How to Donate Kids' Clothes and Toys in New York

Do not donate toys that you know have been recalled.

Donating kids' clothing and toys is a great way to help other families in need. It is also an environmentally friendly way to get rid of your unwanted items. New York City is home to hundreds of churches, charities and organizations, making it easy for residents to donate the clothes and toys that children have outgrown.

Instructions

1. Review all items that you would like to donate and make sure that they are suitable for donation. Toys must be safe; they cannot have been recalled or have any missing pieces or broken parts that make them hazardous for play. Clothing must not have any major tears or stains. Depending on the charity or organization accepting the donation, standards may be even stricter. For instance, some organizations do not accept baby clothing with large buttons because the objects are considered a choking hazard. Wash all clothes and wipe toys clean before donating.

2. Decide which charity or organization you would like to benefit with your donation. In New York City, there are many charities and organizations from which to choose. For example, the Children's Hope Foundation, the Family Justice Center, Baby Buggy, Room to Grow, Ronald McDonald House of New York, The Inwood House, the Salvation Army and Goodwill all have locations in the city that accept donations in the form of baby clothes and toys. There are also many pregnancy centers and churches in the area that receive donations to distribute to low income mothers. For a listing of churches in the New York City area, see references.

3. Call the organization to confirm that it is receiving donations. Sometimes, organizations have to suspend donations temporarily because they are short staffed or need to get caught up with processing previous donations. Inquire about donation procedure. You may have to drop the items off at a certain location, or you may be able to schedule a pick-up. In addition, there may be forms that you have to complete for tax or other purposes.

4. List your items on a social or community network Web site, if you would like to donate them directly to a parent in need of toys or children's clothing. Freecycle and Craigslist, for instance, have various groups located in New York City. The advantage of donating directly (rather than through a charity) is that you know your items will be received by recipients in need soon, rather than taking up space in a warehouse until they are reviewed and processed.

References

• New York City Metro: New York City Religion, New York City Churches, New York City Synagogues, New York City Mosques & NY Religious Links
• The City of New York: In-kind Donations

Resources

• FreeCycle: New York City
• Craigslist: New York