Professional Organizer

When you want to de-clutter your home or office, but don't want to do the work alone, call Helen to evaluate, plan and roll up her sleeves to assist with the physical work. View more information...

Speaker and Workshop Leader

Helen Volk is an accomplished motivational speaker and experienced, dynamic, interactive workshop leader.

Author

Helen is a published author of insightful, interactive books, and booklets. View a complete list of her works...

Specific Items

Arts & Crafts:

  • Schools
  • pre-schools
  • day care centers
  • adult centers
  • groups with arts programs

Audio or Video Equipment:

  • Schools
  • youth centers
  • thrift shops

Autos/Cars:

  • Groups that teach auto repair, such as high school or trade schools; or local fire company for training.
  • American Lung Association or call 1-800-577-5864
  • The National Kidney Foundation or call 1-800-488-2277
  • L’Chaim Society 1-800-288-7799
  • Heritage for the Blind 1-800-2-DONATE
  • Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany, 518-463-1211
  • www.junkmycar.com will pick up and remove cars, trailers, motorcycles and other heavy equipment for free.
  • United Breast Cancer Foundation: www.ubcf.info, 1-888-468-5964
  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: 1-800-578-0408
  • Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch: 1-866-519-6046
  • Recycle Your Old Car! Recycle you old car by donating it to Cars4Charities. You can complete the entire donation process online 24/7 at www.cars4charities.org. Donated cars that need significant repair are completely recycled; others are sold for repair and reuse. Cars4Charities can have your car picked up in a matter of days, free of charge. The proceeds from your car will be used to help one of over 1,000 charities. In addition, you will be eligible for a tax deduction of up to $500 or what your car is sold for, whichever id greater. Complete details are available at www.cars4Charities.org or 1-866-448-3487 (Give-4-US). Source: Clifton Park South Pennysaver, 8-16-08

Backpacks:

  • Donate to The American Birding Association which scientists use while tracking neo-tropical birds – www.americanbirding.org

Books:

  • Local libraries
  • Nursing homes
  • Homeless shelters
  • National Yiddish Book Center accepts donations of all Yiddish books regardless of title, www.yiddishbookcenter.org/+22

Building Materials:

For non-local locations, go to www.redo.org

Carpet:

  • To find a carpet reclamation facility near you, go to www.carpetrecovery.org or check with your carpet manufacturer

Cell phones:

Although most old technologies have little practical value, an exception is the cell phone. Many groups collect used cell phones to refurbish and redistribute to people who especially need them, from soldiers stationed overseas, to battered women who need to call 911 in an emergency. Check out Charity Guide’s suggestions on how to give your cell phone a second life that will help the lives of others at: www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/cell-phone-recycling.htm also check www.recyclewireless-phones.com.

  • Albany County program of cellphones to seniors to use in emergencies Drop-off spots:
    Albany County Office Building, 112 State St, Albany, main lobby
    Albany County Judicial Building, 6 Lodge St, Albany, main lobby
    Albany County Stop-DWI Office, 75 Remsen St., Cohoes, main lobby
    Albany County 911 Communications Center, Route 85A, Voorheesville, main entrance
  • http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/cell-phone-recycling.htm - clearing house for cell phone recycling opportunities
  • www.donateaphone.org – Donate a Phone® Call to Protect®
  • www.recycleforbreastcancer.org – Donate cell phones, printer cartridges and more
  • www.gooddeedfoundation.org/aarp
  • www.ReCellular.com – “ReCellular Inc. is the world’s foremost collector, reseller and recycler of used cell phones and accessories. We provide solutions for the collection, reuse and recycling of used mobile phones and personal electronics that generate financial return for our partners, quality products for our customers, funding for charity organizations, and protection of the environment.”
  • www.GreenPhone.com – “Get paid to recycle cell phones” which still work

Costumes:

  • Local community theater or small acting companies

Crayons:

  • Send crayons to the National Crayon Recycle Program which melts down crayons and reforms them into new ones. Leave the wrappers on. www.crazycrayons.com

Eye Glasses:

  • New Eyes for the Needy – donations accepted at any Pearle Vision store or ship glasses to New Eyes for the Needy, 549 Milburn Ave., Short Hills, NJ 07078, 201-376-4903, www.neweyesfortheneedy.com
  • LensCrafters Foundation, www.givethegiftofsight.com donations accepted at any LensCrafters store, To locate a lenscrafters near you, call 1-800-541-LENS or www.lenscrafters.com
  • Lions Clubs/Recycle for Sight, donations accepted at local clubs and many local businesses, or ship to: NJ Lions Recycling Center, c/o Katzenbach School for the Deaf, 320 Sullivan Way, West Trenton, NJ, 08628, 609-882-3332, www.lionsclubs.org
  • You can drop off used eyewear at LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical or Sunglass Hut locations, www.givethegiftofsight.org

Furniture:

For non-local furniture bank locations, go to www.nationalfurniturebank.org

Furs:

  • McCrory Bears is a family owned business that transforms furs into teddy bears and returns a portion of their profits to The Kidney Foundation. Call the Kidney Foundation 1-800-542-4001 or McCrory Bears, Po Box 305 Rockport, MA 01966, 1-508-546-3223
  • The Humane Society of the United States collects furs to send to wildlife rehabilitators, who use them as bedding and nesting material for animals in their care. Donations are tax deductible. The humane society accepts all fur and fur-trimmed apparel, including shearling. Fur accessories including hats, gloves, scarves and muffs are also accepted. Package it in a sturdy box or padded envelope and mail it to Fur-Free Century, The HSUS, 2100 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20037. The Humane Society sends a letter thanking you for your donation, which should be kept for your tax records. Furs valued at $5,000 or more must have a “qualified appraisal” according to the IRS.

Glue:

Golf Equipment:

  • Clubs-for-Kids, run by the PGA, donate through any PGA member. Ask at a golf course.
  • Nonprofit groups with golf programs for kids register their requests with a PGA section office in their locale. PGA, Box 109601, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410, 1-407-624-8400

Hearing Aids:

Leather Shoes:

Mattresses and Box Springs:

  • Although they are made of recyclable material, such as, wire, paper and cloth, not all cities accept them for recycling. Check www.earth911.org to see if yours does.

Medical:

Music Instruments:

  • Contact local public school music teachers

Pet Supplies:

  • Contact local animal shelters, veterinarians, kennels, animal hospitals

Records, CDs, cassettes:

  • Public libraries
  • family shelters
  • youth centers
  • thrift shops

Ski Equipment:

  • Donate-A-Ski/Donate-A-Board, www.snowlink.com Funded by SIA Foundation.
  • Ski Industries America, is an association that maintains a list of nonprofit organizations that run ski programs.
    Ski Chalet stores, 1-800-SKICHALET

Sneakers (athletic shoes):

Sports Equipment:

  • Contact after school programs, youth centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, Police Athletic League, schools, community sports leagues

Tennis Rackets:

  • Tennis Industry Association runs a program called Racquets-for-Kids, which places donated rackets with a local chapter of the National Junior tennis League, a school tennis program or other organized group that promotes tennis in the community. Contact the TIA, 200 Castelwood Dr. North Palm Beach, FL 33408, 1-407-848-1026

Tools:

  • Habitat for Humanity
  • community theater groups
  • shelters
  • schools
  • community arts and crafts groups