The best way to handle the guilt of over-accumulation is to do good with your unwanted goods. This is the win-win of moving. When you donate your items to charity, you give your stuff a new home and help those in need.

Regional Charities

Some charities will arrange to pick up your items, but demand can get overwhelming and they may not be able to accommodate your schedule. In that case, your best bet is to drop off smaller items at the charity’s physical location (many also have donation boxes across town), and call an independent delivery service to collect larger items.

Here are a few recommended charities in your region:

• Barrie and Surrounding Area
• Durham Region
• Greater Toronto Area
• Halton Region
• London Area 
• Ottawa and Surrounding Area 

Furniture & Appliances

Habitat for Humanity Canada works to give struggling families proper housing, safety and security that otherwise may not be available to them. To see the full scope of accepted items you can donate to this great charity, click here. When you've got the list ready, find the nearest location for drop-off 

Additional options in Ontario:

• Furniture Bank 

General Household Items & Electronics

For clothes, toys, small household items and the lot, one of the best all-around charities is the Canadian Diabetes Association. Not only do they take just about anything, they also offer free pickup.

Additional charities in your region:

• Donation Town
• Kidney Clothes
• Salvation Army Thrift Store
• Goodwill 

Children's Items

Who else has trouble letting go of the baby clothes, books, and toys you developed a loving attachment to because they remind you of that brief time when they would smile up at you with those delicious chubby cheeks? No? Just us? OK, listen, while we're over here sniffling about green eggs and ham, you might want to consider donating your gently used children’s items to charities that help families in need across Canada.

Children's charities in your region:

• Covenant House 
• Children's Aid 

Items You Can Donate to Your Local Animal Shelter

Almost 8 million animals enter shelters each year, according to the SPCA. This gives shelter employees and volunteers an enormous amount of work to handle, but you can do your part by making donations to your local facility. Whether you love animals or you simply want to make a positive impact on your community, here are some items you can donate.

1. Used pet accessories

Did you know that many animal shelters are willing to take gently used pet items? If you have an old dog bed that your pup no longer needs or a lightly worn cat carrier, PetFinder.com states that shelters are usually ready to take them. To find out if your items are suitable for re-use, contact your local shelter directly to learn more information.

2. Leashes

If your puppy has grown out of his leash or you’ve simply purchased him a new one, don’t throw away your old one! An animal shelter may have plenty of dogs that would appreciate your leash.

3. Environmentally friendly supplies

Eco-friendly pet items continue to grow in popularity, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Everything from environmentally friendly pet bedding to toys can be found these days, and as The Kind Life reports, many animal shelters love them. Think green when you go out to buy items to donate to your local facility.

4. Pet food

Perhaps you went a little crazy when you bought treats for your pet at home, and now you have extras. Whether it’s cat food, dog food or just snacks, animal shelters are always in need of food, according to The Cub. After all, there are many hungry mouths to feed!