Resources
Estate Planning Professionals:
For a directory of estate planning councils in your area or to located an estate planning professional near you, visit the National Estate Planning Council website.
Professional Fiduciaries:
To understand how a professional fiduciary might be able to help you or your family, visit the State of California’s Department of Consumer Affairs Website.
Or The Professional Fiduciary Association of California website
Estate Organizers:
To find an Estate Organizer in your area, visit the National Association of Professional Organizer website.
Medical Equipment Recyclers (Northern CA)
To donate your clean and gently used medical equipment and unused home health care supplies or if you are in need of inexpensive or sometimes free medical equipment, visit the ReCARES website for instructions on how to do so
To find helpful information or find an organizer in your area that specializes in Chronic Disorganization and hoarding, visit The Institute for Challenging Disorganization website.
To find help while dealing with a family member with Alzheimer’s visit the Alzheimer’s Association website.
Clutterers Anonymous is a 12-step fellowship where members share their experience, strength and hope to solve their common problem with clutter. To find a support group near you, visit their website.
US Department of Veteran’s Affairs
To find information and eligibility for benefits for your veteran, visit the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs website.
Social Security Administration
For information on Social Security benefits.
Recycling and Waste Disposal(Northern California – East Bay):
a place to recycle just about ANYTHING, including Styrofoam and Electronics. There is an exchange zone for books & CDs. Goodwill has a collection truck stationed there.
7501 Schmidt Lane, El Cerrito, CA
For a minimum fee, accepts refuse, construction & demolition debris, yard waste & recyclables.
1201 Second Street, Berkeley, CA
Monday thru Saturday 8am-4:30pm.
Hazardous Waste-Alameda County
2100 East 7th Street, Oakland, CA
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
9am to 1pm
Hazardous Waste-West Contra Costa
101 Pittsburg Avenue, Richmond
Thursday, Friday and 1st Saturday of each Month
9am to 4pm (closed 12-12:30pm)
Donations (Northern California – East Bay):
East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse
A place to donate items that teachers and artists can use; paper, interesting items, furniture, etc…anything that can be made into art or used in the classroom.
4695 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA
510-547-6470
Oakland Museum White Elephant Sale
The sale happens in early March, but they take donations all year round. To schedule a pick-up, call 510-839-5919
Give your furs back to the animals who are going through wildlife rehabilitation
Paper Shredding (Northern California – East Bay)
Berkeley Shreds destroys all types of data and documents. They also recycle electronics.
1464 Eastshore Highway, Berkeley, CA
877-54-SHRED
Shred Works destroys all types of data and documents, they also recycle electronics
455 High Street, Oakland, CA
Mon-Fri 9-3pm
510-729-7110
Auction Houses (Northern California – East Bay)
Michaans Auctions is a full service auction house. They hold monthly art and antique and estate auctions. They provide free on-site appraisals on Wednesdays 10 to 1.
2751 Todd Street, Alameda, CA
800-380-9822
Clars Auctions is a full service auction house. Based in Oakland, they hold monthly art and antique and estate auctions. They provide free on-site appraisals on Thursdays 9 to noon.
5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
510.428.0100
Local Bulky Waste Pick-Up Programs
Each city provides one pick-up annually
Meg has been a professional organizer since 1996 and is a mother of one. She loves to craft, sew, create, organize and design. Her degree in interior design and her years in corporate America and the estate planning industry have created a unique set of interests which she blogs about here.
