Patch Picks: Five Nonprofits to Help With Your Almost-Spring Cleaning

It's not quite spring, but the recent warm, sunny days are inspiring us to start cleaning early. And when we clean, we inevitably find things we don't want or need.

Here are some organizations that may want the things you don't:

Remember that in January? Well, it's the first of three such sales this year for the library, and the books have to come from somewhere (hint: the overflow box next to your guest room book case). Donate your used books to the library and they'll sell them at their next sale; money raised will support special programs at the library. Drop them off at the front desk; they'll give you a tax receipt while you wait.

You shouldn't necessarily put away your sweaters and fleeces just yet. But if the sunny weather inspired you to give your closet a once-over, you can find a new home for your gently used clothing at The Clothes Closet, a part of the . The closet provides low-income children and adults with clothing items. Drop off clothing Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and on the first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Donation receipts are provided.

: If your cleaning takes you to the kitchen, consider donating canned or boxed foods to the food pantry that is operated by the Neighborhood House. Drop off foods at the Monday through Thursday from noon to 2:30 p.m.

: The downtown shop operated by the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan is now accepting donated home decor items. Those items, along with donated clothing, are sold by the shop to raise money for the Assistance League's programs, which include Operation School Bell, a program that buys new winter clothing for those in need.

This Rochester-based charity provides new books to children in hospital or hospice care in southeast Michigan. They'll only accept new books, not the ones your children have read over and over again. But they'll also accept cash donations — and after all of this cleaning and giving, we think you'll be in the mood to just sit down and write a check.