Where to Take The Excess: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

When the world’s envious think of “America,” they’re thinking of Westchester County, New York…though they probably don’t know its name. This county has it all:

• Adorable towns and villages
• Pink Polo shirts on women and men
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (the original plus odd, bloody-minded little show on Fox)
• And, Golf Courses--54 of them, for the love of Jane! Serving a total population of 960,000! Is that even legal?! No wonder I keep snapping up golf sets on garbage night...
 



And this is a Public course.

Anyway, thinking of Westchester = thinking of MONEY.

This blog doesn’t help, I know. I do like to brag that it only took 7 months of curb collecting and selling to cover my family’s 16 day trip to Europe.

 

Turning Trash into Culture in Bavaria

 

This is not a normal place. Worse: it’s easy to fall into a strange sense of Normal here, including Curbing Good Stuff.

And, Friends, this is Westchester, too.

Food distribution at The Salvation Army, 115 Wildey Street in Tarrytown.
 

I know that this entry may screw me out of a few sales, but today, I offer four more places that want—and need—the things Westchesterites like to call “Trash.”

Where to Take “The Good”



43 S. Broadway & W. Elizabeth Sts.

~Tarrytown, NY~

 

Christ Episcopal Church, Tarrytown

Do some local good with your good stuff. Christ Episcopal Church is holding its Annual Fall Fair on October 18, 4-8 pm, and October 19, 9-4. 

 

As the ever-glowing, ever-giving Reverend Susan Copley gently puts it, they’re accepting everything that “you’d be willing to give to a friend.” 

Sporting goods
Toys
Music
Electronics
Clothing
Glassware
Kitchen 
Linens
Furniture…





 I hit all those categories and then some today, when I deposited a van load on their porch.  



They told me you can leave your stuff here, too.

 

Even if you miss the Fall Fair deadline, consider dropping off your family’s clean clothes and shoes at the office of Christ Church.

Their new project, The Clothing Closet, is geared to serve the lowest income residents of our towns. That doesn’t mean that the clothing is low quality, just that you pay only $1-3 for any item.

So, plan to see me there, too.

The Closing Closet, usually a once-a-month event, will be held this October 18-19 during their Annual Fall Fair. Otherwise, it’s open every 2^nd Saturday of the month, from 10-2.

Where to Take “The Bad”…and the good, too

Goodwill and Salvation Army

If separating out threadbare socks and stained shirts from your “good donation” pile makes you crazy enough to pitch the whole thing out in the trash, these are the places for you.

They’ll take any and all clothing, linens, shoes, accessories, crafts, kitchen tools, books, furniture, wall art…. Probably wanna skip most baby furniture, cribs, and toys, though; they’re getting picky.

I asked the managers of Goodwill Stores in Elmsford and Croton-on-Hudson if the rumor was true:

"Can I drop off thrashed bed linens, towels, shoes, and clothes at Goodwill instead of dropping them in the trash?"

Their answer was consistent: “We believe in making use of everything. Don’t throw it away.”

380 Saw Mill River Rd, Elmsford.
Look for the Color Tag of the Week--half price!


 

And Now... Where to Take "The Ugly"

Pets Alive (formerly the Elmsford Animal Shelter)

100 S Warehouse Ln Elmsford, NY 10523
(914) 592-7334

I knew that Pets Alive is a no-kill shelter for animals.

I didn’t know that it is also a no-kill shelter for the worst, stinky, torn, old bedding, towels, and clothes.

The employees and volunteers tell me that they use all of these items to keep the shelter clean and “the animals calm”….Come again? 

It turns out that the animals, especially dogs, can “rip to shreds” new beds; they prefer bedding that smells like humans. (Sad irony, yes.)

Of course, if you have pet food--even opened bags-- cages and carriers, and new animal bedding, Pets Alive wants it, too.

 

 

Still Gonna Kick It To The Curb?

I know you’re not sadists who would donate stuff laced with black mold or lice or bed bugs—just bad karma, that—but do consider writing a LARGE WARNING on the bag if you are curbing something buggy, stinky, or otherwise nasty. Not everyone follows the Rules of the Road….

 

P.S. Way to Go, Scarsdale Schools! A Google search showed that they already did work for all of us with this nicely annotated list "The Guide To Giving Your Stuff Away."

Of course, if you cruise the curbs of Scarsdale, you may not want to share this list with anyone.

 

 

Copyright 2013, Tanya Monier