After spring cleaning

Spring cleaning is over and garage sales are coming to a close, yet there are still boxes leftover with nowhere to go. Luckily, there are plenty of places around Creston accepting donations of all sorts, from shoes and coats to books and toasters.

Creston Animal Rescue Effort (CARE)

CARE is an animal rescue charity that works with the Creston City Pound to connect families with their lost pets and adopt out local strays. CARE accepts gently used items such as collars, leashes, harnesses, beds, carriers, crates and small blankets, as well as new toys, treats and food. Those wanting to donate should contact Creston Animal Rescue Effort on Facebook.

Creston Community School District

The Creston School District tries to provide needed items for their students. The elementary and middle school is specifically looking for gently used children’s pants, jeans, gloves, socks, boots, snow pants, belts and tennis shoes. New school supplies and hygiene projects are also welcome donations. Donations can be taken to the office at the elementary/middle school.

Dog Gone Rescue

Dog Gone Rescue is a local dog rescue focusing on southwest Iowa as a whole. Run out of owner Janel McLain’s home, dogs are fostered by her and other local families.

One dog, Freya, is in need of a major surgery to fix her both hind legs, which have suffered from torn ACLs. In order to raise money, Dog Gone’s annual shoe drive is devoted solely to Freya.

Partnering with Funds to Orgs, McLain is collecting gently used shoes that will go to developing countries. The goal is 100 bags of shoes, with 25 pairs of shoes per bag. If this goal is reached, the Funds to Orgs will award McLain a check for $1,000. Donations can be left at 205 South Sumner Street or 107 East Montgomery Street.

Fill the Bins

Located near the Creston High School football field is a big green clothes bin. This bin is part of the charity Fill the Bins, which takes old textiles for money. While most charities want gently used donations, any textiles are accepted here. In the month of May, more than 1,100 pounds of textiles were put into the green bin, earning $95.48 for the Panther Pride Parent Teacher Organization.

Kiwanis Coat Drive

Every October, the Kiwanis Club of Creston hosts their Keep a Kid Warm giveaway. Kiwanis accepts both new and used coats to help out area children and young adults. Jamie Travis can be contacted for more information.

Little Free Library

The Little Free Library is a nonprofit in which people around the U.S. participate by building small book-sharing boxes on their property. Local residents are invited to take books they want to read and deposit books they’re done with. Creston is home to one official Little Free Library, located at 803 East Howard Street, though people have been known to place books in area food pantries as well.

Friends of the Library

The Friends of the Library supports Gibson Memorial Library through volunteering and fundraising. Throughout the year, they collect used books for their annual book sale, held during Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days. While the Friends are not currently accepting donations, keep an eye out online for when donations open up again.

Rerun Creston

Raising money for St. Malachy Catholic School, Rerun Creston is a thrift store with a cause. They accept almost anything that is in working order, apart from furniture and electronics. Accepting donations every Monday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Rerun is especially in need of small household items like pots and pans, which are high in demand. Run by volunteers, Rerun Creston is open for shopping Tuesdays from noon to 5 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.