Where to Donate Puzzles and Board Games in Albuquerque

Short answer: complete puzzles and games can go to many thrift stores and senior communities, but a game with missing pieces, or an opened puzzle nobody can vouch for, is a hard sell almost anywhere. I take both. In the Albuquerque metro I take board games, card games and jigsaw puzzles in any state, by free pickup scheduled by route or through my 24/7 drop box outside the gate at 5445 Edith Blvd NE.

Last verified October 2026 · Original research by Josh Eldred

What Games and Puzzles Do I Accept?

Classic board games, strategy and family games, card games, party games, and jigsaw puzzles of any piece count. An old favorite from your childhood or a newer game that never got played, it's welcome.

The part that surprises people: I take games and puzzles with missing pieces. Missing a die? One card short? A few puzzle pieces gone? Bring it anyway. I sort everything by hand, and the games and puzzles that are still usable are resold.

Who Else Takes Puzzles and Board Games

If you'd like your games to go somewhere specific, these are the usual options. Call ahead, because rules vary by location:

• Senior communities often welcome complete jigsaw puzzles and simple card and board games for residents.
• Library puzzle swaps: some libraries keep a take-one-leave-one puzzle shelf; they generally want complete puzzles only.
• Schools, after-school programs and family shelters may take complete, age-appropriate games.
• Thrift stores generally want games that look complete, and some turn away opened puzzles because they can't check them.

Anything incomplete, or a closet-load you don't want to sort, is where a drop box or pickup makes more sense. The same goes for the worn books, encyclopedias and VHS tapes that often share that closet; here's what chain thrifts pass on that I still take.

How I Handle Game Donations

Every game and puzzle gets looked at by hand, and the ones that are still usable are resold; that resale is what keeps the drop box and the pickups free. You don't need to count pieces or tape anything shut first, though a rubber band around a loose lid keeps two puzzles from spilling into each other on the drive.

Donate Games and Puzzles Alongside Books

You don't need separate trips for different things. Bundle your games, puzzles, magazines, books and DVDs, CDs and other media together and they all go in one pickup or one drop-off. Pack the mixed load the way you would pack books for donation: small, sturdy boxes or bags, light enough to lift.

Two Free Ways to Donate

• Free Pickup (Albuquerque metro): For a closet or garage full of games, I come to your home or business at no cost. Pickups are scheduled by route. Request a free pickup.
• 24/7 Drop Box: Donate on your own schedule at 5445 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107 (Edith & Montaño area, North Valley). If you'd like a hand unloading a big load, come by 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., any day, when someone at the warehouse can help. Drop box directions.

Why Donate Games Instead of Throwing Them Away?

A game or puzzle that's no longer played at your house is often exactly what someone else is looking for, even with a piece or two missing. Donating gives it that chance, and it takes less time than sorting through incomplete sets yourself. Gather them up and I'll handle the rest.

Important Information

I'm a for-profit business, and game and puzzle donations are not tax-deductible. I never buy games or books. If you want the games out of the closet and into the hands of people who'll play them, this is the easy way.

Questions about specific games or a large collection? Text 505-250-3804 or email hello@newmexicoliteracyproject.org.