Donating Furniture & Furnishings
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Donating Furniture & Furnishings
Nov 2008
Help! I'd like to find an easy way to get rid of bulky household
items (old furniture...). Before when Waste Management had specific
dates for once-a-year bulk pick-up I'd just put my stuff out on the
curbe, but now that you have ''by-appointment-only-pick-up'',
apartment buildings don't qualify. Is there any agency that takes
donations of anything and does curb pick-up? Other bulk pick-up
services in the Albany area?
Thanks!
Wanna clear my garage
You could try freecycle. Items I've posted to that list have gone
very fast.
Lise
I've donated rugs, sofa, etc to Salvation Army. You'll need to
call and make an appointment. They usually like items at curb, but
I couldn't get the sofa out there and they took it from in front
of my garage.
dana
Sept 2006
Does anyone know where to give away furniture such as old entertainment center?
Trica
Try www.freecycle.org
dedicated freecycler
we've given similar items to United Cancer Research; they come
and pick up at your house for free (assuming items are in
reasonable condition) and leave you a receipt for tax purposes.
I think the number to call to arrange pick up is 1-800-443-
4224. If for some reason that doesn't pan out, there's always
freecycle (online mechanism for finding a person in your area
who wants your item; no money exchanged) Although there's no
tax deduction, there is the pleasure of seeing your item go
directly into the hands of someone who can truly use it.
paula
May 2006
I have a dining room set & some living room furniture that's in
good condition. Aside from the charities that sell these types
of items, are there local charities (such as shelters, etc) that
actually give furniture like this to their clients?
anonymous
I consider selling or donating furniture to Cal students a
worthy cause. Do you remember scrounging around trying
desperately to furnish your first off-campus apartment with
friends? And getting grungy 70's hand-me-down sofas from
relatives (yet nonetheless so grateful)? I'd post in their
daily paper or post notes somewhere on campus. You could make
a student's day!
Anon
Hi,
The non-profit I work for accepts furniture donations and ONLY
distributes them free of charge to clients, who are low-income
people moving into a new housing situation. The program is
based in San Francisco and will do free pick-ups in San
Francisco; otherwise you'd need to drop it off at the program
site. Contact info: phone 415.241.8300; 101 8th Street @
Mission in San Francisco; www.stanthonysf.org
Phillip
First Place Fund for Youth (www.firstplacefund.org 510-272-0979)
provides
transitional housing for youth emancipating from foster care to
independent
living. I know they seek donations of new household goods; I am unsure
about
used goods
David
March 2006
We have a sofa bed couch and two stuffed chairs to give away.
Salvation Army, St. Vinsent De Paul, Goodwill won't take them
cuz' sunfaded/tan chairs a bit dirty/they have no more room.
Don't want to take to dump. Where else is there to give them?
Joann
I just received a notice in with my garbage bill that Hospice of
Contra Costa Froundation will pick up reusable furniture for
resale. The number is 925 674 9072. If you are not in CCC, you
might see if Alameda Co. has a similar program.
Claire
have you tried urban ore?
they're down off san pablo, near the depot for creative reuse, i
think 2 blocks south of ashby...
you can look em up
elzza
I've had great success getting rid of stuff by offering it on
Berkeley and Oakland Freecycle. These Yahoo groups are open to
anyone - I've given away a somewhat saggy sofa, cereal my kids
hated, a toddler bed, tubes of diaper rash cream, *and* I've
gotten a less saggy sofa, bunkbeds, etc. It's all free. Great
people, great fun finding the right home for stuff.
Here's the website's spiel:
where one person's trash is another's treasure! We are ''changing
the world one gift at a time''. Find out more about the VERY
fast-growing international Freecycle movement at Freecycle.org
Our goal is to reduce waste by connecting people who are throwing
away unwanted items with others seeking the same items. No item
is too big or too small, but since this is a FREEcycle list, ALL
items must be 100% free! Keep it free, legal appropriate for all
ages.
Oct 2003
I just got a new loveseat and recliner, and thought I could just
call the Salvation Army or Goodwill to get rid of it, but NOO!!
Neither will take couches anymore, and I don't know how many
other homeless organizations and charity groups I've called and
asked. No one wants to take it because it's a sofa bed, and
insurance companies won't let them. It's perfectly servicable
with a little cleaning and was a good friend for many years. It
has stains because it's off-white, but a little cleaning would
make it good as new--well, almost. It's on my front porch, and
I'm afraid the neighbors are going to start to complain.
Help!!
Hopefully Couchless
Post that you have a free couch on the Parents Network
Marketplace and Craigslist. Include a link to a picture for even
faster results. Unless its hideously ugly or filthy it should be
gone within a few days.
