Where to Donate....

Spatial Solutions Professional Home Organization

Phone 773.343.2939 Email debramichaud@hotmail.com
Please email with additions, updates or corrections.

De-cluttering is so much easier when you know your old treasures are helping those most in need. I compiled the following list after helping so many of my clients clear out their clutter and then, for the sake of efficiency, calling the Salvation Army to pick up the goods. I knew this wasn't the most effective way to help those in need, so I began researching alternate places to donate, and discovered there are myriad opportunities to give in Chicago! Many more organizations can be found online or by searching in your local yellow pages under “Social Service Agencies.”

This list is up-to-date as of May 31, 2006. I called almost every organization to verify and expand upon the information provided on their website. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent of my knowledge.



FURNITURE, LARGE APPLIANCES & HOUSEHOLD:

Sharing Connections
5111 Chase Avenue
Downers Grove, IL 60515
630-971-0565
Email: sharingconnections@msn.com
9am-3pm M-F, 9am-12noon Sat & Sun
Furniture pick-up within close distance. Must be on 1st floor. Driver will call the day before to confirm.

Accepts furniture, baby supplies, personal care items, cleaning supplies, appliances in good condition.


National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA)
http://www.Help1Up.org/
Don Lawrence, Vice President, Communications
Phone (800) 576 0774

Links furniture industry with those in need.


HOME, Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly
5414B West Roosevelt Road, Chicago 60644-1483
773-921-3200
Email info@homeseniors.org
www.homeseniors.org
They pick up furniture


HOUSEHOLD, TOILETRIES, OFFICE SUPPLIES:


Sarah’s Circle (Uptown)
http://www.sarahs-circle.org/
4750 N Sheridan Road, Room 220
Chicago, IL 60640-8061
Call 773-728-1991 before dropping off your donation.

Accepts household and kitchen supplies, office supplies, appliances, sheets and towels, computer programs, toiletries, vitamins, medicine. Always in need of business suits, gently used kitchen cookware, kitchen appliances, feminine products and depends. Large appliances by arrangement.

Offers daytime supportive services and a safe refuge for women who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Brown Elephant Resale Shops (Four Locations)
http://www.howardbrown.org
3651 N. Halsted Street, Chicago
5404 N. Clark Street, Chicago
1459 N. Milwaukee, Chicago
217 Harrison, Oak Park, IL Hours 12-7 during week, 11-6 on weekends
All other locations open 11 am - 6 pm every day
Call 773-549-5943 with any questions, including piano and large furniture pick-up.

Accepts clean furniture, clothing, small appliances, toys in good condition, books, working electronics, computers faster than 486, household supplies

Brown Elephant shops benefit the programs and services of Howard Brown Health Center which services the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

White Elephant Resale Shop (Lincoln Park)
2380 N. Lincoln Ave
Call 773.883.6184 to arrange for a pick-up.
Mon. – Wed. and Fri. and Sat. from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; and Sundays from noon - 5 p.m.

Accepts clothing in good condition, furniture, appliances, books

Proceeds benefit the Children’s Memorial Hospital.


Lincoln Park Community Shelter (Lincoln Park)
638 W. Deming Place 60614
Chicago, IL
Call (773) 549-6111 to arrange drop-off.
http://www.lpcsonline.org/html/items.html

Accepts toiletries, scrap paper (clean on one side), towels, sheets, blankets, men’s clothing, first aid equipment. For full list refer to their webpage.


BABY & MATERNITY:

Christopher House
2507 North Greenview, Chicago
Drop-off Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
http://www.christopherhouse.org

In high-need currently: baby clothes, baby toiletries and diapers, baby furniture and strollers, maternity clothes, linens, towels, school supplies, book bags and backpacks, individually wrapped snacks, chest freezer, blankets.

Christopher House's mission is to help children, families, and individuals in need help themselves through integrated social, educational, and human service programs.


