By Elizabeth Hashagen

It's never fun-- but it's usually rewarding--
Cleaning out your closet!
I get very attached to some of my pieces--
I remember where I was when I wore it-- and I sometimes find it hard to part with-
But when you think about Long Islanders who could really use these clothes (especially professional ones!) it makes it a lot easier to say "here you go".
And with the seasons starting to change-- it's a perfect time to take a look at your closet and drawers and see what you can pass on to a Long Islander in need.
We've all heard we need to reduce- reuse- recycle-- well here's a way to make sure your clothes get reused!
The great thing about Big Brothers Big Sisters -- they will come to your house and pick it up!
They will even pick up your furniture (if you are lucky enough to get new stuff), kids toys-- all types of stuff. So don't put it on the curb-- put it to good use!
There are also donation boxes all across Long Island-- and they won't turn your clothes into rags like other horror stories you might hear about--
If you want to have a home pick up just call (631) 234-0000
Most donations are tax deductible and you can get a receipt this way. You just label the bags- put them outside on the designated day and you're done!
Or if you just want to drop it in a bin--here's a list for Long Island so you can get started!
Bayport...Bayport Methodist Church...482 Middle Rd
Bayshore...Getty Gas Station..Corner of Brentwood Rd and NY Avenue..The Shell Gas Station...Corner of Bayshore Rd and Sunrise Highway..The LukOil Gas Station..Corner of Bayshore Rd and Ackerson...The OK Petro Gas Station..Corner of Main St and Lanier...USA Gas Station...95 Moffit Blvd...Saxon Ave
Bethpage...Zorn's Famous Chicken & Ribs...4321 Hempstead Turnpike...
Brentwood...B.P Gas Station...Corner of Suffolk Ave. and Jefferson
The Keyspan Across St....Corner of Sage and Rte 111
Centereach...OK Petroleum...1992 Middle Country Road...Holbrook Road
Commack...Smithtown Public Library...3 Indian Head Road … Tara Lane (Commack Branch) Commack Post Office..150 Vets Hwy & Harned Rd...Bank of America Parking Lot Jericho & Vets Highway ..
Coram Limousines...Rt 112 and Granny Rd
Cutchogue Landfill...Sound Ave (Route 48)
E. Hampton..Recycle Center...260 Springs Fireplace Rd…N. of Queens Ln.
East Islip...AM Vets Post 18...141 Carleton Ave
Farmingdale..New To You Thrift Shop..401 Main Street
Big Apple Gas Station...630 Main Street...Lambert Avenue
Freeport...Montessori Schools..87 Pine St…S. Ocean Ave..(Church Parking Lot on S. Ocean Ave)
Garden City Park...Storage America..211 Denton Avenue
Greenlawn...Getty Gas Station..490 E. Pulaski Road...Broadway
Hampton Bays...Recycle Center..Jackson Ave…(at the end of Jackson Ave.)
Hauppauge...Shell Gas Station..Motor Pkwy & LIE Service Rd. Ex 57....Mobile Gas Station..Rte 111 and LIE South Service Road...Citgo Gas Station500 Town Line Road...Rte. 111
Hempstead...Hofstra University..1000 Fulton Ave...Oak Street...
Hicksville....Cantiague Park..West John St (24 hour access)....Keyspan..175 E. Old Country Rd…Rte. 107 S. Oyster Bay Rd...Mobile Gas Station..Hicksville Road and Wantagh Avenue...Central Avenue
Holtsville...Holtsville Ecology Center..Buckley Road…Woodside Ave...
Huntington...United Methodist Church..180 West Neck Rd...Tanyard Ln. (back of building)...Park Avenue Tennis Court..Park Ave and Partridge...Jiffy Lube..Evergreen Avenue … Jericho Turnpike....Empire Oil..211 Broadway...Grange Street....Quality Gas..571 E. Jericho Turnpike...Depot Road....Quality Gas..585 W. Jericho Turnpike...Sweet Hollow Road
Huntington Station...Center of Sound, Inc...1290 New York Avenue...Rte. 110 and Depot Rd...Paradise Ice Cream
1291 New York Avenue...Depot Rd
Islip...St. Marks Church...Corner of St. Marks and Main
Levittown...Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island Office..70 Acorn Lane…Leaf Lane
Massapequa...YES Community Council..Parking Lot Between..Penn. Ave / New York Ave
(East of Hicksville Rd)
Massapequa Park...Capital One..5100 Sunrise Hwy…(East of Block Blvd)
Medford...Citgo Gas Station..Rte 112 and Commercial Blvd.
Melville...Melville Islamic Center..118 Old East Neck Road..S. Service Rd.
Mineola...American Red Cross..195 Willis Ave…Grant Ave & Garfield Ave..(2 Bins @ this Location)...Keyspan (5 Story Office)..250 Old Country Rd…Franklin Ave (turn onto 3rd ave)...Family & Childrens Services..Mineola Railroad Station…3rd st. & Mineola Blvd.
New Hyde Park...Capital One..2055 Hillside Ave…(West of Denton Ave)...Twin Park Fitness Center
15 Jericho Turnpike…South 1st Street (back of building)
Oakdale...B'Nai Israel Temple..67 Oakdale-Bohemia Rd..(opposite Jr. High School, South of Sunrise Hwy)
Patchogue...AM Vets Post 111..15 Cedar Ave…Divison Ave
Ridge..Millenium Gas Station..153 Middle Country Road…Panamoka Trail
Ronkonkoma...Sam Auto Repair of Suffolk..105 Portion Road…Ronkonkoma Ave...Capital One..131 Portion Rd…(West of Hawkins Ave)...Ryder Transportation..2075 Ocean Ave (Bet LIE & Vets Hwy)..
Roslyn...Roslyn Transfer Station..999 West Shore Rd…Seaview Blvd.
Sag Harbor...Transfer Station..Sag Harbor Tpke…(1/2m from Scuttlehole Rd.)
Sayville...Sayville Animal Clinic..32 Foster Ave & Montauk Hwy
Selden..Citgo Gas Station..Parkhill Dr & Middle Country Rd..Valero Gas Station..Parkhill Dr & Middle Country Rd
Smithtown...Smithtown Public Library..1 North Country Road…Judges Lane/N. of Main St.
South Hampton...North Sea Landfill..1370 Majors Path…N. Sea Rd...Red Barn Thrift..675 B North Sea Rd(Back Door)...Gulf Gas Station..2000 North Highway. . .Sunrise Highway Extension
Stony Brook...United Episcopal Church..Mill Pond Rd…25A (Back of Church)
Valley Stream...Capital One..5 Green Acres Rd…(Green Acres Mall, S. of Sunrise Hwy)
West Hampton...Transfer Station..66 S. Old Country Rd…(West of Depot Rd.)
West Hampton Beach...Streble's Dry Cleaners..644 Montauk Hwy…Meeting House Rd.
Westbury...Capital One...947 Old Country Rd…(Kinkle St)...Islamic Center..835 Brush Hollow Rd..(Talbot Dr. & Jamie Dr.)