Where you can donate used and new items in the greater Princeton, New Jersey area

BOOKS

Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Book Sale

Donations are accepted Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until noon at 812 State Road/route 206 South, a brown building located almost opposite to the intersection with Herrontown Road. The sale proceeds provide college scholarships to area girls.

If you are bringing more than 20 boxes of books, call (609) 921-7479 first. The book sale does not accept: VHS tapes, cassette tapes, or CDs, except audiobooks (movie DVDs in good condition welcome); catalogs, including auction house publications; books that are stained, coated with dust, or smell musty; books with writing or heavily underlined pages; paperback books with ripped covers or browned pages; world language books (except French, Italian, and Spanish); encyclopedias (except the Britannica 11th edition); self-help books; textbooks; business, science, and technical books that are 5 to 50 years old and therefore out of date; magazines and journals; Reader’s Digest Condensed Books; Time Life sets including cookbooks; Harlequin and Silhouette romances; manuals, almanacs, restaurant, hotel, or travel guides more than two years old; The Life Nature Library, the Life Science Library, and the Life World Library; books that haven’t sold at other sales.

The donation site is closed for holidays including New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, the month of March as volunteers prepare for the sale, Memorial Day Weekend, July 4th, Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving week, and Christmas week.

The Princeton Public Library Bookstore and Annual Book Sale

The library accepts donations of books, CDs, and DVDs in good condition whenever the library is open. The library can only accept a maximum of five boxes or bags at a time. If you have more than five boxes, email booksale@princetonlibrary.org to schedule an appointment. Bring donations to the lending desk, or deliver them to the staff entrance on Sylvia Beach Way and ring the bell. The library does not accept: Badly worn, marked up, stained, musty or moldy items; magazines or journals; encyclopedias; VHS or cassette tapes, computer games or vinyl records; computer, business, finance, health, or travel guides that are more than three years old. 

CLOTHING

Abiding Presence Lutheran Church

Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Ewing accepts new and gently used clothing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at 2220 Pennington Road (Route 31). All items dropped off will go to the clothing closet at St. Bartholomew’s Lutheran Church in Trenton.

Rescue Mission of Trenton

The Rescue Mission of Trenton provides shelter, food, clothing, and services to people at its Trenton location. The Rescue Mission has drop-off boxes at the following area locations:

• Our Lady of Good Counsel, 137 West Upper Ferry Road, West Trenton
• Ewing Presbyterian Church, 100 Scotch Road, Ewing 
• Educational Testing Center (ETS), 1425 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing 
• Lear’s Auto Service, 941 Bear Tavern Road, Ewing 
• Buxton Boxes, 1536 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing 
• Rosedale Mills, 101 Route 31 North, Pennington
• SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals, 1010 Route 601 (Belle Mead-Blawenberg Road), Skillman 
• Tenacre Foundation, 953 Great Road, Princeton 
• Educational Testing Center (ETS), Main Campus Rosedale Road, Princeton
• D&R Greenway Land Trust Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place, Princeton 
• Princeton University Parking Lot 23, off of Faculty Road, Princeton 
• Kingston Presbyterian Church, 4565 Route 27, Kingston 
• East Windsor Township Senior Center, 60 Lanning Boulevard, East Windsor 
• Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church – 154 S. Mill Road West Windsor
• Robbinsville Fire Department, 1149 US 130, Robbinsville 
• Hamilton Public Library, 1 Justice Samuel Alito Way, Hamilton Township
• Hamilton Ecological Facility, Kuser Rd, between Estates Blvd & Whitehorse Ave, Hamilton
• Hamilton Washery, 121 Graffam Avenue, Hamilton 
• Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 801 West State Street, Trenton 
• Rescue Mission of Trenton, 98 Carroll Street, Trenton 
• Mountain View Office Park – 850 Bear Tavern Road, Ewing Township
• Nassau Tennis Club – 1800 Route 206, Skillman

EYEGLASSES

Lions Club International

The Hopewell Valley Lions Club has several locations where you can donate used or new eyeglasses. You can drop them off at the following locations:
Pennington Quality Market, Route 31, Pennington
Mercer County Library, Hopewell Township Branch, Hopewell
Stoney Brook School, Brandon Farms, Hopewell Township
Pennington Presbyterian Church, Main Street, Pennington

The West Windsor Lions Club has two locations where you can donate used or new eyeglasses. You can drop them off at the entry at McCaffrey Supermarket, Route 571 & Southfield Rd, or in the lobby of the West Windsor Library at 333 North Post Road.

Glasses can also be mailed directly to: New Jersey Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center, PO Box 7263, West Trenton, NJ 08628.

