A FiPS Guide to Donating Your Unwanted Shit

Let’s face it, guys. We live in New York, and our apartments are small (I know what you’re thinking: Someone get this man a Pulitzer for that weighty opening!). Because we shack up in miniscule apartments that are better fit for raccoons and cockroaches, there isn’t a lot of room for the crap that accumulates as we, you know, live our (or your) lives. So naturally, a major part of any New Yorker’s Spring Cleaning efforts is devoted to getting rid of shit. And with the help of FiPS, this year you’re gonna be a shining star! Fancy clothes! Fancy ca-ar! Let’s buck up and get ready to say goodbye to yesterday and out-of-style shit. I know it’s hard, but just think of all of the new shit you can get once you’ve cleared out that corner where you formerly stacked the dishes because you had to keep your back copies of The New Yorker in the cupboards -- but now you’ve finally thrown THOSE out! (A nickel for every run-on, please!)

Are you with me? If you are, you’ve just resolved to go through all of your shit. You've agreed to dragging a friend over for drinks (read: watching you try on every plaid shirt in your closet in hopes of determining that the blue on green pattern is SO 2009, while the green on blue pattern is 100% on trend of 2013), and neatly packing all of that shit into garbage bags, keeping said bags separate from the actual garbage, and finally feeling ready to...do something with all of it. Something good! Something noble! Something that’ll put some cash back in your pocket! Something better than contributing to Brooklyn’s garbage war!

When it comes to furniture, electronics, and home goods you can, of course, turn to Craigslist. But the hassle of dealing with that shit can be tiring, and it’s easy for potential buyers to flake. And when it comes to dumping your clothes, surely there’s a better way than leaving it on the stoop. So here, without further ado, is the “official” FiPS guide to donating your unwanted shit:

Photo via www.housingworks.org

Housing Works: The Hippest Way to Donate

As far as Thrift shops go, Housing Works is just about as good as it gets. They’ll take basically anything you’ve got: clothing, shoes, books, artwork, jewelry, and housewares. They’ll even arrange for a free furniture pick-up! Moreover, their mission -- “to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts” -- is about the most badass of all missions. After dealing with them you'll have a clear conscience AND a roomier closet!

Housing Works: 266 5th Ave. at Garfield Pl., Mon-Sat: 12-7PM, Sun: 12-5PM

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: Green With Outdated Fashion Envy

We all love getting kale and goat milk at the Greenmarket, but it’s also a great place to take your used clothing. Unlike the Thrift and Vintage Shops listed here, you’re actually giving your clothes to GrowNYC, a clothing & textile recycling program that strives to reduce the amount of textile waste New York City residents create (currently about 6% of our residential waste system is textiles). And they’ll take anything that’s clean! They sort the textiles and determine what can be sold in thrift shops, and what can be used to make wiping rags, fiber for car seats, and insulation. It’s really the easiest, most eco-friendly way to donate your clothes. But what else would you expect from the Greenmarket?

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: Prospect Park West & Flatbush Ave., Saturdays, 8AM-4PM

Photo via www.city-data.com

Salvation Army Family Store: That Good Old Staple

Given that NYC gets a new bar or restaurant every week, and a new H&M even more frequently, it’s easy to forget the old staples. Has anyone even been to Macy’s in the last 30 years? Such is the case with the Salvation Army, which has been around collecting clothes for its thrift shops since the beginning of time (OK, actually the mid-19th Century, but who’s counting?). Sure you may take issue with the fact that it’s a Christian charity (helping for helping’s sake, right?), or that their stance on homosexuality is somewhat medieval.

But that doesn't mean you should ignore the fact that it's where you got those awesome yellow bell bottom pants for that high school play costume. Or maybe that’s a reason not to donate to Salvation Army. I don’t know. I’m just listing it here as an option.

Salvation Army Family Store: 436 Atlantic Ave
(between Bond St & Nevins St), Mon-Tue: 10AM-6PM, Wed-Fri: 10AM-7PM, Sat: 9AM-7PM

And hey, you want vintage stores for donating or selling? 5th Avenue has one on pretty much every block:

Some shoes at Guvnor's / via www.stylecheckupny.com

• Beacon’s Closet
• Guvnor's Vintage
• Monk Vintage Thrift Shop
• Life Boutique Thrift
• Yona Lee Vintage
• Allure on Fifth
• Two Lovers Boutique
• Almost New Clothing Inc
• Pony Shop 

Donating isn't all about getting rid of clothes and housewares though! Let us not forget:

Food Banks: Helping You Get Rid of the Food You Bought Because You Thought the World Would End the Night of Hurricane Whatserface

There are a bunch of Food Banks in Brooklyn. I did a search HERE, and found this one in Park Slope. I also know that plenty of school and religious institutions constantly run food drives, and if they aren’t having one right now, tell them to do it! Remember, people who are hungry need food other times than Thanksgiving.

Of course, I’m sure there are plenty of other fabulous places where one can unload his or her shit. Have at it, you crazy Slopers!