A number of local organizations and service agencies will pick up items at no charge. Among these are:

• Construction Junction, North Point Breeze, accepts items from the home that are recyclable, such as windows, kitchen cabinets, counter tops, sinks, toilets, light fixtures and radiator covers. Call 412-243-5025 to schedule a pickup. Or check the Web site www.constructionjunction.org.

• The Society of St. Vincent de Paul accepts donations at its various stores and picks up gently used furniture, including sofas, love seats, arm chairs, dining room tables, chairs and end tables. To schedule a pickup, call 412-321-1071, ext. 501.

The society does not accept furniture that has cigarette burns, animal scratches, stains or rips. It has 100 large blue drop boxes throughout the region where you can drop off used clothes. Check the Web site www.svdppitt.org for box locations. The society operates thrift stores in Monroeville, Sharpsburg, Penn Hills, Coraopolis and Butler.

• The Salvation Army accepts microwave ovens, clothing, shoes, purses, bedding, dishes, toys, books and costume jewelry. To schedule a pickup, call 1-800-SATRUCK. The Salvation Army also accepts furniture but will not take any item that is badly ripped, stained or broken. The organization picks up in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Lawrence and Westmoreland counties.

If you live out of town, have already removed personal items you wish to keep and want to donate a home's remaining contents, you can box up the items and schedule a special pickup day. The Salvation Army, which does not charge for this service, asks that you schedule a special pickup a week and a half in advance. No major appliances will be picked up.

• The Vietnam Veterans of America will pick up sheets, blankets, towels, dishes, pots and pans, clothing, shoes and any small reusable household item that can be bagged or boxed.

• Furnish-A-Start, a nonprofit based in Mount Washington, picks up beds, dressers, dinette sets, couches, end tables and lamps. It also will pick up refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers that are in good working order. To schedule a pickup, call 412-481-5621.

• Another option is 1-800-Got Junk, a national company that charges a fee for removing items from your home. The fees are based on the size of the truck. Often some of the items will end up donated to a charity.

-- Marylynne Pitz