Where to donate a virtually new mattress?

pillow on bedElisabeth emails:

[My husband] and I recently ordered a new mattress online...thing is, we're not feeling it and decided to return it.
The company told us "there is no one in your area to donate it to..." so they're going to schedule a 1-800 Got junk pick up. Ugh. I find it hard to believe that no organization will take a practically brand new queen size mattress!
Can you ask the AOA hive mind if they know of an organization that will take it? It has to be a not-for-profit and not a friend of a friend thing as we need to provide proof of the donation.

Charities sometimes have rules about what sorts of items they will take, often because of logistics and sometimes because of concerns about condition. In this case, with one of these foam mattresses that would seem to be relatively easy to inspect, we're guessing some org might be interested.

So, got a suggestion for Elisabeth? Please share!

Comments

Call RISSE (Refugees and Immigrants Support Services) at 518-621-1041

Try the interfaith partnership for the homeless. I donated a bed to them a few years ago. But with the bed bug epidemic in the area and the cost of addressing it, I can understand why charities are reluctant to take beds.

I will and can take it, I know of some families in the Arbor Hill community that are in need.

The Treasure Chest on Hamilton in Center Square has taken mattresses in great shape recently. Walter, the manager, has to see it first. Pickup is sometimes possible. Call the store at 518.436.7451, 11-6 weekdays, and get Walter's cell number if he's not there. TC benefits the Albany Damien Center.

@sara—Thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately, we have to donate the mattress to a not for profit in order to get a refund. Otherwise I’m out a lot of money.

Habitat for Humanity on Fuller Road in Albany or the one on Broadway in Schenectady, a very good cause.

Catholic Charities takes bedding or has in the past. They come and pick it up.

Contact the Homeless and Traveler's Aid Society (HATAS) in Albany. They accept donations at a warehouse on Exchange Street.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions, everyone! I think we found a match.

Came to suggest the HATAS Furniture Bank also. I recently had to donate an online ordered mattress and they were terrific. And they don't sell the stuff to raise money for programs, the stuff goes directly to people who need it.

Elisabeth,

Although our name can sometimes be misleading. We actually donate any mattresses that are in good enough condition. In this case, a brand new mattress would be! If it weren't, THEN we would junk it.

The easy part about calling us is that we'll come pick up your donation for you. Eliminating the extra step of you dropping it off.

It sounds like you have already taken care of the mattress, but at least now you know for the future :)

Here is our mattress disposal page if you wanted to read more about our process for disposing and donating used mattresses:

https://www.1800gotjunk.com/us_en/what-we-take/mattress_disposal

Haley--

Yes, your name is misleading...but thanks for the info. Good to know.

Elisabeth

I see you found a match, but wanted to add to this for people who search in the future. We’ve used TAUM for this exact purpose. It’s a non-profit out of Troy. They come and pick up your mattress (and any other furniture) and donate it to families — typically women and children — who are getting settled after breaking free from a domestic abuse situation.

They’re wonderful and are always desperately in need of beds, most of all.

I have a split twin futon matress, also essentially new. Any thoughts on who might take this?
Thanks

I would suggest donating any furniture to HATAS, http://hatas.org they help people in need, and especially (I believe) women & children from abused families, allowing them to move into new places to live, and giving them furniture and means to build new lives.

Say Something!

We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.

What's All Over Albany?

All Over Albany is for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. In other words, it's for you. It's kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who can help you find out what's up. Oh, and our friends call us AOA.

Search

Recently on All Over Albany

Thank you!

When we started AOA a decade ago we had no idea what was going to happen. And it turned out better than we could have... (more)

Let's stay in touch

This all feels like the last day of camp or something. And we're going to miss you all so much. But we'd like to stay... (more)

A few things I think about this place

Working on AOA over the past decade has been a life-changing experience for me and it's shaped the way I think about so many things.... (more)

Albany tightened its rules for shoveling snowy sidewalks last winter -- so how'd that work out?

If winter ever gets its act together and drops more snow on us, there will be sidewalks to shovel. And shortly after that, Albany will... (more)

Tea with Jack McEneny

Last week we were fortunate enough to spend a few minutes with Jack McEneny -- former state Assemblyman, unofficial Albany historian, and genuinely nice guy.... (more)

Recent Comments

My three year old son absolutely loving riding the train around Huck Finn's (Hoffman's) Playland this summer.

Thank you!

...has 27 comments, most recently from Ashley

Let's stay in touch

...has 4 comments, most recently from mg

A look inside 2 Judson Street

...has 3 comments, most recently from Diane (Agans) Boyle

Everything changes: Alicia Lea

...has 2 comments, most recently from Chaz Boyark

A few things I think about this place

...has 13 comments, most recently from Katherine