Where to Donate Used Items in Rochester

Decluttering has been a hot topic for a while now, helping many families dial back the chaos and take control of their homes! What’s great is that a lot of the used stuff that isn’t serving our life season anymore can be given a new life and make an impact in our community.

Check out this list of great organizations throughout the Rochester area to consider where to donate used items to! The first section lists smaller organizations, then larger thrift store locations, plus a few bonus ideas to get rid of your things. Make sure items are in gently used (or new!) condition that you wouldn’t mind using if presented with.

Smaller Organizations to Support

These places are doing amazing work in our city and surrounding towns. If you have the time and capacity to split up your donations to help fulfill the needs of any of these organizations, the support would be very impactful to those they serve. I’ve included blurbs about each one’s cause to help you decide which aligns most with your heart, plus a list of items they generally accept.

Birthright | East Rochester

320 N Washington Street, Rochester, NY 14625
(585) 385-2100

What They Do: Pregnancy support, mentorship, and material aid for women and babies.

Accepted Items: Maternity and baby clothes (plus unopened diapers and formula).


Center for Youth | Brighton

905 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620
(585) 473-2464

What They Do: Support youth with opportunities toward their full potential through housing support, a Crisis Nursery, school-based counseling and other services, and positive engagement.

Accepted Items: Kitchen items, bedroom items, cleaning supplies, and baby/child items. See their wishlist for specifics, including an Amazon wishlist.


Fairy Godmothers of Rochester

What They Do: Provide formal wear for young ladies to attend high school prom.

Accepted Items: Current style (not older than 5 years) prom dresses, formal gowns, and party dresses. Plus prom jewelry, formal shoes, and other accessories. Check the website for details on Dress Drives and drop-off locations.


Family Promise of Greater Rochester | Rochester

142 Webster Avenue, Rochester, NY 14609
(585) 506-9050

What They Do: Holistic support toward independence for families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Accepted Items: Furniture, small appliances, kitchen items, basic electronics, and baby items. Check their wishlist for specifics. Storage is limited, so call before delivering.


Habitat for Humanity ReStore | Webster & Henrietta

1900 Empire Boulevard, Webster, NY 14580
(585) 697-2012

2199 E Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14623
(585) 444-9588

What They Do: Works together with families, local communities, world partners, and volunteers to aid people in need of affordable and safe homes.

Accepted Items: Vehicles, appliances, artwork, tools, building materials, cabinets, flooring, furniture, home goods, lighting, electrical, plumbing, windows, mirrors, etc. Check for more information on each specific store and what they accept.


House of Mercy | Rochester

285 Ormond Street, Rochester, NY 14605
(585) 546-2580

What They Do: As a 76-bed homeless shelter, they offer safety, food, clothing, and basic needs support.

Accepted Items: Mostly adult (men) clothing, personal care items, linens, winter gear, and new toys. Check their wishlist for specifics.


InterVol | Irondequoit

100 Kings Highway S, Suite 1200, Rochester, NY 14617
(585) 922-5810

What They Do: Collect and ship basic medical supplies and equipment to developing countries and nonprofits stateside.

Accepted Items: Unopened medical supplies and medical equipment. Check their full list of items they can accept.


Keeping Our Promise | Rochester

22 Flint Street, Rochester, NY 14608
(585) 721-3211

What They Do: Assist with initial visa applications and practical resettlement needs of refugees who served as U.S. allies in a war zone.

Accepted Items: Some furniture, car seats, strollers, electronics, kitchen items, small appliances, and other household items. Be mindful of specific drop-off times. Some linens are also accepted at a specified time and location, email them for details.


Life Solutions | Hamlin

1696 Lake Road, Hamlin, NY 14464
(585) 964-7420

What They Do: To residents of Hamlin and Clarkson, emergency food assistance, food for holiday meals, backpack program, and Angel Tree program. The Treasure Store is their thrift store that provides low-cost goods to the community and helps fund the food pantry.

Accepted Items: Household and clothing items, unexpired canned goods. Check their website for specifics regarding donations.


Lollipop Farm | Fairport

99 Victor Road, Fairport, NY 14450
(585) 223-1330

What They Do: Life-saving care and intake of animals, plus programs to address issues contributing to the surrender of animals.

