September 2018

—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—
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Other situations are a tad more serious. Just this year, the
Pasadena Humane Society removed 54 cats from a home with
some obvious problems. And that’s just one instance in the local
area from a mental health disease called hoarding.
The Los Angeles Dept. of Mental Health defi nes hoarding as
the excessive collection and retention of things or animals until
they interfere with day-to-day functions such as home, health,
family, work and social life. Severe hoarding causes safety and
health hazards. The collection of newspapers, magazines, old
clothes and other items may cause fi res, while animal hoarding
can spread contagious diseases.
Fortunately, that’s the most severe cases. But even in the best
case, homes can become overly cluttered, to the point where
normal life is impeded by the sheer amount of possessions. That’s
when it’s time to declutter and do some good for humanity by
donating the most usable items to charity.
DETERMINING WHAT TO SELL, DONATE OR TRASH
Sorting through your items is a deeply personal task, and one that
will probably surprise you for its emotion. We are a society that
imbues our possessions with meaning beyond their utility, and
even though that baby blanket may be torn and tattered, parting
with it may be more than you can manage.
It’s okay. Not everyone was meant to live like a monk, and
if you want to hang onto a few things that would cause headscratching
in neutral observers, go ahead and do so.
Once that’s out of the way, you’re faced with the choice
of selling, donating or trashing an item. Although we value our
possessions, be realistic when it comes to what you can sell - the
cost of time, money and effort to organize a yard sale may not
be worth it, particularly if you are sensitive to the rubes who don’t
recognize your priceless treasures for what they are.
Donations are gladly accepted, but be honest about the
condition of your items. Are they going to appeal to someone?
Are they working? Are they still valuable, or are they basically
junk? That’s the assessment of most buyers and charities, so save
yourself the angst and make them yourself.
Finally, there’s trashing items. Yes, it’s hard to throw out
possessions. But no one since the Pharaohs takes much with them,
so unless you wish to burden your survivors, do the declutter up
front, and be ruthless and brutal in your task.
Keep in mind that not everything is suitable for donation. Your
torn, tattered, battered clothing and souvenirs from your trip to
Niagara Falls may not be suitable. Certainly, china, brown furniture
and silverware aren’t high on the list of most-desired items. But
what is sought after may surprise you.
Your best bet: Do some research when you are deciding which
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