Thanks Marla - taxes are going to be hard to figure this year, gotta use a CPA and not do it myself (I have been doing our personal ones for years, even did business when I was single and sold Tupperware). Let's say they decide they want Wild Grape Jelly and Autumn Fruit Jam (made with wild grapes, apples, store-bought plums, sugar and spices). I planned on asking for the jars back. I used 4 plums (have to look up cost but say $2) and 1.5 lb of sugar (at 64 cents/lb) plus our own grapes and apples for the Autumn Fruit jam, they may take 1/2 the batch so that's $1.48 and a few cents for lemon juice and spices say $1.50. Jelly used same amount of sugar so another 50 cents - that's $2 cost (maybe include cost of 6 lids so another 87 cents but I'm getting jars back). So $2.87 plus electricity? For 6 jars of jams worth $36 at market. Wild grapes and apples are "free" (except for my labor picking and preparing, and DH's labor clearing the brush around the old apple trees, pruning them, etc.). So what do I claim as the value of my donation? If they want Wild Blackberry Jam again cost of sugar is 25-30 cents per jar, berries are "free" but I get $5/pint when I sell the berries at market (and charge $1 more for jam that takes a pint to make a pint to make up for the sugar and the jar, that doesn't even cover electricity and some people think $6 is too much). So would the blackberry jam be worth more as a donation than the grape, since I can sell blackberries and I'm assuming no one would buy wild grapes so they're "worthless" at market? Might be easier just to let my aunt who contacted me pay for them and she can take the deduction off her personal income tax?

you'd need to drive by with a TRUCK to be able to see this sofa and "casually" pick it up! I leave "take me" stuff at my curb all the time even though I'm a couple of blocks away from a main street. None of it has ever lasted more than 24 hours. I'm guessing that lots of people with cars who see the goods go back and get their truck (or borrow one) to pick up whatever it is. Besides, I can get a sofa in the back of my Volkswagen station wagon; with a minivan or such it should be no problem at all! :-) If indeed pictures are not an option on your local site [...] offer to send them pictures Or use a site like tinypic to post a time-limited picture or two of the item and then put the URLs for those pictures in your post. The software used by the exchange site may or may not turn it into a clickable link; if not, people simply can cut and paste the link into a browser window and look without having to bother you with emailing pictures. Here is a link that might be useful: tinypic

Yesterday I dropped off two bags to a smiling women who thanked me for my donation and then asked if I'd like a kiss as she showed me a basket of Hershey Kisses. I asked for two, one for me and one for my DD. We smiled as we drove away. Last week I saw an ad for an event being held the following day. People donate gently used formal wear, old prom dresses etc., to girls who could not otherwise afford to go to prom. Called the number to be told they were closed. Closed the day before the event that they advertised in the paper!?! Went online, no helpful info. Called back and listened to all my voice mail options and left a message that I had 2 dresses, cleaned and ready to go. Heard back 4 hours later that they would be downtown (20 minutes away) for a 3 hour window. Picked my DD up from school and hauled the dresses, in the rain, downtown. Found parking, schlepped thru the rain into the building only to pass a group of women. They mentioned that they were from the hosting organization and were closing an hour early. Handed them the dresses. No thank you just we'll take these off your hands. Didn't want much ,just thank you or thank you for your persistence. I have to take comfort in the fact that 2 girls will go to the prom in gorgeous dresses. I hope they have a wonderful night. Sometimes you just need to do the right thing even if there is no recognition, no thanks.

I LOVE it!!!! Sent it to both of my daughters. Vicky