Like many things in New York City, donating clothes is just harder here. Why? Many donation centers are full, and the thought of lugging your unwanted clothes only to get turned down is just too much work. While tempting, tossing clothes outside in the hopes they will be taken or show up on @StoopingNYC should not be plan A.
We are going to skip national resources that are mail-in specific and focus on donating instead of consignment or Facebook Marketplace (though that’s also a great way to get rid of clothes!). If the idea of bringing a large bag of anything on the subway gives you hives, don’t worry: Most donation centers have mail-in options, and a few even have pickup. Below, we’ve listed a ton of options, but you can also check DonateNYC’s web page for an interactive map that you can search by categories.
Anything stained, outdated, too worn, or damaged.
Just recycle it. First rule of thumb: Make sure the items you are donating are in good condition. Donating clothes that can’t be sold or used creates a huge burden on small centers. Many don’t have the resources to deal with them, so they get tossed in the garbage. This is the opposite of what anyone is trying to accomplish and could cost the centers money and resources to trash items. So save time and recycle that ratty shirt you’ve been wearing to the gym. This is also a great option for un-donatable clothing such as socks and underwear.
There are bins to drop off recycling all over the city through the Sanitation Department, Helpsy, UsAgain, and Green Tree. Double-check that the one near you can accept all your items as some only do clothing, while others can collect shoes and other accessories. Grow NYC has collections year-round at different locations around the city. Wearable Collections also collects clothes for recycling at farmers’ markets and one location in Brooklyn. Those in Astoria can check out Scrap or schedule a pickup with them. You could try meeting your neighbors or bully your workplace to get your whole building involved in some spring-cleaning recycling by requesting your own recycling bin through RefashionNYC or Green Tree.
Bulk items in good condition.
.
Centers with multiple locations:
Housing Works
With ten locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, Housing Works is a great option to donate your gently used clothes. The New York City–based nonprofit helps those with AIDS and houselessness. They are slightly pickier about items and prefer them in great condition. For women’s items, they are looking for dresses, knits, and blouses. For men’s, woven, knits, and shoes. Plus jewelry, accessories, and handbags.
Goodwill
A classic donation center that’s still tried and true here in NYC. In 2021, the New York and New Jersey branch diverted 40 million pounds of pre-loved clothing and home goods from landfills. There are nine locations in the greater NYC area where you can drop off donations. Always check the website or call ahead to make sure they accept what you are dropping off. Some city locations tend to get overrun, and they will turn donations away especially near the end of the day. They request no odors, rips, tears, or pilling, and no used undergarments such as underwear or socks.
Salvation Army
There are about ten locations in the greater NYC area. The thrift stores are nonprofit, so the money raised there goes back into the community, funding shelters for unhoused people, rehab programs, and more. Make sure to call ahead to see if that location is currently taking donations and what kinds. The website says it accepts all kinds of clothes, but just like Goodwill, the centers get overrun. They are a Christian-based organization, so you’ll have better luck if you don’t go on a Sunday.
Buy Nothing groups
Every NYC neighborhood should have one on Facebook, and it’s pretty great for getting rid of things in a way that feels good. Simply join the group, wait for membership approval, read the rules (some groups are more stingy on rules than others, so make sure to check them out before posting), post photos of your items (you can do one picture with a pile of stuff or individuals), then pick a lucky person to come pick up your items. It’s a little more work than dropping things off, but you can dump your unwanted items right outside your door for a neighbor to treasure. Plus, it can be a good way to make local friends.
.
Centers with one location:
Vintage Thrift, 286 Third Ave.
Proceeds from this store benefit the United Jewish Council of the East Side. It accepts high-quality gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, and jewelry.
Cure Thrift, 91 Third Ave.
All proceeds from Cure Thrift benefit various type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organizations. The store collects all clothing, accessories, and jewelry (no stains or rips and no socks or underwear). It does ask that you call ahead to make sure it is accepting donations.
Celene’s Thrift Shop, 568 Grandview Ave.
