If you’re spring cleaning and the piles of donations and recycling are stacking up, this list can help you figure out how to get your gently used goods into the right hands. Make sure you visit each organization’s website before showing up, in case there are limits on donations or you need to book an appointment to drop off your stuff. Also, don’t miss our Spring Cleaning Guide, which includes a list of small businesses that can help you declutter and even haul away your stuff, saving you time and hassle.
Beverly Bootstraps Thrift Shop, 198 Rantoul Street, Beverly – Accepts gently used and in-season clothing, household items and décor, furniture and books. Please drop off your donations in their parking lot only during donation hours of M-F from 9:30am-4pm and Sat, 10am-3pm. Details at www.beverlybootstraps.org/thrift-shop.
Big Brother Big Sister Foundation – Accepts gently used clothing, accessories, books, small household items and toys. Will pick up curbside. Serving North Shore towns on a rotating schedule. Set up your pick-up at www.bbbsfoundation.org/schedule-a-pickup.
Buy Nothing Project – These town-specific Facebook groups encourage community members to offer new and gently used goods for free to other members, with their motto of, “give where you live.” Find a list of the Massachusetts groups by town here. (Please join only one.) This is my favorite way to get rid of the gently used toys my son has outgrown as well as furniture.
Community Giving Tree, 572 B Main Street, Boxford – Accepts clean, gently used baby equipment and children’s clothing. More details at www.communitygivingtree.org/donate. Donation appointment required. Email [email protected] to schedule. Please note their Middleton location is now closed.
Cradle to Crayons Boston – Find outdoor donations bins at Endicott College, Beverly and Lynch/Van Otterloo YMCA, Mablehead. Accepts new and like-new clothing, pajamas, accessories, self-care items, art supplies, books and unopened diapers for children from birth through age 12. Cradles to Crayons uses these donations creates KidPacks that are hand-selected with great care to meet children’s specific wants and needs.
Epilepsy Foundation New England – Accepts clothing, shoes, linens, and fashion accessories as donations. Will pick up (curbside) from your home. Or find a donation bin at several area locations. Details at donateclothes.epilepsynewengland.org.
Goodwill – 301 Newbury Street, Danvers – Accepts most gently used goods. Donation hours are Mon-Sat from 10am – 7pm. Drive around to the back of the store for the Donation Center. Goodwill does not accept car seats, playpens, cribs, large furniture and some toys. More details at www.goodwillmass.org. They also participate in the Dell Reconnect Program which offers residents the opportunity to donate old computers free of charge. All computers and parts are responsibly recycled within the United States. It’s always best practice to wipe all personal data off your devices before donating.
The Lowell Transitional Living Center – 193 Middlesex Street, Lowell – This Center is the largest homeless shelter and support organization north of Boston with 90 beds and 70 emergency beds. For donations, they accept new self-care items, clothing, bedding and towels, non-perishable food items and some gently used clothing. Drop off your items at the front desk (use the grsy door) between the hours of 8am-6pm. More details on donations at ltlc.org/wish-list.
Mission of Deeds, 6 Chapin Ave Reading – Accepts children’s books, pack n’ plays, furniture and other household items (only brand new linens). Donation appointment required. Pick up of furniture also available in some cases. More details at www.missionofdeeds.org/donate.
Project Home Again, 123 Tewksbury Street, Andover – Accepts new and gently-used furniture, small appliances, and household goods. All donations should be in good condition. See the specific list of items currently needed at www.phama.org/donate/donate-goods. Pick up of furniture also available in some cases. Appointments available T-Th from 11am-1pm for donation drop off.
Staples, Multiple locations on the North Shore – You will not receive a donation receipt here, but you can bring your old and broken electronics, rechargeable batteries and printer ink cartridges to be recycled.
Uncommon Threads, 60 Island Street, Suite 150, Lawrence – Uncommon Threads accepts new or “like new” clothes, shoes, handbags, and accessories to give low-income women the tools to build self-esteem and self-worth. Donations are limited to 2-3 shopping bags and clothing must be current and seasonally appropriate. Find more donation details at www.uncommonthreads.org/wardrobe-donations. Please contact [email protected] to set up a donation appointment.
Unpacked Living, 156 Cabot Street, Beverly – This is also not a donation center, but Unpacked Living offers a host of responsible recycling programs. And as a bonus, when you’re dropping off your packaging and used items to be recycled, you can learn about sustainable swaps. Find programs ranging from contact lens recycling to Bic Stationery to Brita filters. More details can be found at www.unpackedliving.com/pages/terracycle-collections-at-unpacked-living. Store is open Tues.-Sat. from 10am-6pm and Sun. from 11am-4pm.
Is this list missing your favorite organization? Email it to me at [email protected].