Welcome to your new neighborhood and community! It’s time to make your house a home. If there were fine print, it would read “some disassembly” required.” There is a logical process to unpacking a home. If you are renting, it’s a good idea to take pictures of the empty space to document the condition. If you have purchased a home, your first step should be hiring a cleaning company to give it a deep clean and fresh start. Once the space is ready for you to move in, it’s time to get to work. Identify the last box you packed, and open it first. It should allow you to make beds, hang shower curtains, have a meal and other essential first day necessities. Move the remaining boxes to the appropriate rooms, based on their labeling. During the process, be realistic about who you are now and what is relevant in your life and space. You didn’t buy a storage unit; you bought a home.
Every space is different and the organization system from your last home may not be the most efficient system in your new home. A professional organizer can help make sense of the new space based on the items being un-packed. It isn’t necessary to purchase organization products in advance of unpacking. Like any organizing session, we need to get a sense of the inventory of items, before the appropriate method is implemented. Always keep one empty moving box available for donations you discover during the process.
The heart of the home should be your first room to unpack – the kitchen. Next, transition to bedrooms, bathrooms and finally non-essential spaces like the garage and attic storage to complete the process. Break down all boxes as you go, and flatten all packing materials. There are 10 residential recycle drop off locations throughout Columbia for these materials, or you can pass them along to the next family that’s packing to move. You should have uncluttered during the packing process, but inevitably there are some items that don’t have a place in your new home. For those items, there are places to give them new life.
AREA DONATIONS:
Habitat for Humanity Restore
1906 Monroe Street
573-815-9836
The Restore is a division of Show- Me Central Habitat for Humanity – a non-profit economical organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. We recycle used, overstocked, discontinued, seconds and salvageable building material donated by individuals, firms and contractors. The donated items are used to build houses for low-income families or offered for sale to the general public to raise funds for building houses. Large donations can be picked up.
City of Refuge
cityofrefugecolumbia.org
573-814-1170
Another way to give to City of Refuge, is by donating your stuff. Skip having a garage sale and give it. We take everything from clothing, household goods, or furniture. We give the items to refugees if they want or need the items and everything leftover we sell to raise money for their needs.
Columbia Public Library – Friends of the Library
100 W. Broadway • P.O. Box 1267 Columbia, MO
65205-1267 (573) 817-7110
Bring your gently used hardback books, paperbacks, children’s books, videos, music CDs, audiobooks and DVDs (no magazines, please) to the Circulation Desk of the Columbia Public Library. For large donations, please call 443-3161 to make an appointment. Thank you for your support and donations throughout the years.
Goodwill
1405 Grindstone Parkway
573-442-4050
Non-profit Organization. All items dropped off are later available at retail location with all proceeds to fund programs that provide assistants for persons with barriers to employment to work and live more independently in the community. Offers: Drive through drop off.
Salvation Army
23 E. Walnut 573-443-2786 Non-Profit Organization benefiting the Harbor House (Homeless shelter). Drop off times are from 9:00-4:30 Monday-Saturday. Pick up services available.
The Love Seat
19 Business Loop 70 E.
573-447-7328
Non-profit organization operated by Love Inc. Provides gently used furniture and appliances to families in need. Provides support for programs such as First Impressions, an interview coaching and styling to help with providing opportunities for better employment.
UpScale Resale
1729 W. Broadway
573-445-4803
Non-profit organization operated by The Assistance League of Mid- Missouri. Proceeds of Assistance League Upscale Resale support the many philanthropic projects of Assistance League of Mid-Missouri. Donation of items must be in good condition.
Central Missouri Humane Society
616 Big Bear Blvd.
573-443-7387
Non-profit organization, animal shelter offering adoption services. Drop off gently used pet carriers or crates, as well as old towels, blankets and linens.
RECYCLE:
Residential Recycle Drop-off locations:
• 3601 South Providence Road – just north of Gerbes on the outer road
• Columbia Regional Airport (west side of Airport Drive just south of the overflow parking lot)
• Downtown-South side of 10th & Cherry Parking Garage
• Dulany Hall (Columbia College) off 8th Street
• Home Depot on Clark Lane – 3215 Clark Lane
• Moser’s Supermarket at 705 West Business Loop 70
• Moser’s on Keene at 900 North Keene St
• State Farm Parkway at the Nifong Connector
• Shurz Hall (University of Missouri) off Ashland Gravel Road
• South end of Pannell Street (Columbia College by Wightman Bldg.)
These containers accept the same recyclable items that may be placed curbside. Please do not deposit plastic bags in the drop-off containers. These drop off recycling points are intended for residential recycling only. Commercial customers with large volumes should contact Customer Support at (573) 874-6291
Now that you are moved in, it’s time to host friends and family and be proud of your new space. No one has to know if you hired help along the way or tackled all the details by yourself. It’s time to enjoy the home you’ve created and explore your new community! Welcome to Columbia, MO!
