Your once-worn bridesmaid dress, cocktail party dress or other special occasion jewelry and accessories can be given a whole new life through the nonprofit DonateMyDress.org. The first national campaign that collects lightly worn formal wear for girls organizes local drives across the United States to collect items and give them to young girls who can’t afford to purchase a dress for a special occasion like a prom or formal. It's a simple way to bring some glamour into another girl’s life!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When packing a lunch to take to the office or for your kid to take to school, think about double-duty items to pack and keep your food chilled. Freezing a container of yogurt, for example, does two things: It transforms the yogurt into an icepack while also keeping it cold and ready for lunch. Freezing a juice container or thermos of water may work, but these liquids rarely thaw out completely in time for lunch. Dairy items like yogurt freeze hard, but thaw quickly. So by lunchtime, they’ll be the perfect creamy consistency. And remember: Yogurt containers are easily recyclable in most communities.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Bulk-size containers holding oversized bags of snack foods like cookies, pretzels and potato chips are a popular choice when feeding a crowd. In the summer months, many people bring these warehouse-club purchases to outdoor recreational areas. Though parks have receptacles for both trash and recycling, you shouldn’t toss these containers into those bins. If the receptacles are not emptied that night, it’s likely that wild animals will rummage through the bins after dark, and they can get stuck inside the large, warehouse-club-style containers and bags. Bring this kind of trash home to recycle and dispose of it.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION