If you’re getting ready to move into a smaller home, downsizing can feel like a big job. In our last issue, we talked about how to get started. Once you begin sorting through your things and letting go of what you don’t really need, it helps to divide everything into four piles: trash, recycle, donate, and resell. The trash pile is easy to understand, but if you end up with more junk than you can handle, I’ve listed some removal companies below. Now let’s look at the many places in the Atlanta area where you can donate or recycle items, especially bedroom furniture and household goods.

Thrift stores are a great place to start. If you haven’t visited one recently, you might be surprised by how much nicer the items are today. People buy more things than ever and get rid of them faster, so many donated items are still in good shape. Even so, make sure anything you donate is at least in fair condition. Avoid donating clothes with stains or holes, shoes that are falling apart, or dishes that are chipped. Two well‑known thrift stores in Atlanta are Goodwill and The Salvation Army, but there are many others. Before donating, it’s a good idea to check how much of their revenue actually goes toward helping people.

The American Kidney Fund (www.akfpickup.org) will pick up clothing and household items from your home, and their website can help you find drop‑off boxes nearby. Earth911 (www.earth911.org) is another helpful site that shows recycling, donation, and disposal locations in your area. When I searched using a Decatur ZIP code, it listed places like DeKalb Farmer’s Market, Whole Foods, and local county and city recycling centers. Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) is a free website where you can give away items you no longer need. You post what you’re offering, choose who gets it, and set up a time for them to pick it up. No money is allowed—everything is completely free.

If you have large items or a lot of things to get rid of, junk removal companies like Just Trash It (www.justtrashit.com) and 1‑800‑Got‑Junk (www.1800gotjunk.com) can pick up and haul away unwanted items. These are helpful when you have bulky pieces or a tight moving schedule.

In addition to these options, there are several Atlanta‑area organizations that accept bedroom furniture, including beds, dressers, nightstands, lamps, and linens. The Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta accepts gently used bedroom furniture and gives it directly to families transitioning out of homelessness, domestic violence, or crisis situations. They take mattresses, bed frames, dressers, and nightstands, and they offer pickup for larger donations. Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations across Atlanta accept bedroom furniture in good condition, and the proceeds from sales help fund affordable housing projects.

The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers also accept bedroom furniture and household goods, using the proceeds to support recovery programs. The Atlanta Mission accepts furniture donations for their shelters and transitional housing programs, especially items that help furnish bedrooms for families and individuals rebuilding their lives. Local churches and community outreach centers often accept bedroom furniture as well, especially for refugee resettlement programs, so it’s worth checking with organizations in your neighborhood. Finally, Facebook Marketplace “Free” listings and neighborhood groups like Buy Nothing can help you give away bedroom furniture quickly to someone who needs it.

Next week – we wrap up the series!