As April showers wash things clean for springtime, many of us also find ourselves in a season of spring cleaning our homes. Reorganizing our spaces and getting rid of things we no longer need can be a great way to start off the new season refreshed. But as Earth Day approaches this month, I can't help but feel guilty about how much our family typically throws away during our spring cleaning.

What if there were ways to be more sustainable during spring cleaning? That got us thinking, and we came up with four ways that we can be sustainable while also helping the hungry people in our community - all while getting our spring cleaning done! Check out the ideas below to see what might apply to your own spring cleaning. 

Gather up your plastic bags.

When you're going through your closets and your cabinets, collect the plastic shopping bags you aren't planning to use. Here at Harvest Hope, we use lots of plastic bags for food distribution. When you bring your plastic bags to one of our locations, it provides a smaller package for us to group together canned goods and other items. Plus, it's a great way to be sustainable by giving your bags another use, instead of just sending them to the landfill.

Declutter your pantry.

Throughout the year we end up with some non-perishable foods that we don't really need. When you go to declutter your pantry, consider making a collection of food items you know you aren't planning to eat. First, take a look a those items. Are they unopened? Do they have the label still intact? Are they within the extended shelf life for their expiration?

If the answer is yes, then you can bring them to your nearest Harvest Hope location so we can give them to those in need in the community. This is also a great way to practice sustainability by preventing food waste. You can always learn more about what type of items we accept on our Donations page.

Host a virtual or in-person garage sale for charity.

You may come across other items you want to get rid of around the house that still have value. Consider hosting a garage sale or selling your used furniture, decor, or clothing online. Use those proceeds to make a monetary donation to feed neighbors in need in our communities. Not only does this help those around you, but it also keeps good items out of the trash.

We all can make a big impact by thinking about our community during spring cleaning. By donating items instead of throwing them away, we can give back to our community in more than one way: by supporting those in need as well as keeping Earth cleaner.

Do you have other ideas about how to be sustainable during spring cleaning? Share this blog post on social media and tell us what ideas you have. DOn't forget to tag us as you spring forward into sustainability this April!