Received an e-mail from the staff at Hanover Habitat for Humanity last week that immediately prompted a “This is a great idea for a column.” As 2011 nears its end, we can help this very worthwhile cause — and benefit when it comes to tax season.

According to those associated with the Hanover ReStore, this is a great time to “donate items that have been sitting and unused.” And, keep this in mind, you can “take advantage of the end-of-year tax deductions.”

The ReStore welcomes your donations of “any gently used household items, furniture and goods.”

And someone from the ReStore will come pick up larger donations.

But that’s not all you can do to help Hanover Habitat for Humanity.

Starting next month, Habitat will help you remove non-working unusable vehicles. A bonus is the fact that staff will come pick them up free of charge.

If you would like to donate your unwanted, old, malfunctioning car, call 569-6226.

By the way, the ReStore is located at 8177 Mechanicsville Turnpike in Mechanicsville. The website is http://www.hanoverrestore.org.

Etc.

+ The Scotchtown Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) reminds us to join in a moment of silence at 12:55 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, in honor of the veterans of Pearl Harbor. This is the 70th anniversary of the surprise attack by the Japanese that left 2,403 Americans dead and 1,178 injured. On the USS Arizona, 1,177 crew members were killed, making it the greatest loss of life on any U.S. warship in American history. For those servicemen who survived, that date marked the beginning of the United States’ involvement in World War II — and the first of many battles they would fight until America’s victory. As the DAR’s flyer stated, “It only takes a minute to remember.”