The Give Back Box – The Best Way to Reuse Your Boxes

The estimated reading time for this post is 3 minutes

If you shop online, you receive your items in shipping boxes. But what do you do with the boxes after you open them and get your stuff?

You may throw them in the trash.

You may recycle them.

You may use them to make cool toys.

You may even use them as beds for your pets.

But you can use them for something even better — donating your unwanted stuff to charity with the Give Back Box.

How the Give Back Box Works

The Give Back Box is a website that works with online vendors and charities to let you ship your unwanted clothes and household items free to charities.

It’s simple, fill a box with your donations, print out a label from the Give Back Box, then ship the box for free using either UPS or the US mail. You can even schedule a pick up at your home through the Give Back Box.

The Give Back Box will donate your stuff to the nearest participating charity.

It’s that easy to do good.

This video shows how the Give Back Box works:

The Give Back Box is partners with many online vendors, including Amazon, Overstock, Asics, Levis, Ann Taylor and more. But you can use any shipping box you want, even if it’s from a different vendor.

[note] Also see => AmazonSmile – Do Good When You Shop! [/note]

What Else You Need to Know

The Give Back Box works in all 50 states of the US and is coming soon to Canada.

The Give Back Box can give you a receipt for your donation for tax purposes, once the box is received.

If you have questions, you can check out the Give Back Box website or chat with a representative at the Give Back Box Facebook page.

Another Way to Do Good When You Shop Online

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you get a very sweet benefit of free two-day shipping on Prime-eligible items. If you really need an item quickly, that benefit is awesome.

But often you don’t need an item within two days.

With Prime, Amazon also gives you the option of standard and No-Rush shipping that takes a few days longer than Prime shipping. If you choose No-Rush shipping, you may get a reward from Amazon, such as a discount on digital orders, such as a Kindle book, or a discount on food delivery with Prime Pantry.

By choosing slower shipping when you don’t need an item in two days, you are doing good. First, you may get a discount from Amazon. Second, you may help preserve the two-day Prime benefit. Third, you’re putting less stress and strain on the Amazon workers who hurry to get your package to you on time.

You’re also putting less stress and strain on the planet by choosing slower shipping.

So the next time you order an item from Amazon Prime, think about how fast you really need it. If you can wait for your package, choose a slower delivery time. Then send that box to the Give Back Box!

Your Thoughts

Have you ever used the Give Back Box? Do you like easy ways of doing good in the world? Do you automatically choose two-day shipping when you order an item from Amazon Prime?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!

* Robot Box courtesy of Tim Li via Flickr and Creative Commons

** Dog in Box courtesy of y-a-n via Flickr and Creative Commons

Voice of America Learning English

If you’re a learner of the English language, be sure to check out my weekly personal technology column at Voice of America Learning English. This week’s article is: New App Helps Blind People Know the World Around Them