Question: Where can I donate some great old surfing magazines?

Answer: Start by offering them to your local public library; some branches accept tax-deductible donations on behalf of the Friends of the Library of Hawaii, which welcomes books, music and other media (as well as cash donations) to support the public library system. Or you may contact the Friends directly by calling 536-4174 or emailing friends@friendsofthe libraryofhawaii.org.

The nonprofit group generally doesn’t accept magazines, but makes exceptions for Hawaiian and Pacific titles. We called and confirmed that some surfing magazines could qualify for the exception, but only if the particular issue focuses on the Hawaiian islands or Pacific locales such as Tahiti or Samoa; California wouldn’t count.

Kokua Line receives many queries from readers wanting to donate cherished old magazines — National Geographic is frequently mentioned. But the Friends and other nonprofit groups generally don’t want them, except for Hawaiian and Pacific titles and vintage items, regardless of condition.

For other titles, poor condition is a common problem — magazines that are torn, moldy or dirty. Even those in good condition take a lot of room to store, and are generally outdated. In the Friends’ case, donated materials are sold at book and music sales to raise money for the libraries. Donated items that can’t be sold may end up being disposed of at the group’s expense. For more information about what the Friends will or won’t accept, check friendsofthe libraryofhawaii.org.

Q: Do you know of any charitable organization that accepts unused greeting cards? I have thank-you notes, get-well cards, birthday cards, all with envelopes and carefully stored in a plastic bin so that they are in excellent condition.

A: Yes. One option is to donate them to a thrift store affiliated with a church or other nonprofit organization, which would serve a dual purpose — the charity raises money by selling your donated goods and bargain-hunting customers (many of whom have low incomes) get a good deal.

There are numerous thrift stores on Oahu, many affiliated with nonprofit groups. We checked with two — the Cottage Thrift Shop and Goodwill Hawaii’s Beretania location — and confirmed that unused (new) greeting cards with envelopes are accepted as donations, and are appreciated by customers who buy them at a discount compared to retail.

The Cottage is on the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, 5919 Kalanianaole Highway. For more information, see holytrinity churchhi.org/1663. Goodwill’s Beretania store is at 1075 S. Beretania St. For more information about it and other Goodwill Hawaii shops, check higoodwill.org, and click on “store locations” under the headers “shop” or “shopping.”

As we mentioned, there are many other thrift shops on Oahu, some of which are affiliated with charities, which means that your donation would be tax-deductible. Check thriftstores.net/state/hi.html for more options. Be sure to call ahead to confirm that your donation will be accepted, and that you’ll receive a receipt.

We’ll emphasize that this answer applies only to unused greeting cards and envelopes — on which no personal notes have ever been written. What to do with used greeting cards is a separate question.

Q: Is the recycling event still on Saturday at McKinley High School?

A: Yes, “Going Green” is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McKinley High School, said Rene Mansho, who coordinates regular community cleanup and donation collection events. It will be held in the parking lot off Pensacola Street, between King Street and Kapiolani Boulevard. Volunteers will be on hand to unload cars.

Q: Also, is it a shredding event?

A: No, paper will not be accepted. Acceptable items will include scrap metal, bicycles, appliances, propane tanks and fire extinguishers (three each per car), computers, printers, scanners, one TV per car, cellphones, ink cartridges, clothing and household items, eyeglasses and hearing aids, used household cooking oil, batteries and nonperishable food.

For more information, contact Mansho at 291-6151 or renemansho@hawaii.rr.com.

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.