Located in Ridgewood, this store doesn’t have a website, but it does accept donations.
City Opera Thrift, 513 W. 26th St.
This thrift store benefits the New York City Opera and the arts. Walk-in donations are accepted during store hours, but it does pick up as well on Tuesday and Friday in Manhattan and will pay for taxi rides up to $25 with a receipt. The store does not accept anything stained, ripped, or damaged, nor does it accept undergarments.
Womankind
A New York Asian Women’s center that collects new and gently-used goods including clothing, this store asks that you fill out a form before donating, and a staff member will be in touch with you on where to drop off your donation.
St. Francis Thrift Store, 207 W. 96th St.
This thrift store collects donations whenever the store is open (Wednesday through Sunday) and helps supplement the grants for the church’s programs and services. It cannot take any clothing that is dirty, stained, ripped, torn, or peeling or items such as socks and underwear. It can refuse items, so contact the store to see what it is currently in need of, but it does accept most new or gently used clothing.
Grand Central Neighborhood Social Services, 120 E. 32nd St.
This center collects clothing and shoes for the unhoused of NYC. It accepts all kinds of clothing but asks for no used undergarments. It’ll also accept toiletries and cosmetics, but they have to be unopened.
Xavier Mission, 55 W. 15th St.
Xavier Mission collects new or clean gently used clothing for guests participating in its community-outreach programs. In-season clothes that are not ripped, faded, frayed, or stained are prefered. Items it does not accept include junior sizes and small women’s clothing, used underwear, high-heeled shoes, and handbags. It is in need of large sizes of both men’s and women’s clothing. Donations should be dropped off in plastic or paper bags. It has a separate Christmas clothing collection in December as well.
Urban Pathways, 575 8th Ave.
Another organization helping those struggling with homelessness, Urban Pathways collects gently used clothing. It asks that you fill out the form on the website beforehand to have ready for the donation.
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave., at W. 112th St.
The Clothing Closet distributes emergency clothing to those in need. Drop-off hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clothes must be laundered beforehand. It is in need of clothes that best fit the upcoming season, and is especially looking for men’s and women’s underwear (new), men’s pants in sizes 28–38, sneakers, ties, and unopened hygiene products.
Big Reuse, 1 12th St., Brooklyn
Big Reuse accepts a wide range of items including clothing. It’s looking for clean clothing and accessories in great condition. It does not accept underclothes. Clothing donations can be dropped off seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5p.m.
Encore Community Services, 239 W. 49th St.
For its monthly Bargain Store and Boutique Encore, Encore accepts donations of clothing and jewelry in very good condition. It also accepts towels, sheets, and toiletries that are in good condition.
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 308 W. 47th St.
Its clothing bank collects everyday clothing and business attire for men and women.
United Church of Praise International Ministries, 32 Sands St., Staten Island
The church runs a free clothing store in Staten Island and is looking for gently used clothing, shoes, and hats.
House of Good Deeds, 330 E. 65th St.
A unique organization that has two drop-off locations in Manhattan (one on West 42nd Street and the other on East 65th, by appointment) and will come to you if your clothing fits its needs. It is currently looking for new and like-new clothing of all kinds to give back to the community. Its storage capacity is limited, so do fill out the donation form first to see if your items can be picked up.
Out of the Closet, 475 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn
For every dollar it makes, 96 cents goes toward helping people living with HIV, AIDS, and/or homelessness. It will pick up your donations and accepts men’s and women’s clothing, and shoes in teen and adult sizes only.
Sidewalk Samaritan, contact@sidewalksamaritan.org
This organization accepts coats and shoes year-round to donate to those in need on the street.
CauZ for PawZ, 333 First Avenue
This thrift store sells clothing to support feeding animals and helping with adoption programs throughout the city. Contact the shop to see what donation items it is considering.
Little Essentials, 63 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn
Little Essentials provides families living in poverty children’s supplies and clothing. It will accept spring and summer clothing and shoes for kids ages 5 and under.