CLOTHING:


Bottomless Closet (Loop)
445 N. Wells Street Between Illinois and Hubbard
Suite #301
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: 312-527-9664
www.bottomlesscloset.org
Accepts donations every second Sat. of the month except Jan. and Sept.
Drop off at loading dock in the back of the building, enter from Illinois or Hubbard, volunteers should be present to help unload

Accepts women’s interview and work attire and accessories (shoes, handbags, jewelry) and office supplies (markers, envelopes, paper).

They assist women in the Chicago metropolitan area re-enter the work force, helping them get off welfare and stay off welfare through job retention training and provide them with appropriate clothing for work.


YWCA Clothing Donation Boxes
www.ywcalakecounty.org
Accepts clothing, shoes, and linens. Drop off in any of the drop-off boxes listed below.

Donations are picked up 6 days per week. A company called “Charity Clothing Pick-up Service, Inc.” provides the boxes and deliveries, then pays the charity (the YWCA Lake County in this case) by volume of clothing received. The clothes are sold in a thrift store in Humboldt Park. Whatever is not sold here gets sent to a third world country. The YWCA is actively seeking new locations for their drop boxes, if interested, please call Debbie Larker at 847-662-4247 ext. 102.

The YWCA Lake County focuses on women's economic empowerment/ education and training; women and adolescent girls' health; and after school youth leadership and development. The YWCA speaks out and is active on a national and local level to educate, raise awareness and change institutionalized systems that deny people access and opportunity for reasons of color, age, economic status, culture, ethnicity or gender.


COMPANY LOCATION TOWN BOX PLACED INSTALL DATE
Marathon 1706 Northwest Hwy Arlington Hts 3/17/06
Alamo Shoes 5321N. Clark St. Chicago 3/21/06
Citgo Gas Station/Subway Toughy and Sheridan Chicago 3/21/06
Curves 1409 Addison Chicago 3/21/06
Habetler Bowl 5250 Northwest Hwy Chicago 2/10/06
LaPalapita Milwaukee Chicago 2/10/06
Maytag Laundry 2949 W. Irving Park Chicago 1/27/06
Mortan Cleaners 5932 W. Irving Pk Chicago 1/27/06
Stanley's Fruit & Veg 1558 N. Elston Chicago 3/22/06
Columbus Foods 1651 E. Rand Rd Des Plaines 3/17/06
Crab Things 1249 S.Elmhurst Des Plaines 3/17/06
Gleason's Automotive 173 S. Wolf Des Plaines 3/17/06
Northwest Automotive 410 E Northwest Hwy Des Plaines 4/6/06
El Famous Burrito 904 N. York Rd Elmhurst 3/21/06
Bond Companies BOX#1 Main east of McCormick Evanston 2/10/06
Bond Companies BOX#2 Main east of McCormick Evanston Pending
Bryan's Garage 2829 Central St. Evanston 2/10/06
Mall East of Mc Cormick Home Depot, Oakton Evanston 2/10/06
Schwartzenhoff Cleaners 600 Oakton Evanston 3/17/06
Mobil 1280 W. Ogden Naperville 3/21/06
Olson Rug 988 So. Route 59 Naperville 3/21/06
Collectible Festival Antique Mall 1520 Aurora Ave. Napperville 4/6/06
Jun's Mobil 329 S. Lincoln Way (rt. 31) North Aurora 1-Jun-06
Staples 1551 Algonquin Rd Rolling Meadows 3/21/06
7-Eleven 2579 E. Ballard Rd Des Plaines 4/6/06
Golf Driving Range 1150 E. Golf Rd Des Plaines 4/6/06
Strip Mall Has White Hen Pantry and Nextel 1925 Washington Naperville 1-Jun-06
Marathon Tri C Automotive 3 N. Wilke Rd Arlington Hts 4/6/06
Lakeside Retail Center 2460 Eola Aurora 1-Jun-06
Citgo 3890 New York Rd Aurora 1-Jun-06
Marathon 1795 N. Farnsworth Aurora 1-Jun-06
ICI Paints 300 E. Indian Trail Rd Aurora 1-Jun-06
Aurora Fruit Market 1218 N. Lake St Aurora 1-Jun-06
Godings Marathon 1150 Prarie St. Aurora 1-Jun-06
Taqueria Los Cabritos 733 Aurora Ave Aurora 1-Jun-06
Chesterfield Center 722-750 Butterfield Rd North Aurora 1-Jun-06
Aurora Food Mart Strip Mall 370 Indian Trail Rd Aurora 1-Jun-06
Naperville Coin Laundry Laundry/ Quick Wash 409 Ogden Naperville 1-Jun-06
Park City Teen Center Tuske Blvd. Park City 1-Jun-06
Park City Car Wash Belvidere Rd & Knight Park City 1-Jun-06