You can send bulk mailings of glasses to the following address via UPS: New Jersey Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center, Inc., c/o The Katzenbach School for the Deaf, 320 Sullivan Way, West Trenton, NJ 08628

Call 1-800-74 SIGHT for the nearest Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center for other locations.

Have a suggestion for a resource for donations? Submit your information below.

FOOD AND PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS

Abiding Presence Lutheran Church

Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Ewing accepts non-perishable food items from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at 2220 Pennington Road (Route 31). All items dropped off will go to the food pantry at St. Bartholomew’s Lutheran Church in Trenton.

Arm In Arm

Arm In Arm in Trenton provides food to hungry residents in Mercer County. The organization also has a satellite location in Princeton at Nassau Presbyterian Church. You can host a food drive or a personal hygiene item drive for Arm In Arm. This is a great project for youth groups, faith community projects, and civic organizations. More information is available on the Arm In Arm website.

HomeFront

HomeFront accepts non-perishable food items. Currently, HomeFront is seeking: Microwavable food packs including Hormel meals, mac n’ cheese, cup of noodles, rice; easy-open ready-to-eat cans of beef stew, chicken soup, and beef chili; low-sugar cereal; small shelf-stable milk cartons; snack packs; juice boxes and small water bottle packs; and baby food (squeezable fruit and yogurt preferred).

The nonprofit also accepts unopened, new personal care and baby products including the following: Tampons and pads, shampoo, deodorant (men’s, women’s, or gender neutral), ethnic hair care products, reading glasses of various strengths, powder Enfamil Neuropro and Enfamil Neuropro Gentlease baby formula, baby lotion (8-15 oz.), diaper rash cream, newborn (0-3 mo.) onesies and sleepers, infant Tylenol, gripe water, hand-held breast pumps, and supplies.

The HomeFront Donation Center is open at 1880 Princeton Avenue in Lawrence from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

I Support the Girls

I Support the Girls Central/South NJ collects and distributes menstrual hygiene products for women and girls who are experiencing homelessness, impoverishment, or distress. The organization also collects new bras, socks, underwear, cosmetic bags for our “Period Street Packs”, and travel-sized toiletries. You can drop off items at Athleta at the Princeton Marketfair Mall in West Windsor, Twine in Hopewell, and The Sweet Gourmet on Route 206 in Montgomery.

Princeton Mobile Food Pantry

The Princeton Mobile Food Pantry accepts donations of non-perishable food items (especially beans, pasta, peanut butter, and cereal). Personal hygiene items, gently used and clean clothes, bedding, and small household items are also welcome.

You can drop off items the second and fourth Wednesday of the month between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. The drop-off site is located at the Princeton Shopping Center at 301 North Harrison Street. The storefront is located between Rita’s Water Ice and Princeton Nassau Pediatrics.  Email info @pmfpantry.org beforehand to confirm.

Mercer Street Friends Food Bank

Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank at 824 Silvia Street
in Ewing Township.

• 8-oz. shelf-stable milk
• Cans of tuna, chicken, salmon
• Granola bars
• Individual servings of fruit cups, apple sauce
• Individual servings of oatmeal
• Single-serve boxes of cereal
• 6-8-oz. single-serve 100% juice boxes
• Broths (low sodium)
• Beans (canned or dried)
• Split peas and lentils
• Whole grain pasta
• Brown rice
• Canned vegetables (low sodium)
• Peanut butter (18 oz)

Trenton Area Soup Kitchen

From shelf-stable food to hygiene products, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen is always in need of food and personal hygiene supplies to help patrons. You can also help by participating in a service project, such as creating weekend meal bags or organizing donation drives.

Donations are accepted at 72 ½ Escher Street, Trenton, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. Please pull up to the pantry door and ring the bell. No appointment is necessary to drop off items.

Pantry Items: Bottled water, fresh vegetables, canned tuna and chicken, single-serve canned pasta, canned soup, peanut butter, jelly, granola bars, brown rice, and coffee.

Personal Care Items: Toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, deodorant, bars of soap, tampons and pads, baby wipes, rain ponchos, socks, chapstick, and reading glasses. Full size please for hygiene items.

Seasonal Items (October through February: Hoodies and coats (new, dark colors, no logos, large sizes / M – XXXL preferred), gloves, scarves, hats and skull caps, hand and foot warmers.

