The problem? You can't bear to throw away still-usable stuff, such as old furniture, bicycles or children's books. There's a nagging voice that says someone might still want it.

The solution? There are always the all-purpose charitable thrift stores. But for some of your more special, or unusual, items get in contact with the organizations listed below. They'll gladly take your not-quite junk and put it to good use by giving it to those in need.

So c'mon, get started. Summer's almost over, and you know those bats get nasty come fall.

Audiobooks

• The Lions Blind Center of Diablo Valley provides free services for the visually impaired and blind. One way they help is by providing audiobooks to those who request them. Drop them off at 175 Alvarado Avenue, Pittsburg, CA or call (925) 432-3013 for times.

Bicycles

• Trips for Kids/The Recyclery, 610 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901. This nonprofit group leads mountain bike trips for disadvantaged kids. The Recyclery bike shop takes donated bikes and bike parts in fixable condition. Kids fix the bikes to either use on the trails or sell in the bike shop to fund their outings. Before dropping off, call (415) 458-2986; www.tripsforkids.org.


• The Tinker's Workshop in West Berkeley, 1336 Channing Way, is an art and mechanical cooperative including a community bike shop that helps kids build their own transportation. The workshop seeks serviceable bicycles, as well as bike parts and tools. Quality tools, machines, radio and sound equipment in repairable condition are also accepted. Before dropping off, call (510) 644-2577; www.tinkersworkshop.org.

Books

• Rona Renner, a nurse at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Richmond, collects donations of gently used children's books for young patients. Drop them off at the hospital's pediatric department, 901 Nevin Avenue, Richmond, CA. If you have questions, call Renner at (510) 307-2539.


• Books for the Barrios collects books for children in poverty-stricken areas of the Philippines. They also seek games, toys, puzzles, art supplies, working computers, used sports equipment and other educational materials. Drop them off at 2350 Whitman Road, Suite D, Concord or call (925) 687-7701 for hours or visit www.booksforthebarrios.com.


• Children's Hospital in Oakland accepts used children's books, especially those in Spanish. Mail items to Volunteer Services, Children's Hospital, 747 52nd Street, Oakland, CA 94609 or drop off anytime at the reception desk of the hospital's emergency entrance. For details, call (510) 428-3471.

Building materials

• The Reuse People, located at 2100 Ferry Point, Alameda, CA, is a nonprofit corporation that accepts a wide variety of building materials. Materials are sold at low prices; some go to low-income families in Mexico, others are donated to Bay Area nonprofit groups. Contact (510) 522-2722; www.thereusepeople.com.


• Habitat for Humanity may also be interested in building materials in good condition. Please visit their website at www.habitat.org and see listing under "Tools."

Children's clothing

• The Contra Costa Family Shelter seeks donations of clothing in good condition for all ages, including newborns. Also needed are books, games and school supplies. Drop off between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm weekdays in Concord at the office of County Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier, 2425 Bisso Lane, Suite 110, Concord or at the homeless shelter, 2047-C Arnold Industrial Way, Concord, CA. For details, call (925) 646-5763.

Computers

• The folks at the Alameda County Computer Resource Center, 1501 Eastshore Highway in Berkeley, say they'll take "anything you can plug into the wall, that's not radioactive, and that you didn't put food or clothes into." They'll take laptops and cell phones for free; everything else requires a small fee. The also run a training program that teaches people how to repair and upgrade computer hardware; trucks are available for bulk donations, with a $500 minimum pickup fee. For more information please call (510) 528-4052 or visit www.accrc.org.


• The Oakland Technology Exchange West, 1680 14th St. in West Oakland, accepts working computer equipment and parts that are Pentium level and above. A staff of students, volunteers and full-time employees refurbish the machines for use in Oakland schools. Please call to arrange donations please call, 510-893-4822 or visit www.otxwest.org.

Crutches, canes, etc.

• Home CARES Equipment Recyclers accepts all kinds of medical equipment, from wheelchairs to walkers, and provides them to Bay Area residents in need. Whatever they can't use, they give to the Volunteers for Inter-American Development Assistance (VIDA), which ships them to Central and South America. You can drop used items off 1-4 p.m. Thursdays at 2619 Broadway, Oakland. Call (510) 251-2273 for more information.