Working Wardrobe
312 S. Westmore Road
Lombard, IL 60148
T (630) 691-1455
Donations accepted every second Saturday of the month.

Accepts ladies' career clothing in good repair can be donated

Working Wardrobe has been providing business attire and work preparedness assistance to women in need since 1998.


BLANKETS, TOWELS, CLEANING SUPPLIES:

Most animal shelters are in need of these. You can find local shelters in the yellow pages. They are also always in need of cat litter, animal carriers, dog kennels, and laundry detergent. And, speaking of clutter, did you realize that 4 to 6 million cats and dogs are put to sleep every year in shelters because there are no homes for them? And each day, where 10,000 humans are born in the U.S., 70,000 cats and dogs are born, according to the Animal Rescue League in New Mexico. This is a problem created by humans, and I believe it can be reversed. Adopting from shelters and rescue groups rather than supporting breeding, and spaying/neutering your pet, are two actions you can take to help. We have some great shelters in Chicago -- PAWS, The Tree House Foundation (cats only), The Furry Friends Foundation, and The Red Door are just a few with very good reputations.


BOOKS:


CHICAGO BOOKS TO WOMEN IN PRISON
C/o Beyond Media Education
7013 N. Glenwood Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
www.chicagobwp.org

Only accept paperback books. If you have books to donate, please email to arrange a time when they can be picked up or dropped off or stop by their space between 2-5pm on the first and third Sunday of each month. They are in Rogers Park at 7013 N. Glenwood, one block north of the Morse red line stop.

Most Frequently Requested Books:
* Self-help
* Recovery/addiction
* Meditation/yoga
* Daily affirmations
* Spiritual/religion
* Parenting
* Dictionaries
* Blank soft-cover journals
* Fiction by people of color
* Lesbian/queer fiction
* Crafts/crochet



Midwest Books to Prisoners
Book drop box location:
Quimby's Bookstore
1573 North Milwaukee Ave. PMB #460
Chicago, IL 60622
http://www.freewebs.com/mwbtp/mwbtp@riseup.net
Free books to Midwest prisoners.

Soft-cover book donations only.

Most requested book topics:

English and Spanish DICTIONARIES
GED (English and Spanish)
Computers
Thesaurus
Carpentry
Art Lessons
History
Psychology
Business
Crafts
Medical (esp. hepatitis, diabetes, AIDS)
Real Estate
Wilderness Skill/Survival
Books by People of Color
Drug and Alcohol Recovery
Legal
Automotive
Political
Math
Chess
Mens Health
Meditation
Anarchism
Arts and Crafts
Health
Abuse Issues
Queer Books
General Education
Beginning Language Books (Spanish, etc.)
Starting own Business
1 Book Encyclopedias (no sets)

Wish List:
Envelopes (all sizes)
Light bulbs
Donations for spring rummage sale
Broom and dust pan
File cabinet
Packing tape
Stamps (.37 & .02)


SCARCE (School and Community Assistance for Recycling & Composting Education)
Book Rescue
799 Roosevelt Rd.
Building 2, Suite 108
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
phone:630.545.9710
http://www.bookrescue.org/

Accepts children’s reference, story, and text books, cell phones and used ink jet cartridges. They just moved, refer to this link for updates:
http://www.bookrescue.org/books/default.asp?page=bdonate


ART SUPPLIES:

Creative Pitch
Art supplies for schools and programs in Chicagoland: http://www.creativepitch.org/home.html
NOTE: This program is on hold at the moment while they search for a storefront. They are hoping this will happen this summer (2006). Keep checking their website for updates.

