The calendar year may turn over in January, but back-to-school season is the unofficial new year for most families across the country. The start of the academic year and the arrival of a new season signal a time to realign, refresh, and reset for the year ahead. It’s a time when we buy new supplies, update our wardrobe, and move into a new dorm.
Amid all of the excitement about a fresh start, there’s another reality that is less talked about: As new stuff comes in, the old clothing, household goods, and furniture ends up getting thrown out.
Last year’s looks.
The bedroom set that is suddenly standing in the way of a new den.
The rug that just won’t fit in the new off-campus apartment.
Too often, these items end up in the dump, when they could be donated, repurposed, and help give a new owner a fresh start for the year ahead.
Luckily, donating has never been easier. By booking a convenient home pickup to donate still-usable clothing, furniture and household goods to charity, you can divert items from landfill, and provide resources to fuel the good work at local charities that build stronger communities all year long.
Intrigued? Curious to learn more? Here are five reasons to consider donating goods during back-to-school season.
1. Charity Retail Stores are a Major Back-to-School Shopping Destination
Whether it’s a colorful 60s scarf or a thrillingly 80s jacket, thrift stores have always been a go-to destination for fashionistas looking for the perfect piece that brings their fit together. Today, increased enthusiasm for secondhand clothes and a renewed focus on sustainable living is making thrift more popular than ever.
According to a 2024 report from ThredUp, secondhand apparel is growing 3x faster than the overall global apparel market, and is expected to make up 10% of the overall market by 2025. By donating gently-used clothing to a local charity, you can ensure shoppers get the satisfaction of a great find, and provide thrift stores with merchandise that allows them to better serve the community. Best of all, donating allows you to extend the life of goods, without the headache of a trip to the landfill, or resale. Consider how that piece of clothing you haven’t worn in years could elevate someone else’s wardrobe.
2. Moving Campus Apartments Produces a Lot of Waste
At universities across America, the start of the new school year is one of the busiest moving times. As dorms fill back up and leases turn over at off-campus apartments, lots of furniture and home goods gets put in the “throw-out” pile as students move out of their parents’ house, clean out old apartments, and combine their stuff with that of their roommates.
According to Planet Aid, the average college student produces 640 pounds of waste annually, with most of it accumulating during move-in and move-out season. While it’s never good to find out that we throw out more than we weigh, the good news is that many of the items that don’t make it to the next apartment are reusable or recyclable. By donating used goods, students can increase their impact on the environment, and forge a connection to charities that serve the communities around campus. Plus, a donation pickup saves a trip to the dump on already-frenetic moving day. The curb is crowded enough. Make items available for the next student, and cut campus waste in the process by donating to charities.
3. Empty Nesting Doesn’t Have to Mean a Trip to the Dump
Back-to-school time can be bittersweet for the parents of college students. While it’s filled with pride at all their children have accomplished, it usually means there is one less person living at home. Childhood bedrooms get repurposed for new activities and storage, and, eventually, they often become new rooms with different functions altogether. This means that furniture and housewares are ready to move out. But with donation pickup, those beds, dressers, and nightstands don’t have to be taken to the dump. Instead, they can go to help another family that is raising children, and the proceeds from the sale of those items can in turn support the community. It’s hard enough to move kids to college. Reduce the hassle with donation pickup, and extend the life of goods in the process.
4. Universities are Encouraging Donations
If you’re moving into a new dorm or campus apartment and considering whether to donate an item, know that you aren’t alone. Universities are increasingly mindful of the accumulation of waste that comes with the start of every new school year, and they’re encouraging donations as a primary method to help students understand that moving in doesn’t have to leave you throwing stuff out.
The results are already impressive. The University of Rochester netted 20,000 pounds of donations during a moving campaign in 2025. Leave Green collected nearly 40 tons of donations at the University of Arkansas. Universities are showing that we all have a role in educating the public on the power of donations, and how our decision on moving day can make us a part of something bigger.
5. Booking a Pickup with ReSupply Makes Donating Home Goods Simple.
Thanks to a combination of online booking and strong community partnerships, donating gently-used furniture, home goods, and clothing has never been easier. ReSupply offers next-day pickup, professional, end-to-end white glove removal that gets any item you want taken out of the home, and direct partnerships with charities for seamless delivery. This back-to-school season, it’s time to ReSupply your community with donations.
Extend the life of your goods. If you’re looking to schedule a donation pickup, call (617) 917-9625 or book online by clicking below.