Street Life Ministries, 154-11 Ash Avenue, Flushing
A ministry service that distributes goods to those in need, including socks and unopened toiletries. You can also contact the ministry to see what it needs, but it must be in good condition.
By item
These following centers accept certain items or have a specific mission. We aren’t including the options above since they also take everything below.
.
Jeans and denim
Bowery Mission
Bowery Mission has a few locations in the city. Right now, it accepts gently used men’s clothing and women’s clothing and is in need of jeans for both genders. It will also accept hygiene items that are new and travel-size and gently used bath towels.
Blue Jeans Go Green
A few stores in NYC, including Madewell, American Eagle, Muji, Carhartt, and Rage & Bone, will collect your well-worn jeans and denim garments. Some even offer a percentage off your purchase after donating.
.
Professional clothing and accessories
Bottomless Closet, 1 West 34th Street, 5th Floor
Best for gently worn women’s professional clothing, this store is really in need of sizes 12 and up, shoes in sizes 10 and up (or half-sizes), as well as handbags, preferably large enough to fit a résumé or portfolio. Currently, it accepts donations Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or you can bring items to M.M.LaFleur on the Upper West Side or Bryant Park and get 10 percent off your purchase.
This Suits You
Men’s suits, ties, and accessories (like tie clips). The organization can arrange a pick up or you can mail it in.
Agency Collective
This nonprofit provides professional clothing to underprivileged youth. It does monthly donation days that are emailed directly to donors and those on its newsletter.
Already mentioned:
Bowery Mission
Looking for men’s suits in medium to XXXL and women’s professional clothing in medium to XXXL.
.
Coats and sweaters
New York Cares
New York Cares collects right before and during early winter only. Check the site or to see when the next drive begins.
Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries
RMM helps those in need in the Hell’s Kitchen area. From November through March, it collect coats and other winter necessities for its winter-clothing closet. Contact the organization outside those months to see if it will take your donations.
Already mentioned:
Bottomless Closet
This store is really in need of cardigans and coats.
.
Evening dresses
Harlem Dress Collective 384 E. 149th St., Suite 202
HDC helps lower-income high-school students enjoy a prom they won’t forget. They are collecting all sizes but ask that the dresses be current styles.
.
Shoes
Dress for Success
A nonprofit that helps women dress and prepare for interviews and employment. The New York locations are particularly in need of new or gently used work-appropriate shoes (think short heels or flats) in sizes 9 and higher, and Dress for Success accepts donations at its Queens location.
Nike
Nike stores collect any brand of athletic sneakers. There are six stores in the city where you can drop off your well-worn shoes. They do not accept sandals, dress shoes, boots, or shoes with metal.
Soles 4 Souls
Three DSWs in the city, at 14th, 34th, and 125th streets, collect shoes through this recycling program, as well as the Puma store on Fifth Avenue and the Mile High Running Club on Lexington Ave. You can also ship your shoes for free with Zappos.
Already mentioned:
Bottomless Closet
Professional shoes. Sizes 10 and up especially needed.
Harlem Dress Collective
Heels and dress shoes.
.
Costumes, uniforms, vintage, and unique articles of clothing
Materials for the Arts, 33-00 Northern Blvd., Queens
Materials for the Arts will gladly take your old Halloween costumes, vintage oddities, old work uniforms, and anything odd you have lurking in the back of your closet that it can make new costumes out of. You can drop off with an appointment or ship your pre-approved items.
TDF, 34-12 36th St., Queens
TDF accepts all clothing donations but is really looking for costumes. It’s in need of “anything that evokes time periods pre-1980 (or is otherwise fantastical).” Usually, it’s unable to keep fashion pieces it receives. It also accepts costume pieces and accessories other than wigs, but email TDF to learn its latest needs and drop-off information.
.
Bonus: Packing materials
Online shopping too much and your apartment looks like a USPS? Ask local businesses around you if they need shipping materials. Or ask your local Buy Nothing Facebook group.
Are we forgetting anywhere? Comment below so we can update the article.