For more information or to participate in this new program:
Contact Kelly Duffy at (773) 395-2500
Or email info@creativepitch.org


USED INK CARTRIDGES:

Recycle Your Empty Inkjet Cartridges and Help Animals!
$2 for every empty inkjet is directly donated to Petsmart Charities. Obtain their postage-paid envelopes at any Petsmart location or email petsmartcharities@cashforcritters.com.


Note: If cartridge body is white or gray, it should not be sent.

COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY:

FREE GEEK Chicago
3411 W. Diversey Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647-1245
(773) 451-7133
http://www.freegeekchicago.org/
To make a donation, e-mail donate@freegeekchicago.org or call 773) 451-7133.

Accepts computers and computer related hardware in any condition. If you are donating equipment that is known to be broken or a computer older than a Pentium I PC or PPC Mac, we do ask for a donation to help with our processing costs.

There is a $15.00 disposal fee per monitor, working or not, no exceptions (includes computers with built-in monitors).

Required Fee:
* Monitors ($15.00 ea.)
* Terminals ($10.00 ea.)
* Printers ($10.00 ea.)
* CPU/CRT combos ($15.00 ea.)

Suggested Donation:
* Computers ($5.00 ea.)
* External Modems ($2.00 ea.)
* Keyboards and Mice ($1.00 ea.)
* Fax Machines ($4.00 ea.)
* Media (no packaging please)
* Floppy diskettes ($2.00/total donation)
* CDs ($1.00/total donation)
* Computer cables ($1.00/donation)

FREE GEEK Chicago was founded in August 2005 as a collaboration of NPOTechs and Logan Square CTC to recycle computer technology and provide low and no-cost computing to economically disadvantaged individuals and not-for-profit and social change organizations.


Computers for Schools
3350 N. Kedzie, Chicago, IL 60618
http://pcsforschools.org
Between Belmont and Addison just off the Kennedy (90/94).
Drop off at dock number 3. Ring green button to the left of dock no.3 to unload systems.
Warehouse Map: http://www.pcsforschools.org/CFSPWarehouse.htm

Drop off Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. They will accept all equipment regardless of specifications or functionality. Computers for Schools will re-use the computer hardware or recycle it responsibly.

Donations of retired computer equipment are refurbished for educational use and placed in schools, non-profits or need-based homes. CFS is able to reuse over 80% of donations. Technology equipment that cannot be reused is recycled responsibly.

Minimum Donation Requirements
266 MHz system units, 15" monitors, laser printers. Equipment with these minimum specifications and higher are accepted, all other equipment is accepted upon approval.


Time Dollar Tutoring
2209 East 75th Street, Chicago, IL 60649
Phone: (773) 233-4442
www.timedollartutoring.org
Warehouse drop-off:
(Go to “contact information” on their website for directions).
Open 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, call to schedule

Acccepts:
* Pentium I computers with cd-rom drives
* Pentium II compatible computers & up
* Working monitors, printers & 56k modems
* Working printers, fax machines & copiers
* Complete servers kits, cabling & software
* Software with licenses & manuals
* Cash donations to offset refurbishing costs

Provides computers to families in need in exchange for tutoring volunteer work.




A QUESTIONABLE CHARITY....

Have you come across those big green bins asking for your clothing donations, labled “Gaia-Movement Living Earth Green World Action Inc.”? Sounds like a good cause, right? I did a little investigation and it turns out that Gaia, which is a project of Tvind Teacher’s Group, has been the subject of numerous investigations and negative press around the world, including by the Chicago Tribune and The Reader. At question is how much of their money actually makes it to charity. Abstracts and links to some of these articles can be found at http://www.tvindalert.com/countries/usa.htm.


USEFUL WEBSITES:

Craigslist.com (online classified)
Freecyle.org (list anything you want to give away)


Compiled By Spatial Solutions Professional Home Organization
Please email with updates, suggestions, or additions: debramichaud@hotmail.com.