I hate it when these posts don't stick! I was able to go through the history and find this for a second try:

ragdall: one word. eBay. Amazing what people out there still want that is working. And because I share the same idea, I go to the trouble to describe and pack things that will often not sell for much just because someone else has bothered to look for it and can use it. This is a slow way to outsource the clutter, though.

It sounds like you have a good solution for your stuff, giving them to your son. For everyone else, this might be useful:

I was listening to a local call-in show on Friday and someone had called about where to give away fabric scraps, and an elementary school art teacher called in and said she loved it when people donated things like that for her. Because it was summer break, she and the program host discussed it a bit an decided the best option was to call your area school, leave a message for the art teacher(s) and when they call you back, tell them what you have. I am sure there are teachers in your area who would want the stuff you want to get rid of.

I had some oddball things I used to collect for a friend who was a middle school art teacher. She sent home art projects if they needed more time to finish them to turn them in on time, and would use the little Kodak film canisters to put in paint or other wet materials they would need, just enough to finish. I also included the pharmacy pill bottles with the labels peeled off and rinsed so they were free of crumbs of whatever had been in it.

Been picking stuff in the garden, puttering a bit. I took a page of eBay research and a nice large eggplant to the neighbors across the street.

I've made progress on the dining room table, it's looking better. Not ready to unload the playbills yet, though.

SRS