Giving to charity doesn't have to mean giving money. Learn how you can make a difference by donating your old eyeglasses, cellphones, computers and ink cartridges to charitable organizations.
Cellphones
Photo by justinbaeder
- Collective Good
Drop off your used cell phones, PDAs and pagers at Staples or FedEx/Kinko's, and the proceeds will be donated to charity. Even better: mail your phone directly to Collective Good, and pick the charity yourself. - Call to Protect
Locate a drop spot or mail your phone directly to the organization. Donated cellphones go to domestic violence victims. - Verizon Hopeline
Take your phone to any Verizon Wireless store, to help put a phone in the hands of a domestic violence victim. - Cellphones for Soldiers
Recycles phones, PDAs and pagers. Then, uses the proceeds to buy phone cards for overseas soldiers. - PetSmart
PetSmart's Recycle for Life program benefits homeless animals. Pre-paid envelopes available in store.
Ink Cartridges
Photo by justinbaeder
- Lion's Club
Accepts ink jet and laser cartridges. Take them to your local Lion's Club chapter or see their website for more collection options. - PetSmart
Accepts ink jet and laser cartridges. Proceeds from sale of old cartridges go towards saving homeless animals. - Recycle for Breast Cancer
Bring your cartridges to one of the drop off location or request a free, postage paid mailer. Proceeds help to fund breast cancer research.
Computers
Photo by gesteves
- Computers with Causes
Collects computers, monitors, mice, keyboards and cables, and gives them to charities. - National Cristina Foundation
Gives computers to people with disabilities, at-risk students and the economically disadvantaged. - The On It Foundation
Provides free computers to low-income families with students in grades K-12. Also accepts software. - Computers for Schools
Refurbishes computers; then offers them to schools at a minimal cost. - Recycle for Breast Cancer
Accepts computers, printers, scanners, networking hardware and storage media. Proceeds go towards breast cancer research. - World Computer Exchange
Donated computers are sent worldwide to give poor youth access to the Internet.
Glasses
Photo by bbaunach
- Lion's Club
The Lion's Recycle for Sight program collects eyeglasses and sunglasses to give to people living in developing countries. Donations are accepted at all Pearl Vision, Goodwill and Lion's club locations. Visit their website to locate additional donation centers near you. - New Eyes for the Needy
New Eyes for the Needy accepts prescription eyeglasses and both prescription and non-prescription sunglasses by mail for distribution to developing countries. Visit their website for shipping instructions.
Hearing Aids
- Lion's Club
Accepts all hearing aid makes and models. Refer to the website for mailing instructions or for a drop off location. - So the World May Hear
The Hear Now program repairs and sells donated hearing aids; then, uses the proceeds to buy new hearing aids for people who can't afford them. - New Eyes for the Needy
Recycles donated hearing aids; then, uses the proceeds to buy new eyeglasses for needy Americans.
Dentures
- New Eyes for the Needy
Accepts dentures with gold inlays. The program buys new eyeglasses for needy Americans with proceeds resulting from the sale of the salvaged gold.
