Columbus Donations: Pre-Holiday Decluttering with Kids

Tabi (they/them)
Sep 18
4 min read

September 2025 - Organization Pending's Newsroom - Upper Arlington, Ohio

Organization Pending is a home organizing company offering in-person and virtual services from Upper Arlington, Ohio. Welcome to the Newsroom, offering monthly decluttering and organizing tips and discussions, interviews with Community Recommendations, Columbus recycling and donation resources, and more!

Don't miss this month's pre-holiday decluttering discussion, with a list of Columbus organizations accepting kids' donations ages 0-18, and two commonly needed recycling resources - including upcoming decluttering dates for household hazards and a drug take-back event.

Support Causes You Care About with Your Donations: Tip of the Month for Pre-Holiday Decluttering with the Kids

Tabi Berkey, Owner/Operator Organization Pending

As a home organizer and parent, I know that kids' spaces work best with regular decluttering. I recommend a yearly decluttering of all the kids' spaces in the home, along with intermittent decluttering of categories as zones fill. An example of intermittent decluttering would be clearing out school papers after the first semester, while the yearly decluttering would be looking at the second semester's items along with the kept items from the first semester, keeping a few items that they're proud of, or that you especially appreciate.

With "annual decluttering before the holidays" on many kids' to-do lists, we're taking a look at some of the donation resources available in Columbus to help support other kids this season, and two commonly needed resources that help you recycle some of what you can't donate. Like many of us, when kids know the places and people their donations are supporting, it can make decluttering easier and more exciting.

open closet door with clothing falling out of the wire shelving unit inside, and there are clothes on the floor

Alicia's Closet supports foster and adoptive families on an as-needed basis.

What can I donate to Alicia's Closet? New and like new items, including:

infant to teen/young adult clothing
shoes and sports accessories like cleats and dance shoes
in-season seasonal clothing items
child/adult sized plastic white hangers
new (in package) underwear, undershirts, bras
new backpacks and school supplies
baby, toddler and children's items/accessories including blankets, safety items, and more

How to donate: Fill out their Contact Form, or email info@aliciascloset.org.

Bundled with Love supports Columbus area moms-to-be.

What can I donate to Bundled with Love? New and gently used baby items up to 18 months.

blankets and sleep sacks
hats, shoes, socks, bibs, and clothing, sized preemie and 0-18 months
sensory toys and books
teething rings without liquid

How to donate:

Drop off at the Main Branch of the Upper Arlington Public Library at 2800 Tremont Road, request a bag by emailing bundledwithloveohio@gmail.com, or coordinate drop off at their office.

kids' playroom, with a few toys on the ground in front of an overflowing bookshelf with an overflowing basket on top

Columbus Kids' Book Bank supports youth literacy in Columbus.

What can I donate to Columbus Kids' Book Bank? New and gently used books for K-6th grade readers. No magazines, textbooks, encyclopedias, or coloring books.

How to donate:

Drop off small donations at the Book Bank's drop box at 7949 N. High Street, drop off large donations during their Giveaway Events, or call the office at 614-396-8161 to coordinate multiple box donations, typically available Tuesday and Thursdays, 10am-3pm.

LEGO® Replay supports equitable education through multiple donation partners.

What can I donate to LEGO® Replay? Unbuilt gently used elements from single or multiple sets, without electronic parts:

LEGO® System Bricks
DUPLO® Bricks
Technic™ Bricks
LEGO® Minifigures and Mini-dolls (no disassembly needed)
LEGO® Baseplate

How to donate:

Pack up disassembled parts, print a shipping label from their website, and ship it.

Children's Advocacy Project: Do your kids have more donatable items that aren't on this list? Check out these additional Columbus organizations that focus on supporting kids and their families, and visit Organization Pending's Community Recommendations page for more causes your donations can support.

car trunk with a full white trash bag, black garbage bag, and box of hangers

If you found old batteries in toys, SWACO's Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 645 E. 8th Avenue is your recycling stop for batteries, lightbulbs, smoke detectors, lawn chemicals, and more.

Did you find broken electronics and electronic toys? Accurate IT Services at 3854 Fisher Road is your recycling stop for household electronics, computers, cabling, toasters, phones, and more.

With in-person services, Organization Pending clients benefit from free donation takeaway of end-of-life textiles, clothing, and accessories, stuffed animals and fidget toys, books, DVDs, CDs, and more. Click to learn more about Services and Pricing, and the causes your donations support when you choose Organization Pending.

Want to save time this holiday season? Explore Organization Pending's Porch Pick Up Services* for your common donation, recycling, and non-landfill disposal needs - saving you hours when Tabi Takes That.

*For new and returning clients within 5 miles of Upper Arlington, with introductory pricing.

Upper Arlington Updates

SWACO is hosting their annual Household Hazardous Waste drop off events, along with their year-round drop off location on E. 8th Avenue.

Grove City: Saturday, September 27th, 8am-1pm at 3226 Kingston Avenue

Westerville: Saturday, October 4th, 8am-2pm at the Westerville Service Complex, 350 Park Meadow Road

Can't make the dates? Explore Organization Pending's Community Recommendations for a list of Columbus and Upper Arlington donation, recycling, and non-landfill disposal options, or schedule your Porch Pick Up in UA to take errands off your to-do list.

And don't miss Upper Arlington's Drug Take-Back Collection on Saturday, October 25, 10aam-2pm at Fire Station 72 on Reed Road. Bring prescription pills in a plastic bag for anonymous donation, liquid medications in the original container, expired over the counter medications, and vape pens/e-cigarette devices without batteries.

Thank you for reading! Subscribe to receive the Newsroom in your email each month, and follow Organization Pending on Facebook and Instagram for local decluttering opportunities and home organizing tips!