Accepted Items: Unopened dog and cat food, and linens. With limited storage space, check what they’re currently accepting.


Monroe County Libraries

Accepted Items: Books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, some magazines, newer textbooks, sometimes games and puzzles too! Contact your local branch to inquire about what they accept.


Music and Arts for All Program (Rochester Education Foundation) | Rochester

250 Mill Street, Suite 400, Rochester, NY 14614
(585) 271-5790 

What They Do: Provides programs, resources, performance opportunities, and musical instruments for Rochester city students.

Accepted Items: String, brass, woodwind, percussion instruments (no pianos/full drum sets); music stands, amps, sound equipment, strings, capos, drumsticks, mallets, and other types of musical supplies and equipment. Read details on how and when to donate!


Open Door Mission | Rochester

20 North Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, NY 14608
(585) 454-6696

What They Do: Emergency housing for homeless men at the Samaritan House, as well as for women and children at the Coldwater Home. Provide meals, clothing, addiction recovery support, job/finance readiness, supportive apartments, and emergency assistance in times of weather-related crises.

Accepted Items: Vehicles, clothing, school supplies, new toiletries, and some basic furniture. Check their list for details.


Saint’s Place | Pittsford (Fairport Location Coming Soon!)

46 South Main Street, Pittsford, NY 14534
(585) 385-6860

What They Do: Support refugees with practical needs, tutoring, and scholarships.

Accepted Items: Linens, household items, small furniture, clothing, school supplies, and items to go in their annual Super Sale fundraiser. Check out their extensive list of accepted, high-need, and unaccepted items. Be mindful of drop-off hours or schedule a pick-up.


Willow Domestic Violence Center | Rochester

693 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607 (Drop-off location, check website for drop-off hours)
(585) 232-5200

What They Do: Work to prevent domestic violence and support survivors in pursuing a safe life.

Accepted Items: Personal items, household items, (limited) women’s clothing, youth and men’s clothing, baby items, school supplies, pet supplies, and non-perishable food. Check their wish list for what’s currently accepted and HIGH NEEDS items.


Womens Care Center | Irondequoit

3252 Lake Avenue, Rochester, NY 14612
(585) 865-0360

What They Do: Provide free help and support to new moms and women with unexpected pregnancies.

Accepted Items: Baby clothes (size Newborn – 4T), pack ‘n’ plays, strollers, high chairs, and swings. Many more types of items are accepted if they’re NEW.


YWCA Rochester & Monroe County | Rochester

175 North Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
(585) 546-5820

What They Do: Shelter and empower women toward self-sufficiency when faced with poverty, unsafe living conditions, lack of reliable and affordable childcare, and under- or unemployment.

Accepted Items: Kitchen and cleaning supplies, art supplies, and many more NEW items.


Thrift Stores & Donation Pick-Ups

For the times we are overwhelmed and just need to get things out of the house as quickly as possible, check out these organizations below. They are each doing great things in our community. While they accept just about anything, still be mindful of donating clean items in good condition so we don’t overload their crew with garbage!

Other Ways to Fulfill Needs With Your Items

  • Buy Nothing Group

You may want your used items to go to people closer to you! In which case, consider joining a Buy Nothing Group. These are hyper-local groups on Facebook to give, share, borrow, and request items for free with your neighbors.

  • Rochester Community Wishbook

Another neat resource to check for who needs specific items in the Rochester area is the Community Wishbook. This site includes wish lists for charities in our area, broken down by type of item for easy access.

So happy decluttering! I hope donating your used items helps bring more peace to your home, and peace to your heart knowing that your stuff is helping others for a second time!

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Amanda G.
Amanda grew up on the west side of Rochester before getting married and moving to Charleston, SC. She and her husband adopted their two boys as toddlers from South Korea in 2017 and 2019. She loves adventuring, watching her boys try new things, and helping out at their schools. Amanda has a social work degree and a background in non-profit work. She is currently Managing Editor for Charleston Moms after being a contributing writer for several years. After a decade in the southern heat, her little family decided they would thrive more in the Rochester area, and found their home on the east side in 2022. Amanda is thrilled to now be contributing locally for Rochester Mom Collective! She is a quirky, creative soul who enjoys expressing through writing, art/decor, dance, drums, and singing (commonly incorrect lyrics).