I'm sure if you put your sofabed into the ''FREE'' section of the
Craigslist website someone will take it. It's easy and free to
post on Craigslist. Someone out there needs what you have and if
not, junk dealers peruse the free list constantly. Good luck.
Jan
Have you tried craigslist? I have given away a lot of fairly
mediocre furniture there and have always had LOTS of responses.
anonymous
Look! Another poster for another question (where to donated
baby stuff) produced this link:
Building Futures with Women and Children
http://webspace.bfwc.org/~2057/donate/bccwish.html
and they are looking for donated couch beds!
J12
we had the same problem. not just with the couch, but also with
several old appliances. the Emeryville Community Action Program
was the ONLY place that i could find, after much calling around.
their number is 652.8422.
My suggestion is that you get the couch cleaned up (yourself or
hire someone), and then it will be easier to get a new home
for. You might try calling churches, synagogues, youth centers,
the Parkway Theater, etc. Then there is always Craig's list.
signed - we've got a couch already
Feb 2003
I have been trying to sell a chandelier that we brought here when we
moved here from North Carolina. It really doesn't fit in my Berkeley
house because it is bright brass. From what I've learned from resale
shops bright brass is ''out'' now and impossible to sell. So now I'm on to
donating this chandelier to a good cause, something like Habitat for
Humanity where I know someone will enjoy having it. I really want to get
a tax deduction because this chandelier cost around $800 new so just
giving it away free on the Parents Network isn't what I have in mind.
Does anyone have a recommendation an organization that would take
the chandelier and ensure that it gets installed in a needy person's
home?
Thanks, Maria
Every year at this time the Oakland Museum holds its huge White
Elephant Sale. I would imagine they would take a nice
chandelier. I'm not sure if they'd certify it was worth $800,
but they do give receipts. The general number is 238-2200, on
the voicemail there's an option for the sale.
It's definitely a great cause to donate to(when you do, you are
granted entrance to the sale in advance), and it's great to
attend also because you find all kinds of amazing things and
the money goes to the museum.
Suzanne
In addition to habitat for Humanity, you could try Rebuilding
Together (formerly Christmas in April). The Albany-Berkeley
Emeryville affiliate has a website:
http://www.rebuildingtogetherabe.com/intro.html
R.K.
Sports4Kids www.sports4kids.org
We accept all sorts of items to help fund our in school sports
programs. We sell them and use the proceeds. We have been
accepting sports equipment, but are expanding to accept
different items of value. Please look at our organization info
and contact me if you are interested. Thank you!
July 2003
Does anyone know of an easy way to dispose of old furniture? I
am ashamed to admit we have a chair and sofa that were refused
pickup by Salvation Army, so now I am at a bit of a loss as to
how to get rid of them. Thank you!
Claire
Take it to the dump! If you don't have a truck and/or need help,
check out the classifieds in craigslist.com - there are usually
people advertising hauling services.
Before you do that, you may want to take a picture of the
furniture and post an ad offering it for free on craigslist as
well - if the stuff is not too bad (smelly, ripped, etc.) someone
may take it off your hands.
anon
Donations: Offer free on this site.
Good Will sends a truck to pick up donations AND GIVES TAX
RECEIPT.
Sale: Several places on Gilman Ave, Berkeley (including one on
south side of street at about 6th Ave) buy used furniture, and I
believe Urban Ore, near Ashby in Berkeley, does as well.
anon
I suggest calling the company that picks up your trash and see
if they pick up larger items for an extra charge. My local
service told me one time that they do this.
Betty
I'm afraid that you'll have take them to the dump. It's in
Berkeley, so it's not far, and you have to pay a reasonable fee
to drop them off. If you don't have a way to cart them over
there, you could also look in local weeklies or bulletin boards
for guys with trucks who haul to the dump for you. In fact, if
you call the dump, you could ask them if they know someone.
Kate krezucha@yahoo.com
I've found that Salvation Army is one of the pickier donation
places. If your furniture is still serviceable you might try
contacting the San Leandro based group that supports adults with
disabilities (sorry I can't recall name, but they've brought a
truck by our place after I got the name from this list, maybe it
is archived?). You might also try listing your furniture for
giveaway on Craigslist.org, no tax deduction, but it still goes away!
need to clean house too
This is a good time of year to leave your furniture on the curb
with a ''free'' sign on it. With Burning Man coming up at the end
of August, many people in the Bay Area will be looking for
desert-friendly furniture. If you don't want to leave it out,
I'd follow the advice of the poster who suggested craigslist,
and I bet you'll be rid of it quickly!
burning mom
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