So, you have a stack of stuff you want to give away.  What do you do with it?

Clothes and household goods are accepted by many charities.  Some groups sell these items in a thrift store.  Others (particularly homeless shelters, prison-to-work agencies, and refugee resettlement groups) give the items directly to their clients. Some will pick up the items.  In other cases you need to drop it off.  If you donate the material to a charity, you may be eligible for a tax deduction.  If so, get an itemized receipt.  To make it easier, make a list of everything you plan to donate.

Books, videos, and CDs can be donated to some schools, libraries, community centers, and retirement homes.  Please make sure you call these places before you take the materials to them to make sure they receive donations.  Some cannot accept donations while others can do so only at certain hours.  Another option for these items is a used book store.  My library has a used book sale.  In some towns, schools or charities have periodic used book sales. 

For larger items, you might want to consider online lists like CraigsList or FreeCycle.  You’ll want to post photos and monitor requests carefully.  And never be home alone when the pick-up takes place.

What methods have you used to dispose of useful things you no longer need.