Donation and Recycling Resources
(All of these links are current and working as of 1/29/19. If you encounter a broken link, please notify me at info@organizinggoddess.com.)
Freedom House Emergency Shelter, a 44-apartment family emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors who have disabilities or whose children have disabilities, is one of the few places that will accept donations of used stuffed animals. In addition to toys, Freedom House welcomes donations of strollers, clothing (for children, men, and women), TVs, and adaptive equipment. Contact them at info@bflnyc.org. WILL PICK UP.
The Sharing Place is a thrift store that helps low-income families find quality clothes and household items at reasonable prices. Located on East 115th Street in Manhattan, The Sharing Place is run by the Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service, which helps struggling families in East Harlem. The Sharing Place is accepting donations of clothing, accessories, household goods, linens, and small pieces of furniture. Your donations are tax-deductible, and they will provide you with a receipt. To arrange for a pick-up, call 646-672-5203 or fill out an on-line form on their web site. WILL PICK UP.
Vietnam Veterans of America serves the needs of veterans of the Vietnam War era. One source of funding is through soliciting and reselling donated household items. VVA does not own retail outlets; instead, they sell the donations through a bidding process to qualified retailers. VVA accepts donations of clothing, small furniture, and household items, as well as medical equipment such as wheelchairs. They use an eco-friendly approach, and according to Deb Menich, the NYC Clothing and Household Goods Director, “everything is recycled down to the fiber and will never wind up in a landfill.” VVA has drop-off locations but will also pick up. See their web site for their coverage areas. WILL PICK UP.
Electronics Recycling is accepted at all Best Buy locations. Check their web site to learn what kinds of electronics they accept.
Hard to Recycle List. Upper West Side Recycling has compiled this list of what to do with hard-to-recycle items in New York City.
How to Get Rid of Anything. Martha Stewart’s A-to-Z guide to shedding unwanted stuff goes way beyond putting it on the curb or in a landfill. Learn how to dispose, discard, and donate in a targeted and responsible way; save the planet; and even make some money while you’re at it.
What Can Be Recycled?: A List of 200+ Items. The blog on the Personal Creations web site has many good ideas for disposing of unwanted items.
