Declutter your life this Lent: Get rid of 40 things in 40 days
Declutter and help the less fortunate!
During Lent, one of the three pillars is almsgiving, which involves giving to those in need. However, giving doesn’t have to be limited to monetary donations. Detaching from material possessions by giving up things we no longer need can be a way of giving while also promoting a simple and minimalist lifestyle.
The 40-day Lent challenge is to find one item each day that we no longer need and donate it to a charitable organization. This could be something as simple as a kitchen item, jacket, bike, or an unopened gift that we don’t need. Our closets, drawers, basement, and garage can be great sources for these items.
There are many places where these items can be donated, such as thrift shops run by parishes, crisis pregnancy centers, veterans’ groups, parish outreach centers, and organizations like the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul. These places usually accept donations of items in good condition, including clothes, toys, books, sports items, furniture, and household items.
Donating items that we no longer need can help clear our minds and promote gratitude for our blessings. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2462), almsgiving is a “witness to fraternal charity” and a “work of justice pleasing to God.”
