StorQuest is bringing you ways to pay it forward by donating your used gear to support organizations that are doing good in the world.
Outward Bound California
Outward Bound’s mission is to remove barriers for people of color and other marginalized groups from economically disadvantaged communities, enabling them to access transformative outdoor experiences close to home and beyond. They accept several types of donations to help underserved youth. This includes donating outdoor gear they’ll need for Outward Bound excursions through their partner schools and nonprofits.
Specific Needs Donations
If you live in Northern California, the Sierra Club’s Inspiring Outdoor Connections (IOC) program accepts outdoor equipment such as sleeping bags, backpacks, camping equipment, and warm clothes like socks, gloves, and jackets. IOC offers outdoor adventure experiences to inner-city youth from diverse ethnic backgrounds by partnering with schools, youth programs, and community centers. If you live in Los Angeles and have tents, sleeping bags, or tarps, you can donate directly to Tents for the Homeless. This California nonprofit serves chronically homeless adults and children with the basic need of shelter to protect themselves from cold and rain when shelters are unavailable.
Outside Magazine’s Give Back Program
No matter where you live in the U.S., you can donate through Outside Magazine’s label printing program. They welcome clean, high-quality brands and accept items with slight tears, broken zippers, and snaps. All you have to do is go to their Give Back page, print a prepaid shipping label, box up your items, and ship to Gear Fix in Bend, Oregon. Gear Fix will make the appropriate repairs and place the items in their store for resale. Bend is an outdoor mecca with tourists numbering in the tens of thousands daily, so there is great foot traffic. Proceeds from your donation support the nonprofit these two organizations choose annually.
Your Local REI
If you’re wondering what to do with items too large to ship or not accepted by nonprofits, REI offers a trade-in program for its members. They offer more options for trade-ins that some organizations won’t take, including sleeping bags, tents, hiking shoes, kid’s bikes, and more. It’s worth noting they don’t accept items not sold in their stores, items purchased more than six years ago, or safety gear. You can drop items off at your local store to trade in for an REI gift card, which is an ideal opportunity to buy new items like socks, beanies, and gloves to donate to your local outdoor nonprofit.
Gear To Donate And Gear To Recycle
Not all outdoor gear is eligible for donation. Any type of safety equipment, such as helmets, climbing gear, and safety harnesses, are typically not eligible for donation. However, lightly used outdoor gear and clothes are ideal for donating. Whether to friends and family, your favorite charity, or a homeless shelter, donating often means giving someone the opportunity to get outside who might not otherwise have had the chance. Recycling outdoor gear continues its lifecycle and reduces waste and environmental impact by keeping materials out of landfills.
Keep Your Gear In Awesome Condition All Year Long
To maintain your outdoor equipment and gear and keep it in top-notch condition, consider renting a climate-controlled storage unit. This way, you can ensure everything is protected from extreme temperatures and humidity, and ready to go whenever you are. To explore further, simply locate a nearby StorQuest to see what type of unit works best for your outdoor lifestyle.