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A fire-engine-red taffeta flapper dress hung in my closet for decades, a snazzy frock that my mother stitched for my middle-school play. Because she made it, I hated to part with it.

My solution? I finally donated it to the little history museum in my hometown, where curators were delighted to display it, along with my two teenage charm bracelets.

Many seniors, as they try to downsize and declutter, ask themselves why they’ve kept so much stuff over the years. Frank Lloyd Wright famously did not include basements in many of his houses because he believed they encouraged clutter and materialism. Yet many attics, closets and cabinets are also crammed with unused, unneeded odds and ends.

Instead of spending hours on eBay or hauling boxes to the landfill, your castoffs can do some good in the world or address a need. Here are a few options.

Clothes

More than 85% of Americans’ clothes end up in the trash — over 100 pounds per person per year, according to Helpsy. This organization finds a way to reuse or recycle used clothing. You can locate a bin or schedule a home pickup at helpsy.com.

Some nonprofits need professional clothing. Suited for Change redistributes women’s office attire and shoes to job seekers. Donate in person to their downtown D.C. office or call (202) 293-0351.

And as prom season approaches, those fancy gowns, purses and other accoutrements you don’t need could help a teenager go to the prom.

The Prom Boutique, run by the Junior League of Northern Virginia, offers gently used dresses, accessories and makeup to high school students. Visit jlnv.org/jlnv-prom-dress-drive or call (703) 442-4163. Montgomery County, Maryland, accepts suits and dresses for its Prom Couture Closet; call (240) 463-2442 to donate.

If you have a stockpile of business-casual clothing, you can help out teachers-to-be at George Mason University who can’t afford it by donating to the Teacher Clothing Closet. Visit go.gmu.edu/teachercloset or email sray4@gmu.edu.

Jewelry

Much jewelry ends up stashed away, rarely worn. The volunteer-run Association of Albanian Girls and Women (AAGW) helps survivors of sex trafficking and domestic violence in Albania overcome trauma and reclaim their lives.

You can support them by donating gently used costume jewelry to their partner, Alexandria’s The World Crafted. Survivors will remake it into bracelets, necklaces and earrings for sale. All proceeds help survivors. Visit aagw.org for details.

To help domestic violence survivors closer to home, donate to DC Safe’s shelter, which accepts linens, towels, hats, scarves, gloves, underwear and hair-care items, among other items, to help survivors of domestic violence. Email donations@dcsafe.org to schedule a pickup.

Tools, building materials

Clothes aren’t the only items you can donate to a good cause. Virginia retiree Betsy Martin’s late husband was a woodworker, and she found a home for his table saw and drill press at the local high school’s technical education program, expensive items the school welcomed. Check with local high schools to see if they accept donations.

Habitat for Humanity, which builds and repairs homes, accepts new and salvageable building materials. Visit habitatvirginia.org to schedule a pickup. In Maryland, call (301) 926-4104.

Books

The local elementary school that educated my sons and grandchildren took my six-inch-thick, 2,663-page Webster’s Dictionary. Schools often welcome reference books in good condition, and some libraries have secondhand bookstores where you can donate your old books.

In addition, many prisons need books for inmates to help reduce isolation and despair. Visit prisonbookprogram.org/prisonbooknetwork and booksbehindbars.info/about.

Sports equipment

Boxed up in many attics are sports paraphernalia that your children once cherished. They grew up, moved out and left behind tennis rackets, baseball bats, caps and jerseys.

To help more youngsters play sports, Leveling the Playing Field accepts donations of gently used equipment and sports gear, like cleats, helmets, bats, skates, shin guards and more. Find a donation bin location at levelingtheplayingfield.org or call (202) 556-4650.

Electronics

You can support those who served our country by giving electronics to Tech for Troops, a veterans’ organization that refurbishes used electronic devices to help train veterans in need at no or low cost.

The organization takes, for example, working and non-working laptops with power adapters, working flat panel monitors, iPads, tablets, cell phones, keyboards, mice and other computer parts and some wiring. They wipe all hard drives prior to refurbishing or recycling them. Visit techfortroops.org.

Memorabilia

Many local and state historical societies and museums accept family photographs, written materials and objects that document the past. The Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, for example, collects items related to “the Jewish experience in the DMV.”

The Library of Virginia is now home to about 50 vintage postcards my parents saved from places all around the state. Visit capitaljewishmuseum.org and lva.virginia.gov.

Household items, furniture

That end table or vintage lamp from the 1950s? Try local theaters, including school drama departments. They often need objects from many eras.

People who lose their homes in floods or fires and recent refugees need to furnish their new homes. Many churches and other groups help people resettle. To donate your housewares to refugees, contact Homes Not Borders at homesnotborders.org.

A Wider Circle helps people set up homes across the Washington region. They accept furniture, rugs, professional clothing, kitchenware and toys, for example. Visit awidercircle.org or schedule a pickup three months in advance by calling (301) 608-3504.

To support veterans in need, Vietnam Veterans of America accepts housewares, radios, televisions, bedding, drapes, small appliances, small furniture and more. Visit vva.org/pickup-locations.

Vehicles

Your old car, which may get very little as a trade-in, can help high school students learn automobile repair. Many high schools accept vehicles to train students in automotive mechanics and care.

Washington’s public radio station, WAMU, takes vehicles, operating or not. Visit wamu.org/vehicle-donations or call their vehicle experts at 1-866-WAMU-444.

Habitat for Humanity also accepts cars, trucks, boats, RVs and other vehicles to help build affordable homes. Visit habitat.org/support/donate-your-car.

Some organizations will schedule pickups, including Vietnam Veterans of America, the Salvation Army and Goodwill.

And don’t forget, you may get a tax deduction for donations, but be sure to get a receipt and consult with a tax advisor before submitting the paperwork.