Cleaning out your house can be difficult. I always try to make an excuse to keep items I know I should have given away a long time ago. To help make giving away items a little easier, try donating. Knowing your household items are going to help someone will make you feel better when getting rid of things you no longer need. Below is a long list of places to donate items separated by category. You can also use Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluation website, to search for the perfect place to donate your stuff.
GENERAL GOODS
Goodwill
What they do: Help people with barriers to employment learn the skills to find competitive employment
What they need: Clothing, electronics, appliances, furniture, and more
Salvation Army
What they do: Provide community programs, homeless services, rehabilition, disaster relief, and other assistance to those in need
What they need: Clothing, furniture, household goods, sporting equipment, books, electronics, and more
Vietnam Veterans of America
What they do: Help Vietnam-era veterans and their families
What they need: Clothing, baby items, housewares, electronics, small appliances, tools, and just about anything else
Volunteers of America
What they do: Support at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions
What they need: Clothing, furniture, toys, and household goods for their thrift stores
Operation Give
What they do: Bring hope and solutions to the deprived and disconnected people of the world, in many cases where the US military operates.
What they need: Toys, school supplies, art supplies, sports equipment, and more (Fedex provides FREE shipping from anywhere in the US to their warehouse)
Cause USA
What they do: Send gift packs to wounded military personnel and their families
What they need: Playing cards, handheld electronic games, current magazines, batteries, travel-size toiletries, and more
Forgotten Soldiers Outreach
What they do: Send care packages to deployed soldiers
What they need: Travel-size toiletries, packaged food, flea collars, batteries, tube socks, envelopes, trash bags, and more
CLOTHING, SHOES, AND ACCESSORIES
Dress for Success
What they do: Provide interview suits, confidence boosts, and career development to low-income women in over 75 cities worldwide
What they need: Women’s business suits and other professional apparel, footwear, and accessories
Career Gear
What they do: Provide underserved job-seeking men with training, career counseling, interviews, and professional clothing
What they need: Men’s suits, dress shirts, ties, shoes, briefcases, and other interview-appropriate clothing
The Women’s Alliance
What they do: Provide professional attire and career skills training to low income women and their families seeking self sufficiency
What they need: Women’s business clothing and professional accessories
Sew Much Comfort
What they do: Provide adaptive clothing to wounded service men and women in military hospitals (specially designed to look like normal attire while accommodating their injuries)
What they need: Basketball shorts, boxers, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and PJ bottoms; also twill, flannel, and woven shirting fabric
Clothes4Souls
What they do: Provide clothes to people around the world who are in desperate need
What they need: New or gently-worn clean clothing
Planet Aid
What they do: Provide clothing to people in developing nations, and fund community, health, agricultural, and vocational programs
What they need: Gently-used, unsoiled, functional clothing and shoes
Soles4Souls
What they do: Distribute shoes to people in need in over 125 countries
What they need: All types of new or gently-worn shoes: athletic, running, dress, sandals, pumps, heels, work boots, cleats, dance, and flip flops
Brides Against Breast Cancer
What they do: Advance the awareness of breast cancer, and operate a wish-granting service enabling patients to make special memories with their loved ones
What they need: New and used wedding gowns from 2005 to present
Brides Across America
What they do: Provide wedding gowns to military brides in need
What they need: New or gently-used bridal gowns, not more than three years old
BABY AND CHILDREN’S ITEMS
Project Night Night
What they do: Reduce the trauma of homeless children with Night Night Packages of childhood comforts
What they need: Stuffed animals, blankets, and children’s books
SAFE (Stuffed Animals for Emergencies)
What they do: Collect items to give to children in emotional, traumatic, or stressful situations (like fires, illness, abuse, homelessness, and natural disasters)
What they need: New or gently-used stuffed animals
Project Smile
What they do: Provide emergency responders with children’s comfort items, to help ease their pain and fear
What they need: New or gently-used stuffed animals, children’s books, unused coloring books, new crayons
Ronald McDonald House
What they do: Provide a “home-away-from-home” for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost
What they need: New toys, food, and household products; see website for details
ELECTRONICS
World Computer Exchange
What they do: Provide used computers and technology to schools, libraries, community centers & universities in developing countries
What they need: Computers, laptops, printers, hard drives, peripherals, software, and more
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
What they do: Work to eliminate domestic violence, and empower battered women and children
What they need: Used cell phones
Games for Heroes
What they do: Provide emotional support to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
What they need: Handheld video game devices like Gameboys, PSPs, and Nintendo DSs
Get-Well Gamers Foundation
What they do: Bring video game systems to children’s hospitals, for entertainment and pain management
What they need: Video games, systems, controllers, and other accessories
Computer Recycling Center
What they do: Place computers in public charity and community programs through Computers & Education™, and recycle unusable items to keep them out of landfills
What they need: Computers, laptops, home electronics
HopeLine from Verizon
What they do: Provide refurbished phones to local domestic violence organizations
What they need: No-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider
OFFICE AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Swap4Schools
What they do: Match donors’ “haves” with schools’ “wants”
What they need: Books, movies, and other items specifically requested by educators
The GrayMatters Foundation
What they do: Support and empower people impacted by brain tumors through outreach, awareness, and assistance programs
What they need: Stickers, postage stamps, blank or encouragement cards and envelopes
Develop Africa
What they do: Provide books, school and teaching supplies, scholarships, and job-related training in Africa
What they need: A wide variety of school and office supplies; see website for details
BOOKS
Global Literacy Project
What they do: Foster community-based literacy initiatives throughout the world
What they need: “We are currently most in need of Pre-K to 12th grade reading books as well as Math and science textbooks.”