Eyeglasses

• Lions Clubs around the world collect and clean used eyeglasses for use by people in Third World countries. Glasses can be dropped off at Lenscrafters or Goodwill stores; or, place them in a padded envelope and mail to Lions In Sight, 1404 Lemon Street, Vallejo, CA 94590 (include your name and address). For details, contact (925) 708-4833 or visit www.lionsclubs.org.

Furniture

• The Bay Area Rescue Mission, 123 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond, CA, accepts donations of most furniture, including mattresses and box springs in decent condition. No large appliances. Call for drop-off hours or to inquire about scheduled pickups, (510) 215-4887.


• Shepherd's Gate, 1660 Portola Avenue, Livermore, CA, serves homeless and battered women and children. To arrange furniture donations, call ahead to (925) 443-4283. Also accepted are clothes for women and children, kitchen towels and twin-size bedding.

Golf clubs

• The Junior Golf Association of Northern California, based in Sacramento, will give your old clubs to a disadvantaged kid who is learning to golf. To find out more, call (916) 665-2835.

Hearing aids

• To donate used hearing aids, put them in a padded envelope and mail to Hope for Hearing Foundation, 5855 Green Valley Circle, Suite 305, Culver City, CA 90230. They will be reconditioned for someone who cannot afford a new hearing aid.

Housewares

• Shelter Inc., located at 1070 Concord Ave., Suite 200, in Concord, accepts household items such as dishes, kitchenware, towels and sheets. Call to inquire about furniture donations. No clothing, please. For details, call (925) 827-3598, Ext. 101; www.shelterincofccc.org.

Men's clothing

• The VA outpatient clinic in Livermore collects clothing for homeless veterans. They also accept books and magazines. Drop off donations at Building 64, 4951 Arroyo Road, Livermore. Call the volunteer office for the VA Hospital at (925) 449-6448 for more information.

Musical instruments

• The Community Music School, part of Civic Arts Education in Walnut Creek, is interested in used instruments in good working order for use by its students. Call program coordinator Pattee Court at (925) 943-5899, Ext. 470.


• Many public school music programs also want donated instruments. Ask at your local school, or call Phil Rydeen of the Oakland Unified School District at (510) 879-8116.


• The Strings program of the Pleasanton school district seeks string instruments of all types. Call Martie Muldoon at (925) 461-7889, Ext. 47.


• Send A Piana To Havana does just that: ships pianos in decent condition to Cuba for use by students and music schools. Piano parts and supplies are also needed. Call Benjamin Treuhaft at (212) 505-3173, or send an e-mail to blt@igc.org to find out how to arrange for pickup; www.sendapiana.com.

Shoes

• Macedonian Outreach, run by Danville residents Vula and Haig Rushdoony, transports children's shoes, small toys and clothes in good condition to Balkan refugees and orphans. Call (925) 820-4107, or go to www.macedonianoutreach.com.

Tools

• Habitat for Humanity may be interested in construction tools and supplies in good condition. To inquire, call Mount Diablo Habitat for Humanity in Concord at (925) 288-0112 Ext. 12 or East Bay Habitat for Humanity in Oakland at (510) 614-5656 or visit www.habitat.org.

Towels

• Antioch Animal Services, a shelter located at 300 L Street, Antioch, CA, uses old towels and blankets to create comfy animal bedding. Drop items off or call (925) 779-6989 for details.

Wigs

• The Wig Source, part of the John Muir Medical Center Auxiliary, accepts used wigs. They clean and restyle them, then provide them to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Call (925) 947-5328 for locations and times for drop-offs.

Wireless phones

• Call to Protect refurbishes unused wireless phones, working or not, and distributes them to serve as lifelines for domestic violence victims. Mail the phone, battery and charger to: Call to Protect, 2555 Bishop Circle W., Dexter, MI 48130. Or to find local drop-off site, visit www.donateaphone.com.

Women's and Men's clothing

• Wardrobe for Opportunity is a nonprofit organization that provides interview clothes for low-income women and men in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Clothing should be appropriate for the workplace, in good condition, in current style, washed or dry-cleaned and on a hanger. For details and drop-off locations, contact (510) 463-4100 pr www.wardrobe.org.

Whatever's left

• The East Bay Depot for Creative Re-Use accepts just about anything that could be used by artists or teachers. Drop off donations from 11:00 am ~ 5:00 pm daily at 6713 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland, CA. No plastic jugs, styrofoam peanuts, furniture, clothes or kitchen supplies please. For questions, call (510) 547-6470.

Contra Costa Times
Knight Ridder
(925) 943-8270
www.contracostatimes.com