Donating Goods
When you donate clothing, food and other goods to The Bowery Mission, you impact the lives of people struggling with homelessness and poverty in New York City. Thank you for considering a gift-in-kind donation to The Bowery Mission to help our neighbors in need.
Please see below for items we accept, as well as items we cannot accept due to program needs or space restrictions.
Accepted Donations
Clothes
Location:
Bowery
Time:
Monday – Sunday, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Food
Location:
Bowery & Tribeca
Time:
Monday – Sunday, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Other Items
Location:
Bowery & Tribeca
Time:
Monday – Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
**Please note: The Bowery location experiences peak traffic between 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. each day as we are serving warm meals to our community. As such, we do not have the resources currently to receive donations during these times.
If you drop off the item(s) in person, you will be given an in-kind gift receipt that describes the donation. If the value exceeds $500 and you claim the donation on your federal tax return, you may be required to file IRS Form 8283 and obtain an appraisal of the value.
Unsure of what to give us, check out our wish list of most needed items right now.
If you have any questions regarding your donation, please email [email protected].
Clothes
Clean clothes provide a great deal of relief to a neighbor experiencing homelessness. After being out on the streets or in the subways, our guests feel a sense of restored dignity from a change of clothing. Donations of professional attire also help our guests who are interviewing for jobs.
Currently, we gratefully accept clothing donations Monday – Sunday, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the front desk at our Bowery (227 Bowery) campus — up to three large trash bags. If you are looking to make a larger donation or are a company looking to donate new clothing, please email [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in helping our community.
- Men's clothing & shoes
(clean, new/gently used, medium to XXXL sizes): Most needed items include jeans, casual and professional clothing and shoes, underwear (new only), undershirts (large sizes) and socks
- Women's clothing & shoes
(clean, new/gently used, medium to XXXL sizes): Most needed items include jeans, casual and professional clothing and shoes, underwear, bras and socks. - Winter season: coats, jackets, hats, gloves and scarves
Food
Thanks to the generosity of individuals and corporate donors, The Bowery Mission serves over 1,000 meals every day to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Your donations of food help make this possible. We gratefully accept food donations Monday – Sunday, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at both our Bowery (227 Bowery) or Tribeca (90 Lafayette St) campuses.
**Please note: Any prepared foods must be professionally catered due to food safety guidelines. We cannot accept home-cooked/prepared foods.
- Grab & go meals
- Pre-packaged sandwiches & salads, pre-packaged snacks
- Canned & non-perishable
- Prepared foods (fresh and sealed)
- Fresh fruits & vegetables
- Fresh & frozen meats
- Sandwich supplies (sliced bread or rolls, peanut butter, jelly, deli meat (sliced), sliced cheese, condiments)
- Water bottles
- Herbs & spices
- Cooking oil
- Sauces, salad dressing & condiments
- Food supplies (disposable cutlery, to-go bags (paper and plastic), take-away containers (new))
Other Items
We gratefully accept the items listed below Monday – Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at both our Bowery (227 Bowery) or Tribeca (90 Lafayette St) campuses.
- Hygiene items (new, travel-size only): hand sanitizer, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving cream, nail clippers, razors, baby/body wipes and feminine hygiene products (only in unopened, fully sealed outer packaging — individual pieces cannot be accepted)
- Disposable/sanitary gloves: latex or non-latex, all sizes (new/unopened boxes)
- Masks (N95 masks)
- Linens (new): twin-size sheets (not larger sizes), blankets and standard size pillowcases
- Bath towels & face cloths (new or gently used)
- Household items: dish soap, sponges, scrub brushes, paper towels, trash bags, mops, brooms, dust pans, hand soap, Clorox wipes, bleach, cleaning spray, disinfectant, oven cleaner
If you are unsure of what to give us, here's a wish list with some of our most needed items right now.
Not Accepted
- Furniture: couches, dressers, dining tables, chairs, bookcases, desks, coffee tables
- Appliances: refrigerators, freezers, microwaves
- Kitchenware/Housewares: plates, bowls, silverware, glassware, cooking utensils, pots and pans, lamps
- Office supplies
- TVs, computers or electronic devices
- Mattresses or bed frames
- Pillows, comforters or duvet covers
- Sleeping bags
- Toys
- Books
- Baby items
- Kids clothing
- Purses
- Suitcases
- Makeup
Donating Practical Care Kits
We are always able to utilize personal size hygiene items for the community we serve. We gratefully accept Practical Care Kit donations Monday – Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at our Bowery (227 Bowery) or Tribeca (90 Lafayette St) campuses. If you or your group are considering a project to create Practical Care Kits during the holiday season or year round, please contact [email protected].
Suggested Items for Practical Care Kits
- Travel-size liquid soap
- Travel-size shampoo
- Travel-size deodorant
- Travel-size toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Travel-size shaving cream
- Razors
- Underwear (preferably L-XXL sizes)
- Socks (white and black)
- Hats
- Gloves
- Baby wipes
- Travel-size mouthwash (non-alcoholic)
- Comb
- Nail clippers
Hosting a Food or Clothing Drive
If you are considering a food or clothing drive at your organization, workplace, school or congregation, please let us know by emailing [email protected]. We will work with you to launch a successful drive that will bless those we serve.
For Large Quantities: If you would like to make a donation equivalent to 10 or more bags/boxes of items, please contact us 1-2 weeks in advance so our staff is expecting your drop off or delivery.