HOUSEWARES, FURNITURE, CLEANING SUPPLIES, AND HOME RENOVATION AND BUILDING SUPPLIES

HomeFront accepts pots and pans sets, sheets or comforter sets (twin, full, and queen), dish soap, multi-purpose cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, toilet brushes, sponges, scrubbing pads and rags, paper towels, irons, brooms and swifters, and mops. New or gently used window A/C units, mattresses, box springs, metal bed frames, small sofas and loveseats, small dressers, small kitchen tables and chairs. Sponges

Treasure Trove

HomeFront’s Treasure Trove is a thrift store located in the heart of Hopewell that specializes in vintage items, collectibles, and all things decorative. The funky and fun merchandise is donated and proceeds from sales fund HomeFront’s programs. The Treasure Trove is open Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 40 p.m. Donations of vintage and unusual items can be brought directly to the store on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 10 a.m. and noon. If you want to donate furniture, send photos and dimensions to the organizers via email for approval prior to dropping them off. For more information call (640) 202-0329 or email artspace@homefrontnj.org. The Treasure Trove is located at 31 West Broad Street in the heart of Hopewell Borough.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Habitat ReStore shops sell building materials, appliances, new and gently-used furniture, and home accessories to the public at a fraction of the retail price. The Habitat for Humanity Restore shops in Hamilton, Maple Shade, and Egg Harbor are no longer accepting residential donations. The Restore in Manville about 30 minutes north of Princeton is still accepting donations, as is the Monmouth County Restore in Freehold.

PET SUPPLIES

Mercer County Wildlife Center

The Mercer County Wildlife Center rescues and rehabilitates native wildlife and works to preserve their habitats through collaborative partnerships and education. The Wildlife Center Friends group helps support the center. Items can be dropped off at the facility at 1748 River Road daily from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. The center accepts the following items:

Supplies – Scrub brushes, wheelbarrows, postage stamps, white copy paper, surge protector strips, surge protector strips.

Animal care and handling – Arm & Hammer laundry detergent (“Free & Clear” w/o perfumes or dyes), Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, bleach, food storage bags (gallon size), Kennel Kabs” medium size, paper towels, pet bowls, receiving blankets, tall kitchen trash bags – 13 gallon, large 33+ gal. trash bags, heating pads (no auto-shutoff).

Food – Canned Wellness Canine, Dry Wellness Feline, banana, applesauce, chicken, beef baby food (preferably Gerber), clear Pedialyte.

SAVE Animal Shelter

SAVE accepts the following items. Drop off during office hours by appointment. Closed Mondays. Open Sundays noon to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays noon to 6 p.m. SAVE is located at 1010 Route 601, in Skillman. (609) 309-5214.

Dog and Cat Food – soft/wet/pate canned only, Hills Science Diet Dry Food only  (cat and dog), pill pockets, non-clumping unscented cat litter, canned chicken, hot dogs, paper towels, newspaper, doggie poop bags. Dog Treats (training treats, Pupperoni, Beggin’ Strips, etc.)

Animal Care Items – Cat beds 1′ x 2′ (washable), cat hidey beds, cat tent (washable only), dog collars, cloth Martingale collars (all sizes), halters/harnesses and leashes (large), Bach Rescue Remedy, Sentry Calming Collars for dogs, Kuranda beds (dog and cat).

Kittens – KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer), baby food, Snuggle Safe Heat Discs or Heating Pads (without auto shut-off feature), food scales (for weighing kittens), Snuggle Kitty (SmartPetLove Behavioral Aid Toy), Royal Canin Mother and Baby Cat (canned and dry), pop-up cat/kitten playpens.

Other supplies – Cat beds or hammocks, ping pong or golf balls, cat toys (wand-dancer cat toys, etc.), cat Treats (Temptations, Churu, etc.), “tough” dog toys (Nylabones, Kongs, Bully Sticks, etc), Better Belly Bones- large or Benebones.

Please n0 rawhide, homemade toys, or perishable treats.

VEHICLES AND BICYCLES

The Bike Exchange, operated by the Boys and Girls Club, accepts used bikes. Volunteers repair or tune them up, sell them at low prices, and all proceeds support programs serving young people in the community. Visit the Boys and Girls Club website for a list of area bike shops that accept bikes to donate to the Bike Exchange. You can also drop bikes off at the Bike Exchange at the Capitol Plaza Shopping Center at 1500 N. Olden Avenue in Ewing. The Bike Exchange is open Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To volunteer or host a bike drive, email  bikeexchange @ bgcmercer.org.

HomeFront accepts vehicles in good working order.

Princeton Alliance Church accepts vehicles to donate to a person in need.

OTHER RESOURCES

You can also offer an item to donate to others in the Princeton area community through the Princeton Freecycle group. Post your listing on the group’s website.

Several area communities also have Buy Nothing groups on Facebook. Search “buy nothing” and the name of your town to find a group in your area.