goal and create a Furniture Bank for Bucks County!

Written by Beth Baker, Deserving Decor Founder

Being a selective, minimal and wise shopper is certainly the trend for all of us who have shifted our spending habits since the downturn in the economy. What was once  a steady income has changed for forty percent of individuals in our country.

Being able to create an environment of relaxation and comfort in our homes has been proven by psychologists as a way to better prepare us for work and stress we may find in our daily lives.

Here are some practical tips that can help lift our spirits with a realistic and efficient budget.

Reduce

Going through housewares, clothing, books, furniture and asking yourself when was the last time I have used, worn or found this item is a question to ask yourself.

If it has been one or more years since you have reached for a piece of clothing, utilized that house ware or needed that piece of furniture, it is time to give it to charity, take it to a consignment shop or trade it with a friend.

Asking a friend to give you a second opinion, who tends to be clutter free, is always a good source of guidance for those of us who want to hang on to belongings for dear life.

Freeing our home of clutter and gaining space helps to encourage productivity and creativity.

Rescue

After you remove unwanted clutter, the next step to consider is ways of bringing in change to invigorate your home by recycling the old and rescuing slightly used items.

Taking a day by yourself, or with a friend, hitting garage sales, thrift stores, consignment shops and other used furnishing sources is a fun and frugal way to begin the process of decorating your home with three principals in mind:

Shift towards simplifying, select new color themes and smart budget shopping.

Refresh

Some basic and inexpensive ways to refresh a room or home environment involves a fresh pop of color on one wall or painting the major living area or bedroom. Adding a different hue to your bed linens or decorative pillows in a new color on a sofa stimulates a sense of renewal.

Creating a center piece from the outside in any room will bring the outside into your home and establish the feeling of Spring.

Painting one piece of furniture or metal lighting in an unusual color will brighten any room. A new set of blinds, curtains or bright colored bed sheets can lift your spirits.

By shifting our thinking towards change, it will free us to create a home that is our own peaceful sanctuary.

Things do not change; We change…Henry David Thoreau

Written by Cherie Watts, Deserving Decor Volunteer

When reducing and donating to a local charity, if you live in Bucks County, PA, please view Deserving Decor’s list of needed donation items by visiting our Donate page.

Deserving Decor was selected by CBS 3 for a segment of their “Brotherly Love” program which airs every Tuesday night on the 5:00 news and then is rebroadcast the next day at 6:00 a.m. Our segment, “Designing Homes For The Homeless” aired yesterday, March 13th on the 5:00 p.m. news and again this  morning on the 6:00 a.m. news.

CBS 3 came to one of our transitional homeless shelter makeovers, which is a two day process. The first day involves a thorough, deep cleaning of the apartment and discarding of items in disrepair. The second day consists of using donated linens, lamps, artwork, furnishings and more to setup the apartment for the new family.

We make beds, replace lamps and furniture, hang artwork and anything else that is needed to turn the apartment into a functional and appealing home for the new family. The families are primarily single mothers. We decorate the bedrooms based on the ages and sexes of the children and make the Moms room a respite from a hectic day.

The families come from temporary homeless shelters and other Bucks County agencies to the transitional homeless shelter apartments provided by the Bucks County Housing Group, who provide the 36 transitional shelter apartments we makeover, where they can reside for one year until they get back on their feet.

The current downturn of the economy has caused a rise in the number of families who need a place to live. There is currently a large backlog of families waiting for transitional housing. There is a great need for additional housing.

We are always looking for volunteers, donors, nonprofits and businesses to collaborate with, if you are interested in helping, please contact us at info@deservingdecor.org.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/03/13/brotherly-love-designing-homes-for-the-homeless/

Beth Baker
Deserving Decor Founder

It can sometimes be difficult to organize a space, but this challenge is multiplied by the confinements and limitations of a SMALL space. However, just because your space is challenging, it’s still possible to be organized.

Keep in mind, however, that it’s imperative to use every inch of available space both efficiently and wisely. Many of these tips can be used in any space, including small spaces:

1. The ‘ONE IN–ONE OUT’ rule.

This rule helps to set limits, which is often the hardest part for people to follow. It works well with items such as shoes, clothing, toys and books. In small spaces, the amount of stuff is often pre-determined by the amount of space available. For any new item bought or received as a gift, one item must leave. This works especially well for children’s toys.

2. Find solutions that are both functional and attractive.

For example, in your living room you need a solution for extra blankets and board games. What about using a storage ottoman that looks good and also serves as a great storage solution? Also consider hidden storage such as drawers in coffee or end tables or closed shelving solutions that allow you plenty of storage space but are visually appealing as well.

