You’re starting to prepare for you upcoming move and you realize just how much stuff you actually have. No need to pack or pay to move items you no longer find use for. If you’re looking to purge some things before transporting it to your new home, there are many things you can do to lighten your load. One of those ways is to donate!

There are so many great organizations in the Hudson Valley and Capital Region. Here are a few you may not have thought of to donate your items to, and what they work toward.

*Due to COVID-19, these organizations may have restrictions on what donations they are able to accept at this time. Verify with organization before making a drop off.


1.  The Food Pantries of the Capital Region (various locations)

Collects food, personal hygiene, household products, and diapers.

A coalition of 65+ food pantries within Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties. Why throw out good food when you move when you can bring your non-perishables to one of their locations and provide meals to people in the community? thefoodpantries.org


2.  Dutchess Outreach (Poughkeepsie, NY)

Collects food, children’s clothing, and personal care items.

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically increased food insecurity and have left more families in need of assistance from organizations like these first two. Consider donating non-perishable food and other needed items to your local pantry. dutchessoutreach.org


3.  Habitat for Humanity Restore (various locations)

Collects New or Gently Used Furniture, Appliances, Housewares, Building Materials, and More

New and gently used household items can be donated to your local Habitat Restore. These donations provide affordable furniture and household items to people in your community. The money from the Restore goes to funding the organization which works to build and repair homes for those in the local community. They will even pick up certain items! 

Locations in Dutchess and Saratoga Counties as well as other areas of New York State.


4.  Dress for Success (Albany, NY & Dutchess County, NY)

Collects nearly new and gently used business attire.

Dress for Success works to empower women to be economically independent by providing support and networking opportunities. They also help provide professional attire for women to wear. You can donate gently used women’s business attire to your local affiliate location to support women in your area.

Affiliate locations for Albany and Dutchess County


5.  Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie (Poughkeepsie, NY)

Recreational items (music devices, movies, board games, books), household items and more.

Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie provides a full range of community based and residential services giving hope and healing to at-risk children in New York. They accept a wide range of items – see a full list (https://www.childrenshome.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CHP-General-Wish-List.pdf?224734&224734)


6.  Bikeatoga (Saratoga Springs, NY)

Collects bikes, parts, and tools.

The organization focuses on the positive development of cycling around Saratoga Springs, promoting the health, environmental, and economics benefits of cycling. The bikes that they collect are cleaned up and repaired and given out through the program to people in the community.


7.  Local Public Library (various locations)

Collects books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles and more.

Many locations will collect these items and use the money from book sales to provide funding to the library and it’s programs. Contact your local public library to find out their policies about donations.


8.  SPCA / Rescues (various locations)

Clean blankets, dry towels, wash clothes, and flat sheets

These organizations largely focus on providing safe and temporary shelter for animals and work to get them adopted into new homes. Items mentioned above provide comfort for animals during their temporary stays with these organizations.


9.  Homeless and Travelers Aid Society (Albany, NY)

Clean Winter Clothes, Wooden Toys

Provides relief and long-term solutions by preventing, combating, and reducing homeless in the Capital Region. They meet the immediate need for shelter, food, and clothing as well as addressing need for affordable housing and sustainable employment. hatas.org 


Taxes

Did you know the items you donate to non-profits are tax-deductible? Get receipts from your donations to include in your taxes for the following year.