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Donate Your Stuff |
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Donate your stuff to a worthy cause and you will have the satisfaction of knowing your unwanted or unneeded stuff is genuinely benefiting another.
There is real truth to the maxim "one man's trash is another man's treasure". This is particularly true on a global scale. Literally hundreds, if not thousands, of worthwhile organizations are available which gladly accept carefully used items. Helping such organizations to meet their needs can be extremely gratifying.
Equally satisfying can be the knowledge that you have done your part to protect the environment by recycling items that have no further use. Numerous organizations exist with this aim as well.
You will find here a fairly comprehensive list of organizations which gladly accept donations either for reuse or recycling. The list is by no means exhaustive. For one thing, I have tried to limit it to organizations that operate on a national or multi-state level in order to make it useful to a larger audience.
Please note that the appearance of an organization on this list does not constitute a recommendation on my part. My purpose is to assist you in finding a good home for your unwanted items by providing a sampling of the many available options to donate your stuff.
Organizations are listed alphabetically within each category. The order of listing does not indicate any sort of hierarchy.
Before donating to any organization, take the time to learn about what it is they do and how their donations are distributed or handled. In addition, be sure to obtain a receipt for tax purposes.
There is real truth to the maxim "one man's trash is another man's treasure". This is particularly true on a global scale. Literally hundreds, if not thousands, of worthwhile organizations are available which gladly accept carefully used items. Helping such organizations to meet their needs can be extremely gratifying.
Equally satisfying can be the knowledge that you have done your part to protect the environment by recycling items that have no further use. Numerous organizations exist with this aim as well.
You will find here a fairly comprehensive list of organizations which gladly accept donations either for reuse or recycling. The list is by no means exhaustive. For one thing, I have tried to limit it to organizations that operate on a national or multi-state level in order to make it useful to a larger audience.
Please note that the appearance of an organization on this list does not constitute a recommendation on my part. My purpose is to assist you in finding a good home for your unwanted items by providing a sampling of the many available options to donate your stuff.
Organizations are listed alphabetically within each category. The order of listing does not indicate any sort of hierarchy.
Before donating to any organization, take the time to learn about what it is they do and how their donations are distributed or handled. In addition, be sure to obtain a receipt for tax purposes.
Recommended ReadingBelow you'll find lists of charities and other organizations which accept donations of specific items. Organizations are grouped according to the type of donations they accept.
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General DonationsDonation Town puts you in contact with local charities that will pick up your donations for free. You can do specific searches on the Donation Town website for charities that will pick up your books, clothing, toys, furniture, shoes or household items.
This resource is most useful if you live in or near a metropolitan area since most charities have a mileage limit which prevents them from traveling beyond a certain radius to pick up donations. Freecycle is an online reuse and recycle network aimed at keeping usable stuff out of landfills. Everything that is posted must be offered for free. No money changes hands. Join a group for your local area to find out what is being offered and what is being sought near you.
The mission of this charity is two-fold: to provide an effortless method for donating clothing and household goods, and to ensure that cardboard boxes are reused and then recycled. The process is simple. When you receive a package from an online vendor, fill the empty box with items you'd like to donate. Print up a pre-paid shipping label for the charity of your choice and ship the box (various options are available). Participating vendors include: Overstock, Amazon, Loft, REI, Levi’s, Asics, Ann Taylor, Uncommongoods, Nordstrom, Viva Terra, Ecru, Bonobos, Scrubs & Beyond, eBags, Lou & Grey and many others.
Goodwill can be a great place to donate your stuff since they take just about everything from clothing to housewares to books to furniture and more. Another plus is that, with more than 2500 stores in the U.S., they are just about everywhere.
In recent years there has been a lot of negative press regarding Goodwill with respect to the way they utilize their earnings and the way they treat their employees. I have no idea how much of the criticism is justified, but I do recommend checking out this Snopes Fact Check on Charitable Contributions which discusses not only Goodwill, but several other well-known charities. Restores accept donations of new and used home improvement goods, furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances. Donations are sold to the public at greatly reduced prices. The proceeds from these sales are used to build or renovate homes in the local area.
Like Goodwill, The Salvation Army accepts donations of gently used clothing, appliances, furniture, and more - to include cars. According to their website: "Your donations to Salvation Army Family Stores help fund rehabilitation programs that heal addictions, change lives, and restore families."
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The Vietnam Veterans of America have numerous chapters around the country. They accept donations of household items, clothing, electronics, and more. Donations benefit American veterans and their families.
Local Resources to Explore
Local Shelters
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When looking for a place to donate your stuff, shelters make a great starting point. Chances are there are many in your own community who would benefit greatly from your unwanted or unneeded items.
Some items typically needed by shelters include:
Some items typically needed by shelters include:
- plastic grocery bags (for packing meals for the homeless)
- blankets/bedding
- warm clothing/socks
- sleeping mats or bags
- travel size toiletries
- backpacks
- bath towels & washcloths
- over-the-counter medical and first aid supplies
- flashlights & batteries
- toys, books & games
- cleaning supplies and household items (trash bags, toilet paper, paper towels)
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Find a Shelter Near You |
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Contact your local shelter to find out what their specific needs are. Check the websites below to find shelters in your area.
Local Thrift Shops
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Thrift shops sell used stuff which has been donated. They are typically run by charities. Goodwill and the Salvation Army are examples of well-known thrift shops, but many smaller versions exist in communities throughout the country.
Thrift shops benefit the community in which they operate by providing affordable goods to those on a tight budget; they benefit the charity they support, and they benefit the environment by keeping usable stuff out of landfills. Choosing to donate your stuff to a local thrift shop also helps the environment by reducing the carbon footprint involved in the shipping of items over long distances. |
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Final Thoughts
This is just a sampling of the many organizations to which you can donate your stuff. Each of these charities accepts a wide variety of items as donations. For more information about donating specific items, see the Recommended Reading section located in the left hand column above.
This page and all of the pages listed in the Recommended Reading section were last updated in April 2018. In the process of updating these pages I discovered many organizations that were either no longer in business or whose business practices had changed in some way. If you find information that is no longer accurate through a link on one of my pages, please let me know so that I can update my information in order to provide the most beneficial experience for my visitors.
If you know people who are looking for a good home for their unwanted stuff, please share this page with them through social media. If you know of resources I haven't mentioned here, please share them in the comments section below.
This page and all of the pages listed in the Recommended Reading section were last updated in April 2018. In the process of updating these pages I discovered many organizations that were either no longer in business or whose business practices had changed in some way. If you find information that is no longer accurate through a link on one of my pages, please let me know so that I can update my information in order to provide the most beneficial experience for my visitors.
If you know people who are looking for a good home for their unwanted stuff, please share this page with them through social media. If you know of resources I haven't mentioned here, please share them in the comments section below.