Most of my clients have too much stuff. Not junk, but really good stuff that they don’t need and is too good to toss. There are tons of folks who really need your extra stuff. Donate it or Recycle it and make ROOM in your home or office. Your place will look great. You will feel lighter and you will make space for something new!
Here are some donation and recycling resources to help you lighten your load:
Arts & Crafts Supplies:
Susan B. Anthony Project (860-489-3798) is a shelter for battered women in Torrington. Call to make arrangements to donate.
Family Services of Greater Waterbury, at 34 Murray St., Waterbury (203-756-8317), runs a center for young children and a safe house for children ages 3 to 12 and their siblings. It also provides individual, couples and family counseling.
Baby Items:
World-Wide Lighthouse Missions, 723 Main St., Manchester, 860-645-4141, http://www.wwlm.org Call before dropping things off. No used car seats.
Gifts of Love, in Old Avon Village, 63 E. Main St., Avon (860-676-2323, www.giftsoflovect.org accepts high chairs, strollers, newer cribs, baby items.
Bicycles
Catholic Charities, Migration and Refugees Services, 125 Market St., Hartford (860-548-0059, Ext 12) offers to do pickups.
The Hartford Catholic Worker, a non-government, non-church-supported agency, works with the poor in North Hartford. You can drop off working bicycles at18 Clark St., Hartford.
Pedals for Progress ( www.p4p.org) takes donated bikes and ships them to impoverished countries, working with non-governmental organizations to teach people how to repair bikes. The bikes are used for free transportation and as a self-sustaining repair business. To donate a bike, ship at your expense and include a $10 donation to Pedals for Progress, 86 E. Main St., High Bridge, N.J. 08829; you’ll be sent a tax-deductible receipt for the value of your bike and your cash donation.
CDs, DVDs, Video Games, Books On Tape
•The Clothes Horse Thrift Store, 175 Park Road, West Hartford (860-233-1411) is run by the Junior League of Hartford ( www.jlhartford.org).
Tools, Building Materials
•Rebuilding Together is a national nonprofit with offices in Hartford, New Britain, Manchester, Litchfield County, Stamford/Greenwich and Springfield. For the nearest office, go to www.rebuildingtogether.org, and click on the map. Partial needs list: hand tools (hammers, saws, caulking gun, scrapers, putty knives, utility knives, pipe wrenches), yard tools (rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, post hole diggers), step ladders, plastic drop clothes, painters’ tape, large scrub brushes, rags, building materials. Call for specific needs
Books, CDs, DVDs, Video Games, Books On Tape
Most libraries will accept these items.
The Clothes Horse Thrift Store, 175 Park Road, West Hartford (860-233-1411) is run by the Junior League of Hartford www.jlhartford.org.
General Donations:
Big Brothers and Big Sisters Provides mentoring and friendship for young boys and girls. Will pick up practically anything by appointment. 1.888.413.2227. link to BBBS
Catholic Charities will pick up furniture, not clothing. 860.548.0059
Cell Phones
At Flipswap.com, you can recycle your old model and get credit at a store that sells cellphones, or get cash or make a donation to your favorite charity. The trade-in service is free for consumers and retailers with excess phones. Flipswap pays for shipping and handling.
YouRenew.com, a Connecticut company started by two Yale students, buys unwanted electronics, including cellphones. They resell those that work and recycle those that don’t; the company also makes a donation to CarbonFund.org or AmericanForests.org to offset the carbon footprint of mailing.
Clothing and small household items: The Second Chance Shop in Simsbury supports the Village for Families and Children, Inc. in Hartford, CT. They accept women, children’s and men’s clothing, shoes, purses, linens and items smaller than a breadbox. (no men’s suits). They are open 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM Mon-Sat. (no pick ups available) 12 Station St. Simsbury, CT 06070. 860.658.7152
Computer, Appliance and Electronics Recycling New England Appliance, 220 Albany Tpke, Rt 44, Canton Village, Canton, CT, 860.693.6337. Most recycling is free. A small fee is charged for CRT mercury removal.