3. Be realistic with your space.

A 10′ x 10′ room will feel bigger when it is filled with less stuff than a jam packed room. Remember, the scale of furniture will also affect the visual space in a room. The reality is that a 10′ x 10′ room is only that big–you cannot grow or change the size of a room. The space given is the constant. The amount of items within your space is the variable.

4. Purge excessive items often (Donate, recycle, trash).

Keep small boxes in a closet that can be used to temporarily store items that need to be donated until you have enough to call a charity for a pickup or make a delivery. Be realistic. Do you really need 20 nick-knacks for your one shelf in your house or can they be scaled back to a collection of 10? Also limit and purge collections often so that it only includes your best and favorite items.

5. Set realistic limits.

For instance, if you only have room for 15 hangers in your closet, do not buy extra hangers. Instead limit yourself to using only those 15 hanging pieces of clothing. There are also special hangers that allow you to hang more than one item per hanger and used flocked hangers take up less space, as well.

6. Be creative and resourceful. Recycle while finding solutions.

For example, in a small kitchen, use a plastic dish drying tray to hold cookie sheets. Reuse old paint cans to organize office supplies. On a larger scale, using old furniture in a new way is known as Interior Redesign.

7. Find the hidden space potential throughout your home.

Plastic containers under the bed can store linens, shoes, out of season clothing or extra bedding. Space Bags works well to reduce the amount of space bulky comforters or winter coats take up when storing them away. Is there space not being utilized behind a staircase in your closet? Look up. Can you add additional shelving to your closets to avoid a huge expanse of empty space not being used?

Hanging shoe holders can be used on the back of doors to organize much more than just shoes such as kitchen utensils, spices, or food. They can be used in the office to organize extra supplies or in the bathroom to organize toiletries and hair accessories.

Use cork boards and pegs on the back of doors to organize jewelry such as necklaces. Use over the door hanging pockets to store magazines.

8. Use wall and ceiling space.

In the kitchen, you might use a hanging holder for pots and pans. In living and office spaces, use floor to ceiling shelves. Another example is magnetic spice racks that hang on the walls. In the garage, use a hanging rack for extra storage.

Embrace the pluses of living in a small space and use its entirety to its full potential. You will feel like you are living in a large space!

—-

Audrey Cupo is a full-time Professional Organizer and sole proprietor of A BETTER SPACE based in Bucks County, PA. She specializes in residential organizing and focuses her business on helping busy moms and women entrepreneurs get organized with her in-home services, U Can Do It information product line and public speaking. To sign up for her free monthly newsletter “Organizing News You Can Use”, visit www.4abetterspace.com.

—-

Audrey Cupo
Professional Organizer
A BETTER SPACE
(215)491-5193
betterspace@comcast.net
www.4abetterspace.com

When reducing clutter think about donating to a local charity, if you live in Bucks County, PA, please view Deserving Decor’s list of needed donation items by visiting our Donate page.

Thank you to Emily Lounsberry, Staff Writer and Michael Bryant, Staff Photographer.

Want to know more about Deserving Decor and our mission? We were fortunate enough to be featured in three articles in 2011.

Two of them were features on Generocity.org – Greater Philadelphia’s source for local nonprofit news, giving and networking.

A Star is Born Through Deserving Decor

Wanted: a few good men in Bucks County

This new website features greater Philadelphia area nonprofits, inspiring stories, and an easy way to give to local charities.

The third, A place to call home, was featured in the Intelligencer and the Bucks County Courier Times.

Please read and find out about us and contact us on how you can help families living in homeless shelters in Bucks County, PA.

Image by Danilo Rizzuti 

All these experiences mold our sense of stability and sense of self, while preparing us to face joys and trials of life (with the understood support of each other) and more importantly, a sense of belonging.  Home is where we can be ourselves and have a sense of security; our youth is not supposed to face a future devoid of these reinforcements and homelessness.

One in every three homeless individuals is under the age of eighteen!   

The National Coalition for the Homeless defines homeless youth as individuals under the age of eighteen who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. It is now established that approximately two million people under the age of eighteen will experience homelessness by the end of this year.

Other dilemmas that compound this issue are the risk of facing physical assault, and unattended medical and mental health issues, which have the potential repercussion of fatality.

In the past year, approximately fifty percent of runaway youth were physically abused and seeking resolution from a difficult home environment.  While one tenth of female runaways are reportedly pregnant and homeless, homeless youth are ten times more likely to contract HIV than adolescents who are not homeless.

Please watch this video about teens slipping through the cracks and into the world of homelessness. It may change your life or that of a homeless youth.

We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love - Mother Teresa

Written by Cherie Watts, Deserving Decor Volunteer