Books for Africa
What they do: Help create a culture of literacy by shipping books to libraries and classrooms in Africa
What they need: A wide variety of new and gently-used books, generally 15 years old or newer; details on website
The Bridge of Books Foundation
What they do: Provide books to children in low-income families, particularly through foster family agencies, homeless shelters, underfunded schools, and neighborhood centers
What they need: New and used children’s books, from preschool through high school
Books Through Bars
What they do: Send quality reading and educational material to prisoners, thereby promoting successful community re-integration
What they need: A variety of new and gently-used books; details on website. Please email before shipping.
Books for Soldiers
What they do: Facilitate the direct donation of books to soldiers serving overseas
What they need: Books and magazines (as well as CDs, DVDs, and video games) requested by soldiers
Better World Books
What they do: Sell books to help fund literacy programs worldwide
What they need: A wide variety of books; see website for details
DVDS AND CDS
Kidflicks.org
What they do: Create movie libraries for children’s hospitals and pediatric wards across the US
What they need: DVDs
DiscsForDogs.org
What they do: Sell used DVDs and CDs, and donate the proceeds to the SPCA
What they need: DVDs and CDs
Musicians On Call
What they do: Provide hospitals with complete CD libraries and players for patient use
What they need: New or gently-used CDs and new, unused personal CD players
ART AND CRAFT SUPPLIES
A Little Something
What they do: Help refugee women in Denver, CO become self-sufficient through crafting
What they need: Leftover or unwanted beads or jewelry-making supplies, weaving fiber, knitting needles, and natural fiber yarn
Beads of Courage
What they do: Provide arts-in-medicine for children with serious illnesses
What they need: All types of beads, of any color and shape
The Mending Hearts Project
What they do: Assist low income families, teen and single mothers, and mothers with premature infants in neonatal intensive care units
What they need: “Donations of all handcrafted items, yarn, and sewing supplies are graciously accepted.”
Binky Patrol
What they do: Distribute homemade blankets (sewn, knitted, crocheted, or quilted) to children in need
What they need: Fabric, yarn, batting, and finished blankets
The Knitting Connection
What they do: Distribute supplies to volunteers to make hats, mittens, scarves, sweaters, afghans, baby booties, layette sets, and Christmas stockings for needy children
What they need: Yarn, knitting needles, knitting books, and finished knitted/crocheted items
The Mother Bear Project
What they do: Provide hand-knit and crocheted bears to children with HIV/AIDS in emerging nations
What they need: Yarn, knitting needles, PolyFil, postage stamps, packing tape
Knots of Love
What they do: Provide crocheted and knitted caps for chemo patients and others facing life-threatening illnesses and injuries
What they need: Yarn
Made 4 Aid
What they do: Sell handmade items on Etsy to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders
What they need: A variety of handmade items, as well as arts and crafts materials
Children’s Healing Art Project
What they do: Create art classes for children in Portland’s children’s hospitals
What they need: A variety of arts supplies; see website for wish list
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Sports Gift
What they do: Provide sports programs and equipment to impoverished and disadvantaged children throughout the world
What they need: A wide variety of sports equipment; see website for details
One World Running
What they do: Provide running shoes to those in need in the US and throughout the world
What they need: New and near-new running shoes
PeacePassers
What they do: Distribute soccer supplies to communities in need, to empower youth and maximize hope
What they need: Soccer gear like balls, shoes, jerseys, shorts, and socks
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation
What they do: Keep music alive in our schools and communities by donating musical instruments to under-funded music programs
What they need: Gently-used band and orchestral instruments
Marching Mountains
What they do: Supply public school band programs in distressed counties in Appalachia with donated new and used musical instruments
What they need: Musical instruments in good working condition (mainly for marching and concert bands)
EYEGLASSES
Unite for Sight
What they do: Support eye care for patients living in extreme poverty in developing countries
What they need: New reading glasses, distance glasses, and sunglasses
New Eyes for the Needy
What they do: Send eyeglasses to medical missions and international charitable organizations for distribution to the poor in developing nations
What they need: Eyeglasses, reading glasses, sunglasses, hearing aids
MISCELLANEOUS
Project C.U.R.E.
What they do: Donate medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics around the world
What they need: New and used medical equipment and supplies, including crutches, wheelchairs, and beds
Chemo Angels
What they do: Brighten the lives of those undergoing IV chemo treatment
What they need: Retailer gift cards, valid or expired (can still be used in CA)
TESSA
What they do: Provide safety and counseling to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in El Paso and Teller counties
What they need: Grocery and retailer gift cards, used cell phones
Make-A-Wish Foundation
What they do: Grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions
What they need: Retailer gift cards and gift certificates
Overseas Coupon Program
What they do: Facilitate the sending of coupons to overseas military personnel and their families
What they need: Manufacturer’s coupons, valid and expired (up to 2 months)
Matt Elliott Realty 