The average New Yorker throws out 46 pounds of clothing and other textiles every year for a total of 193,000 tons of textiles annually, at a cost to taxpayers and our environment.
I am very anti-landfill for environmental reasons, but especially because there are so many people that could use what you no longer want. It's the new sharing economy (think Airbnb, Uber, et al).
There are so many places in Manhattan to take your donations. Some organizations even pick up. There is just no excuse for not making a little extra effort to donate. And your donations are tax deductible if you itemize.
CLOTHING AND GENERAL ITEMS
GrowNYC Textile Recycling
Textiles can be dropped off weekly weekly at 15 Manhattan Greenmarkets. What they accept: Clean and dry clothing, paired shoes, linens, handbags, belts, and other reusable textiles. No scraps, rugs, carpeting, pillows, comforters, or luggage.
More information can be found at www.grownyc.org/oroe
City Opera Thrift Shop
Clothing, art, books, music, furniture
222 East 23rd Street
(212) 684-5344
Monday – Saturday, 10 A.M. – 6 P.M.; Sunday, 12 P.M. – 5 P.M.
Will pick up large donations (at least six boxes or garbage bags).
National Council of Jewish Women
Clothing, furniture, books, silver, jewelry
246 East 84th Street
(212) 439-8373
Monday – Saturday (Drop off from 11 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.)
Will pick up a minimum of three cartons of goods.
Bottomless Closet
Clothing for working women
545 Eighth Avenue, 12th Floor
(212) 563-2499
Monday – Thursday, 9:30 A.M. – 5:30 P.M.
Occasional evening and weekend hours; call for times.
Dress for Success
Cleaned, work-appropriate clothing for women
32 East 31st Street, 6th Floor
(212) 545-DSNY
Clothing size 0-12 are accepted the third Saturday of the month, 11 A.M. – 2 P.M.
Size 14+ donations accepted daily.
Career Gear
Men’s business suits, ties, dress shirts, business shoes
(212) 577-6190
No longer accepts individual donations but may ship clothes to affiliate in Washington, DC, or Houston. Call for shipping address.
Goodwill Stores
Appliances, books, clothing, computers, electronics, furniture, housewares, sporting goods 220 East 23rd Street (212) 447-7270 217 West 79th Street (212) 874-5050 103 West 25th Street (646) 638-1725 1704 Second Avenue (212) 831-1830
Monday – Saturday, 10 A.M. – 8 P.M.; Sunday 11 A.M. – 6 P.M.
Housing Works
Usable and resalable items including women’s and men’s clothing, jewelry, accessories, shoes, housewares, books and furniture
143 West 17th Street (212) 366-0820
157 East 23rd Street (212) 529-5955
306 Columbus Avenue (212) 579-7566
202 East 77th Street (212) 772-8461
1730 Second Avenue (212) 722-8306
All centers open Monday – Friday, 10 A.M. – 7 P.M.; Saturday, 10 A.M. – 6 P.M.; and Sunday, from 12 P.M. – 5 P.M. Call the Donations Department at (212) 366-0820 to schedule a pick up of furniture (no Formica, mattresses or baby furniture).
TOYS and SUPPLIES FOR CHILDREN
Mt. Sinai Hospital Child Life Program
Plastic toys, activity tables, books; no plush items
(212) 241-6797
The Jewish Guild for the Blind, Early Intervention and Preschool Program
Tactile toys (shape sorters, wooden puzzles with knobs), games with balls lights or sounds, books with tactile features or printed in black and white
(212) 769-6308
PENCIL (Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning)
Art supplies, new books, computers and software, furniture, musical instruments, office equipment, science equipment, sporting goods
(646) 638-0565
See www.thepencilbox.org to make a donation.
Baby Buggy
Gently used infant and toddler clothing, bedding, furniture and gear
(212) 736-1777
Call to schedule drop off or pick up.
www.babybuggy.org
Recycle-a-Bicycle
Bicycles and bicycle parts; also accepts computers, telephones, TV/VCR/DVD for classroom use
55 Washington Street, Brooklyn
(718) 858-7600
www.recycleabicycle.org
Sports Buddies
Sports equipment for Big Brothers and Big Sisters program
(212) 563-2447
FURNITURE AND OFFICE SUPPLIES
Partnership for the Homeless: Furnish a Future
Linens, rugs appliances, art, electronics, furniture (and more)
476 Jefferson Street, Brooklyn
(718) 875-5353 or
Manhattan Mini Storage (13 locations, including East 62nd Street and First Avenue)
Most locations are open 24 hours a day. See http://www.manhattanministorage.com/.
Material for the Arts
Art supplies, electronics, fabric, furniture, musical instruments, industrial discards, paint, office equipment are redistributed to NYC public schools
33-00 Northern Blvd. (32nd/ 34th Street), Long Island City
(718) 729-3001, ext. 207
Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M.
www.mfta.org
Habitat for Humanity
Construction material, tools
(212) 991-4000, ext. 306
COMPUTERS, TVs AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Tools for Schools
Computers, office furniture, office supplies
1916 Park Avenue (646) 548 9675
United Cerebral Palsy of New York
Computers, TVs, VCRs
(212) 683-6700, ext. 226
BOOKS
Children for Children
6 East 43rd Street (212) 850-4170
Books labeled “Children for Children” may be dropped off with your contact information.
New York Public Library
Books (no text books or magazines)
222 East 79th Street (212) 744-5824
1465 York Avenue (212) 288-5049
127 East 58th Street (212) 759-7358
328 East 67th Street (212) 734-1717
Housing Works (See above)
CELL PHONES
Mayors Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV)
Drop off at anyVerizon locations, or mail to:
Verizon Wireless Hopeline
c/o ReCellular Inc.
255 Bishop Circle West
Dexter, MI 48130
Phones for Life
(212) 730-4699
PET SUPPLIES
Bide-a-Wee Companion Animal Welfare Society
Clean towels, sheets, old bedding, unopened canned cat or dog food, crates, animal toys
410 East 38th Street
(212) 532-6396
ASPCA
Pet paraphernalia
(212) 876-770, ext. 4517
OTHER SPECIALIZED ITEMS
Locks of Love
Hair donations for children with cancer (10 inches minimum)
Many salons will facilitate (and most give free haircuts) including:
Roy Teeluck Salon, 38 East 57th Street (212) 888-2221
Dop Dop Salon, 170 Mercer Street (212) 965-9540
Yan Varin Salon, 142 East 73rd Street (212) 734-9055
Lions Club
Eyeglasses and hearing aids
Any Lenscrafters location including:
1199 First Avenue (at 65th Street)
(212) 744-5149
United Cerebral Palsy of New York
Wheelchairs and adaptive equipment
(212) 683-6700, ext. 226
TICKETS
United Cerebral Palsy of New York
Tickets to NYC events and attractions
(212) 683-6700, ext. 226
NYC Parks & Recreation Department
Tickets to sports and cultural events
(212) 360-3456
CARS
American Lung Association
(800) 577-LUNG
Kidney Foundation
(800) 488-CARS
Habitat for Humanity
(877) 277-4344