Accepts refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves, cooktops, and most other electric appliances. Accepts Computers, CPUs, monitors, keyboards and all computer components, computer games, clocks stereo equipment, cameras, telephones, TVs, VCRs, CD players, etc. Call for hours.
Dress for Success, Hartford, CT, 860-525-5025. Helps women return to the workplace by providing them with professional interview clothing. You can drop off professional clothing by appointment.
Eye Glasses and Sun Glasses – Distributed to children and adults in Africa: Donate Eye Glasses
FISH – Beyond Shelter, Torrington, CT, 860.482.7300. Helps homeless people get set up with basic essentials
www.Freecycle.org Advertise your free items online for free.
Gifts of Love Helps families in need get set up in a home with basic living essentials. Food, paper goods, dishes, small appliances, baby items, etc. Drop off at Old Avon Village, 63 East Main St, Avon, CT, 860.676.2323. link to Gifts of Love
Accepts: Food, Paper goods, Toiletries, Cleaning Supplies, Clothing, Clean, in season, large sizes, Bedding and linens, Dishes and Glasses (without cracks or chips), Pots and Pans, Silverware, Cooking utensils, Small appliances, Baby Items (Diapers, strollers, car seats, newer cribs, high chairs), Essential pieces of furniture. Suitable for a small apartment.
Does NOT Accept: Shoes or boots, used toys or stuffed animals, Books, Knick knacks or decorative accessories, Jewelry, Holiday Decorations, Artwork, Computers or printers.
Goodwill, Torrington, CT, at the intersection of Rtes. 202 and 183, 860.489.8670. Drop off only, Will accept almost anything, including toys, and happily gives you a receipt. Will NOT take Christmas, highchairs, car seats, cribs, mattresses.
Junk Mail and Catalog reduction Pre screen credit offers, 1.888.567.8688 , www.OptOutPreScreen.com, http://www.dmachoice.org/consumerassistance.php, www.catalogchoice.org
Marines, 203.639.8387, Will pick up household items by appointment.
My Sister’s Place, Hartford, CT, 860-895-6629. Shelter for women and children. Call to see what they need at the moment.
Salvation Army, 1-800-95-TRUCK. Salvation Army will pick up by appt. Accepts Bedding, mattresses. Will not take toys.
Shredding, Infoshred LLC, East Windsor, CT, 888-800-1552. Secure, Certified facility. Not free, but very reasonable shredding provided when you drop your papers off. Link to Infoshredllc
Sporting Goods and Fitness Equipment www.playitagainsports.com, www.sportsgift.org, 949.388.2359
Tools, Building Materials www.rebuildingtogether.org
Rebuilding Together is a national nonprofit with offices in Hartford, New Britain, Manchester, Litchfield County, Stamford/Greenwich and Springfield. For the nearest office, go to www.rebuildingtogether.org, and click on the map. Partial needs list: hand tools (hammers, saws, caulking gun, scrapers, putty knives, utility knives, pipe wrenches), yard tools (rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, post hole diggers), step ladders, plastic drop clothes, painters’ tape, large scrub brushes, rags, building materials. Call for specific needs
Youth Challenge Mission for Women, 32 Atwood St, Hartford, CT, Rev. Marva Downes, Director, 860.527.2000. This is an 18 month live-in educational program for women recovering from drug addictions. Graduates receive assistance returning to their homes and the workplace. They always need basic household items, cleaning supplies, vacuums, twin bed linens, etc. Link to Youth Challenge Mission
Needs List: Computers, Patio Furniture, Brooms, Toiletries, Deodorant, toothpaste, hair conditioner, feminine products, Paper Towels, Laundry detergent and fabric softener, Vacuum cleaner, Twin size sheets and comforters
Wheelchairs and Orthotics, 818.707.5664, 800.937.2264, http://www.joniandfriends.org/ http://www.cbmus.org/site/PageServer
This is just a starting list. I will be happy to add donation and recycling resources you may find. Please let me know if any of these sites do not work for you or if you have something to add.
