Amazon’s Give Back Box Makes Donating Your Old Things SO Easy

One thing in, one thing out.

It can be hard to get your old stuff — whether it be clothes, books or otherwise — to a donation center. It takes time and cataloging and in our busy lives, things like donating can fall through the cracks. That’s why Amazon and Goodwill are partnering with a charity called Give Back Box. It’s a win-win!

So how does it work? When you order something online from Amazon, the Give Back Box program lets you fill that empty Amazon box (and others, if need be) with donations for Goodwill. These can be anything from housewares to old clothes, as long as they’re in decent condition.

Once you’ve filled up the box, print the free shipping label from the Give Back Box website. Then you can drop off the whole package at a UPS or USPS location, or even arrange a pickup from your house! How easy is that?

Grand Opening Of Amazon Fulfillment Center Features State Of The Art Technology
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The whole situation is pretty brilliant, honestly. Amazon gets business, Goodwill gets donations, the box gets recycled, you get a tax credit for donating (The Give Back Box program even generates the tax deduction receipts for you!) and someone less fortunate gets what they need.

Give Back Box was founded in 2012 by Monika Wiela, who owned an online shoe store. Inspired by a homeless man who had a sign asking for shoes, Wiela got him a pair only to find that he had disappeared by the time she returned. Between this experience and the fact that an estimated 11 million tons of textiles end up in landfills every year, Wiela was spurred to start Give Back Box.

The program has since partnered with major retailers like REI, Levi’s, Ann Taylor and many more. It’s free for the retailer who joins as a partner and free for donors as well. The shipping costs get covered by a charity who then stocks its shelves with the donated items. Finally, every box gets recycled.

So the next time you order something online, take a look around your house. Chances are you can find an item (or five) to give back to someone in need.