Pass it On: Places to Donate Old Items and Do Good in Greece

The beginning of a new year is always a great chance to start anew. In an age of overconsumption and disposable goods, most of us own far more than we need. Items pile up, taking up precious space and weighing us down. Few of us realize that things we never use but refuse to part with often work against us. And so we hoard.

We all have that drawer, with a capital D, or a closet full of unused things. Not to mention the clothes that no longer fit, the towering stacks of forgotten toys, and the gifts we never liked in the first place.

So what better way to declutter your home (and soul) than by donating items you no longer need for a good cause? It’s a small act with a massive impact. This week, TO BHMA International Edition selects 10 places in Greece where your unused belongings can make a real difference, whether it’s to people in need or a cause close to your heart.

Kindness starts here

1. Caritas Athens
   Based in Athens, Caritas Athens supports vulnerable people, including Greeks, asylum seekers and displaced individuals, regardless of religion, nationality, gender, race, language, or age. The organization is part of the wider Caritas network, a global Catholic Church-linked charity. Caritas Athens’ work includes the distribution of daily meals, clothing and essentials, social support, and outreach to people experiencing homelessness.Since the refugee crisis began in 2015, its work has also included food programs, language and integration support, psychosocial help, and assistance with housing and employment. What you can donate: clothing, shoes, linen, blankets
2. SOS Children’s Villages
   Active in Greece since 1975, SOS Children’s Villages supports children who lack, or are at risk of losing, parental care. With facilities and programs across Attica, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupoli, and Crete, the organization provides long-term care, family support, and youth empowerment initiatives. The organization is active in more than 130 countries and territories worldwide. What you can donate: computers, laptops, printers, office supplies, school bags, toys and board games
3. Fabric Republic
   This Athens-based circular-fashion initiative collects unwanted clothes, then cleans, sorts, and redistributes them to people in need through solidarity organizations. Supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Fabric Republic also creates jobs and forms partnerships with municipalities and major retail chains such as Zara, Parabita, and MyMarket stores. By reusing clothing, Fabric Republic helps reduce waste and encourages people to think more responsibly about what they buy and throw away. Its goal is to turn extra clothing into help for communities in need. The organization also works with the municipalities of Athens and Nea Filadelfia as well as with NGOs. What you can donate: clothes and usable textiles
4. PRAKSIS
   PRAKSIS supports homeless people, refugees, and low-income families by providing free medical care, social services, and basic goods such as clothes and household items. Active across Greece, it assists anyone facing social or financial exclusion, including uninsured, economic migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, unaccompanied minors, trafficking survivors, sex workers, drug users, Roma, Hepatitis B and C patients, prisoners, people released from prisons and unaccompanied minors. All services provided are free. PRAKSIS is active throughout Greece, but mostly in the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia, the islands of Lesvos, Chios and Samos, and the greater Patras area.What you can donate: clothes and footwear, occasionally medical devices, mobility aids, computers, tablets, printers (call ahead)
5. Hatzikiriakio Child Care Institution
   Founded in 1889, this historic Greek institution supports girls aged six and up who come from families facing hardship. It provides housing, education, healthcare, emotional support, and life skills, helping more than 100 girls and families each year build a stable future. What you can donate: books, clothes, school bags, stationary, office furniture, gym supplies, board games, toys and bazaar-sale items
6. Kotsovolos Second Home
   Electronics and appliance retail chain Kotsovolos has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of families in Greece through its innovative Second Home program, which it runs in collaboration with the Central Association of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE).You can donate your old appliances or electronic devices, which then go to households and families in need. Kotsovolos collects the appliances free of charge, then repairs, disinfects, and delivers them to their new homes through municipal social support organizations in Attica (Athens), Corinth, Halkida, Livadeia, Thiva, and Amfissa.What you can donate: washing machines, refrigerators, and stoves that still operate and are less than 10 years old. Donations are rewarded with a 30-euro voucher for a future purchase.
7. Reto Hellas
   Reto Hellas supports people affected by addiction, substance abuse, and social exclusion using community living and meaningful work as tools for recovery and reintegration. The group is part of Reto International, a global network of non-profit organizations active in more than 20 countries. The group also operates reuse and recycling shops in Athens, Koropi, Kamatero, Crete (Heraklion) and Thessaloniki, where donated furniture and household items are repaired, restored, and resold. These shops provide meaningful, hands-on work opportunities for people recovering from substance abuse, helping them reintroduce routine into their lives and rebuild their sense of self-worth, while also promoting environmental sustainability. The donated items fund recovery programs and create work opportunities. What you can donate: furniture, household items, clothes, shoes, books, electronics, office furniture (good condition), books, records, CDs, and DVDs
8. Attika Human Support
   Founded in 2015 on the island of Lesvos, Attika Human Support helps displaced people, asylum seekers, and vulnerable populations affected by war, persecution, and crisis. It operates one of the largest warehouses for donated goods in Greece, collecting, sorting, and distributing essential items such as clothing, shoes, blankets, food, water, hygiene products, baby supplies, and medical items to refugees and other people in need. It does so both directly and through partner NGOs on Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Kos, and in Athens, Thessaloniki, Larissa, and Corinth. The organization also supports housing programs and conducts search-and-rescue operations at sea. What you can donate: clean clothes, shoes and jackets, baby carriers, sheets, blankets, sleeping bags and towels
9. Spaz Greece
   SPAZ Greece is a volunteer-run Greek animal welfare organization dedicated to the care and protection of stray dogs and cats. It organizes and funds the sterilization and medical care of stray animals to help control their populations humanely, and finds homes through adoption initiatives and awareness events.Founded in 1986, SPAZ also engages in public education about responsible pet ownership and animal welfare, running school programs and community outreach. The group operates through donations and volunteer efforts and collaborates with local authorities, vets, and other animal welfare organizations to further its mission. Donations and funds raised through bazaars and second-hand sales support food and veterinary costs.What you can donate: clothes, accessories, shoes, bags, household goods, furniture, books, records, DVDs, toys, games, kitchenware, small appliances, art and jewelry
10. Hope Spot – Center of Hope
    Based in Thessaloniki, Hope Spot – Center of Hope supports women survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse. Alongside shelter and essential services such as food, clothing, and medical care, it provides psychological and legal support, empowerment programs, and awareness-raising initiatives, including seminars, community events, and school outreach campaigns. What you can donate: clothes, bed sheets, towels, blankets, toys, school supplies