8 Charities That Offer Free Donation Pick Up

Charitable donations are a great way to get rid of things you no longer need or don't need when moving house. If you've read our articles on packing and planning, you know we're very supportive of using your move as an opportunity to take inventory of what you have. The goal is to get rid of the things that, as famous housecleaning author and Netflix star Marie Kondo would say, don't "light up joy" in your life, rather drag it into your new home. . But of course you have a lot to do when preparing to move. Using charities that provide fundraising can make a difference in the world and save time - a win-win situation in our book. To make your life easier, we've compiled a list of eight charities below that offer direct donations from home, donation tips, and information on donating furniture. furniture, books and clothes. Start organizing, schedule collection dates, and see how easy it is to breathe new life into unwanted items.

These eight organizations offer donation pickups.

The Salvation Army

When you're wondering where to donate your unused items, the first thing that might come to mind is the Salvation Army. And it makes sense - the Salvation Army has been active since 1865 and is present in 131 countries. Items are delivered directly to those in need or sold at the Salvation Army store and the organization that provides a free furniture pick-up, among other things. We recommend keeping a donation receipt and a detailed list of all items donated for tax purposes. You can use the organization's convenient Contribution Value Guide to determine the approximate tax-free value of the most frequently donated items, including low and high estimates. Furniture

What they accept:

• mattress
• clothes
• Various household items and appliances
• Electronic device
• Book
• used cars

Who they help:The Salvation Army helps people in need in a variety of ways, including victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, youth at risk, the elderly, and victims of natural disasters.

Goodwill

 Another well-known organization that will collect donated items is Goodwill. It was founded in 1902 and has more than 3,200 stores in the US and Canada. Your items will be delivered to the nearest Goodwill store and sold to those in need at a substantial discount. The money raised is earmarked for various initiatives, including job training and employment programs. 

What they accept:

• Furniture
• Shoes and clothes
• Toys and games
• Electronic device
• Houseware
• Furniture
• Piece
• Book

Who they help: Goodwill offers employment and vocational training as well as social activities and programs for young people, seniors, people with disabilities, and those trying to rebuild their lives after serving a sentence. prison.

AMVETS National Service Foundation:AMVETS National Service has been serving American veterans since 1948. The organization operates in 22 US states with physical stores and donation points. Your donation helps support AMVETS philanthropic activities, including community programs and training courses. Small furniture and home appliances

What they accept:

• Clothes and accessories
• Toys and games
• Electronic device
• Linen
• bicycle
• Televisions, computers and exercise equipment no more than five years old

Who they help: AMVETS has a special focus on supporting U.S. veterans, both active-duty service members and women, as well as honorary dischargers. 

Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, helps provide affordable and decent housing to people in need around the world. They partially fund their efforts through Habitat ReStores across the US and are a great place to donate furniture.

What they accept:

•  Furniture
• Building materials
• Houseware
• Technical

Who they help:Families need affordable housing in the United States and elsewhere. 

The Arc

Arc has been supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities since the 1950s. They have more than 600 state and local branches across the United States and are partially funded by thrift stores filled with donation items. 

What they accept:

• Furniture and home appliances
• Clothes and shoes
• Electronic device
• Toys and games
• used cars
• Book

Who they help: Children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Pickup Please

 The Pickup Please program, which helps America's Veterans in Vietnam (VVA), is not as popular as the other organizations on this list. However, they offer a good solution that is to donate furniture or clothes. They also collect many other items. You can usually schedule delivery in as little as 24 hours, which is great if you're on a tight deadline. Clothes

What they accept:

• Houseware
• toy
• Electronic device
• Book
• Sports equipment and supplies
• Small home furniture
• While Pickup Please note that they will accept "almost anything", items must be small and light enough for a person to easily pick up and carry.

Who they help: Veterans of all America's wars of all ages. Part of their work includes helping fund general health and social care for homeless and disabled veterans. They are also heavily involved in issues of minority women and veterans. 

Furniture Bank Network

Want to donate furniture? Furniture bank chains, which operate in 34 states, can claim free pickup. All items received are donated to those in need who cannot afford to furnish their homes. 

• Furniture
• Electronic device
• small household appliances
• Houseware

Who they help:Working poor, ex-homeless, women and children fleeing domestic violence, immigrants and others. 

Donating do’s and don’ts

Do:

• Wash or dry your clothes
• Secure toys, puzzles, books, and more. undamaged
• Avoid giving your baby items that can cause suffocation.
• Check all devices that require power or batteries.

Don’t:

• Donate any dirty, expired or damaged items
• Include anything considered hazardous, such as paints, cleaners, and cosmetics.
• Donate anything that has been banned, phased out, or is too old to meet current safety standards (cribs, car seats, strollers, highchairs, etc.).
• If you're applying instead of arranging recipients, don't leave your donation unattended. Instead, make sure someone at the donation site knows you're here with the donation

What you need to know about donating furniture

Downsizing? Looking to refresh your home? Many charities will be happy to take your belongings away, whether you're renovating, moving or cleaning in the spring. All of the charities listed here accept small household items such as chairs, bedside tables, and coffee tables, but some charities do not accept heavy items such as bedrooms or sets. wardrobe. So it's best to call and ask first. Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore and The Salvation Army will accept large furniture such as sofas, dining tables, tables, chairs and well-maintained beds. Pickup Please accept only small items, including mirrors, nightstands, nightstands and office chairs.

