I just moved to New York City and I would like to either give away or
sell a good amount of my stuff. I have books, clothing, kitchen stuff
and some miscellaneous items. I would like to have someone come to my
apartment (lower east side) and pick up the stuff. I'm happy to donate
the stuff to a charity if they'll come and get it. Is there a list of
groups that will do this in NYC?

Hi Jeffrey333,

There are a number of organizations in NYC that will pick up your
donations, some of which are mentioned in the comments below.  I'm
providing some websites for charities that will pick up your "stuff",
with some comments:

The New York City Dept. of Sanitation
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dos/html/donate.html
Yes, it seems odd, but I guess they want to make those trash barges
smaller!  This pages lists about 16 agencies/organizations that take
donations of various types.  It's not clear if they all do pick-ups,
but it's a nice list.  Includes the Salvation Army, Goodwill, the St
Vincent DePaul Society, and Materials for the Arts (referenced in the
comments).

NYU Clothes Line
http://www.nyu.edu/community.service/clothes.html
Sponsored by the NYUniversity, this group distributes donated clothes
(only) to a number of charities in all Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the
Bronx.  To schedule a pickup, call 995-GIVE.

Salvation Army of New York
http://www.salvationarmy-newyork.org/help_now/donate_info.htm
The phone number for pickups of donated clothing, furniture, and other
materials is 1-800-95-TRUCK (87825).

These links should get you a wealth of places to give away your stuff!
 I hope you enjoy New York City!

I found the above sites by doing a search of the Google search engine
for 'donations pick up "New York City"'.

- librariankt

A few suggestions:

Look in the Yellow Pages under Churches and Synagogues.  In most
cities I've lived in they would be grateful for donations for family
members.  They might pick up.

Check under Social Service in the Yellow Pages and see if you can find
a listing for Battered Women Shelters.  They always need donations and
also might pick up.  (If you don't find a listing, call the main
number for Social Services and ask them if they can help you.)

Possibly Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries would pick up.  Call
one and ask who picks up donations.

Best regards,
tlspiegel

Charity Navigator is an interesting site for finding out which
charities are most efficient, etc. Here's their page on New York's
human services charities:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.cause&cgid=6&rgid=6&stid=7

That might help you decide who to call. My grandmother always called
St. Vincent dePaul's Society and they'd come pick up clothing from her
door. You might try them. (She lived in NY.)

Filian

I live in Manhattan and recopmmend two very worthy organizations that
will send a truck to pick up stuff from you.

My personal favorite is MATERAILS FOR THE ARTS, which is run by the
city of NY and services thousands of non-profit arts groups and
schools. They need everything:  chairs, household items, computer
equipment, fabrics, clothes, furniture, musical instruments, you name
it.  Even things you can't fathom people would want. e.g., A sewing
supplies manufacturer gave them grosses of surplus buttons -- which
schools then used for kids to do art projects.  When I got a new
piano, I donated my old one -- and it went to a small high school
theatre group that performs for New York City firehouses and police
groups.
www.mfta.org/home.shtml.    
1-718-729-3001

HOUSING WORKS is also a very popular charity that New Yorkers donate
to.  They run several thrift shops around the city and a Used Book
Cafe and the proceeds help house and support people with HIV and AIDS.
www.housingworks.org
212 366-0820.

For any researchers with Nexis, both New York Magazine and Time Out
New York  have published articles on "where to donate stuff" over the
past few years. Maybe somebody can pull that info for you.