5 Things You Can Donate That Are Worth More Than Money

Want to donate to a charitable cause? Money isn’t the only thing you can donate. For those that are low on funds, there are many other things that you can give whilst helping to make a difference to people’s lives – in fact, your donation could be worth more than anything money could ever buy. Here are just five things you could consider donating.

Blood

Hospitals and emergency services are in constant need of blood donations. The blood you donate could help someone in need who is need of a blood transfusion due to an accident or surgery. There are blood banks across the country where you can go to make a donation. In order to give blood, you may have to meet certain requirements such as having no current illnesses, as well as not having drank alcohol or taking any drugs within the last 24 hours. Blood banks are happy to receive all blood types (rare blood types are particularly encouraged as these are often in higher demand). If you don’t know your blood type, you can always get it tested at a blood bank.

Eggs/Sperm

It’s also possible to donate eggs/sperm. This could help those having fertility issues to conceive a child – a gift which is certain to make a dramatic difference to someone’s life. You can search online to find your nearest egg donation agency or sperm bank. As with donating blood, you’ll have to meet certain requirements in order to become a donor – those that may carry genetic illnesses or other defects may be discouraged from donating. There are many places online where you can learn more about this type of donation. Alternatively, you may wish to talk to someone in person to get a better understanding of what it entails.

Food

If you have some spare food in your cupboard or in your fridge, you could consider donating this to your local food bank. Food banks help to provide food to the homeless or those that may not be able to financially support themselves. You can donate any food, but certain essential foods such as pasta, bread, milk and rice are likely to have the most impact. Treats are always welcomed too such as cookies or cereal – a starving family with kids are likely to appreciate these foods. Some supermarkets may offer a place to deposit donations – otherwise you’re best researching online to find out how you can donate to your local food bank.

Clothes

You can also consider donating any clothing you no longer wear. This could be taken to a charity store where it could be sold to help raise money for the store’s chosen charity. Alternatively, you could donate your clothes to a third world country where they can be worn by people that may need these clothes. For example, there are people in other countries that may not be able to afford a pair of shoes – your old pair of trainers could be just what they need to help them get around more comfortably. You may also have clothing that your children have grown out of that could be donated to children abroad – this could include anything from shoes to a rain jacket. Your clothes don’t have to be in perfect condition, although you should ensure that they aren’t too damaged. There are charities that can collect these clothes from your home and take them abroad to those in need, saving you the cost of having to post these clothes yourself. On top of feeling good for donating your clothes to someone who needs them, you may also feel good for decluttering your wardrobe and freeing up space in your home.

School equipment

Old school textbooks, calculators and other school equipment could all be valuable to a school in a third world country. Such schools may not get the funding necessary to buy their own resources and so equipment may be in short supply. If you or your kids have any old school equipment, consider donating this to a charity that can take this equipment to a school abroad. Don’t worry about textbooks being in English or being from a certain curriculum as they will likely still be put to good use.