Instead of calling every charity to see if they accept furniture donations, you can also use DonationTown to find the right charity for your needs. After entering your postcode, an online database will list charities in your area that will accept your donation. After choosing a charity, you can schedule a free donation. And remember, your donation is tax free. So keep that bill. If you're not sure if your furniture is good enough to be accepted as a donation, you can always contact the charity directly. Many also state on their website what items they will and will not accept. Some examples include torn or stained upholstered furniture, furniture that smells like pets, and broken lights. Another way to donate furniture is to sell it through an online marketplace like Facebook Marketplace or eBay, a garage sale, or a mobile app like Mercari. You can also return it or try to recycle it.

What you need to know about donating books

Most charities accept books as gifts, but that doesn't mean they'll accept every book in every state. Donations to the library tend to be more restrictive, but some charities will also not accept outdated, tattered, misused or moldy books. As with other forms of donation, ask first if you are unsure about any book donations. Ideally, the books should be in good enough condition to be picked up and new enough that they don't contain overly outdated information (this is mostly true of non-fiction books). Some charities do not accept textbooks (too specialized and possibly outdated), encyclopedias (soon to be obsolete), and magazines. While the latter may appeal to some collectors, most should just be recycled. Instead of donating to charity, you could try donating unused books to your local hospital or orphanage, second hand bookstore for resale, nursing home, local literacy program , prison library or free mini-library in your area. You can also try arranging a book exchange with friends and family, or just get creative and create a piece of art, such as a collage, using pages from books you don't know. want to keep.

What you need to know about donating clothing

Many of us have more clothes, shoes, and accessories than we need or want. No matter how you end up with 37 pairs of jeans, cleaning up from time to time can be good for your soul and closet space, while also helping someone in need. If you need to clear out your closet before moving, even better. This is the perfect time to donate your clothes to charity. The charities listed in this article will gladly accept clothing, shoes, jewelry, scarves, belts, hats, bags and other accessories from you. They'll sort your donation, pick what they think will sell, and put it on the shelves in the store. Stained, torn, smelly, or worn clothes are unlikely, so let others see and try to remove them yourself.

In addition to the charities we've listed, clothing can be donated to Dress for Success, a charity that helps women in need find professional clothing to join the workforce. Homeless shelters, domestic abuse shelters or social service centers can also accept donations. You can also ship or sell more expensive items to charity through eBay for Charity. Another option is to donate to Planet Aid, which will try to resell your clothes so they don't end up in a landfill. 

Quick tips for donation pickups

Donating items before moving is a great way to ease the burden and benefit the community. Before you throw all your unused items in the box and plan a donation you'd like to receive or give away, check out these tips to make sure you're giving away valuables - and choose the right charity for your items.

Know what’s worth donating.While it's frustrating to throw away or recycle an item that someone might use, all of the above organizations note that items must be in good condition. This does not mean that they must be brand new, but they must be clean, serviceable and free from major defects unless otherwise noted.

Do some research before choosing your charity, look for responsible disposal methods, which may not be as convenient as collection, but still keep items from going to landfill. For example, a textile recycling bin can collect non-wearable clothing, shoes, and bedding and turn them into things like insulation and car seat cushions. And your local animal shelter will probably happily accept old bedding and towels with a few stains or tears.

All of the above charities benefit from your donation, but they have different ways of making an impact. Instead of just choosing the first option on the list, visit the organization's website to make sure its values ​​and practices meet your needs (and are available in your area). 

Decide honestly:

Keep or throw away? How do you decide what to keep and what goes into the donation pile? Well, if you haven't used or worn it in a few years (a year for some, two years for some, that's a very subjective and personal range), or if it hasn't. "makes you happy", then it's time for you to go. . When it comes to clothes, shoes and accessories, consider whether they suit you, do they match your style, are they a gift you will never wear. or if you have 20 of them. The same goes for everything else: if it's a gift that's not yours, or if you keep it for emotional reasons, it's time to say goodbye for the sake of someone else.

Prep your items.

 The charity that picks you up may have special requirements for your donation. Even if they don't mention anything, you should still do some prep work yourself. This includes cleaning any clothing, furniture or household items you plan to donate, as well as packing and/or packing items safely for shipping. Just leave the furniture open for them to inspect.

Schedule your donation pickup in advance. You may get last minute, but don't count on it. Once you know your move-out date, start exploring options and schedule delivery as soon as possible. Give yourself some time between the day you receive your donation and the day you move in, especially if you're donating furniture. Some organizations are stricter than others about what they bring, and you may need to find alternatives to bulky items you don't want to bring to your new home.

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