How to Donate Unused Medicine

We all have them. Unused and leftover medicines from various illnesses. Here is a way to donate them very easily without any cost to you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Compassion
• A desire to help others

1. There is an organization called THE STARFISH PROJECT. They are located at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The Starfish Project collects unused “leftover” medication from patients in the United States who have stopped or changed their antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. All drugs have patient identification removed before they are sorted, labeled, and shipped to their partner clinics in Nigeria.
2. They also collect non-ARV medications. Go to their website (the link is below)and download the NON-ARV DRUG FORMULARY for a list of drugs they will accept. Examples are antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, aspirin, vitamins, etc. They cannot accept liquid medications.
3. Place all pill bottles in a plastic bag and place this bag inside of a cardboard box. All pill bottles should be closed securely. No loose capsules or tablets should be present in the plastic bag or box.
4. The Starfish Project pays for all shipping costs of medications. They provide pre-paid FedEx labels to their donors. Send donations to:
   
   The Starfish Project
   Center for Special Studies
   New York-Presbyterian Hospital
   119 West 24 Street
   New York, NY 10011
   
   When you are ready to send your medications, go to their website and click on the link: DONORS Request more FED EX Labels to Pay for Shipping Medication. Fill out the form and Fed Ex Labels will be sent to you. You do not have to pay to have medication sent to The Starfish Project. Of course, you could pay for the shipping if you like.
5. Once you receive your label, apply it to the box, call Fed Ex or drop your box off at a Fed Ex approved station.
6. Besides collecting medications, they also need computers, lab equipment, etc. If you are interested in donating other items, you may contact them at:
   
   The Starfish Project
   Center for Special Studies
   119 West 24th Street
   New York, NY 10011
   Phone: [phone]
   Fax: [phone]

Tips & Warnings

• Open bottles will be accepted.
• Read all the information on the website to fully understand the program.
• They cannot accept expired medications.