where to donate clothes and toys

by Landen Balistreri 9 min read

  1. Salvation Army. The Salvation Army has thrift stores located throughout the United States. Besides toys, the Salvation Army accepts clothing, furniture, automobiles, and more.
  2. Goodwill. Goodwill Industries has been providing help for those in need for over 100 years. ...
  3. Stuffed Animals for Emergencies. Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (SAFE for short) is a charity that gives stuffed animals to children in emergency situations.
  4. Vietnam Veterans of America. Vietnam Veterans Of America collects donated items, including used toys, that you can drop off at any of their dozens of U.S. locations.
  5. Second Chance Toys. Second Chance Toys is a charity that has dropoff locations in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and DC/Northern Virginia.
  6. Freecycle or Craigslist “Free” Section. Sites like Freecycle and the free section on Craigslist can be great places to donate used toys. ...
  7. Local Domestic Violence Shelters. Each year, an average of 24 people per minute are victims of some type of domestic violence. ...
  8. Resale Stores. Some resale or consignment stores such as Once Upon A Child will take your used toys you wish to donate.
  9. Local Emergency Childcare Services. Many metropolitan cities have emergency childcare services – often called crisis nurseries – for parents who are in a bind and need occasional child care.
  10. Local Hospitals. Another place you might want to check about donating used toys is your local hospital. ...

Full Answer

Where is the most helpful place to donate clothes?

GoodwillFor Americans, Goodwill is the go-to place to donate clothing. Goodwill is a non-profit that provides job training and generally affordable clothing....Other Places to Donate ClothesSchools. ... Soles4Souls. ... Foster care programs. ... LGBTQ+ centers. ... Refugee organizations. ... Prisons. ... Churches. ... Free clothes banks.More items...•May 23, 2021

Where can I take clothes I don't use?

Here's Where to Donate Clothes to Give Them a Second LifeAmerican Red Cross. ... Dress for Success. ... Free the Girls. ... Goodwill. ... One Warm Coat. ... Planet Aid. ... The Salvation Army. ... Soles4Souls.More items...•Oct 13, 2020

What can you do with old kids toys?

Here's Where to Donate Toys to Kids Who Need Them MostCharities. There are so many charities that will accept gently used toys and distribute them throughout their networks. ... Buy Nothing Groups. ... Hospitals. ... Children's Homes and Shelters. ... Daycare Centers. ... Police and Fire Departments. ... Churches. ... Recycling Programs.Oct 13, 2020

What do I do with stuff I don't want anymore?

When I really started thinking about all of my options, I started to wonder why I didn't get rid of this stuff sooner.Have a Garage/Yard sale.Donate gently used, good condition items to Goodwill.Donate gently used, good condition items to the Salvation Army.Donate to Homeless shelters. ... Sell on Craigslist.More items...•Apr 4, 2013

What should I do with my old clothes?

13 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Your Used ClothingSell Gently Used Clothing at a Consignment Shop. ... Hold a Yard Sale or Garage Sale. ... Throw It Out on Dump Day. ... Donate to an Animal Shelter. ... Sell It Online. ... Donate to Vietnam Veterans of America. ... Donate to Dress for Success. ... Donate to a Rummage Sale.More items...•Oct 15, 2020

How do you get rid of clothes when you're attached?

9 Simple Ideas to Thin Out Your ClosetStart easy. ... Remove seasonal items. ... Get rid of clothes that don't fit once and for all. ... Reduce your need for additional accessories. ... Consider the idea of one. ... Reassess current trend purchases. ... Physically handle every item. ... If all else fails, pick a number.More items...

How do I get my kids to get rid of toys?

Strategies How to happily get rid of toysTalk About the Goal of Less Toys with Kids. ... Make The Toy Purge Playful and Super Fun. ... Involve the Kids in the Entire Process. ... Give Them a Choice within Boundaries. ... Don't Rush the Decision Process. ... Don't throw away anything. ... Keep the memory of the toy.More items...•Nov 24, 2021

How do you get rid of too many toys?

It is the parent or caregiver's responsibility to pare things down from time to time, for everyone's sanity.Get Rid of "Busy Toys" ... Pass On Contraptions. ... Give Away Things for Younger Children. ... Eliminate Duplicates. ... Display The Good Stuff. ... Limit the Number of Toys. ... Rotate For Variety.

How many toys end up in landfills?

According to ecoBirdy's website, 80 percent of toys end up in a landfill, incinerators or the ocean while 90 percent are made of plastic and are used for just six months on average.

How do you get rid of things simplifying life?

Simplifying Your Life by Getting Rid of StuffSee it as a process. ... Start small. ... Don't deliberate. ... Be ruthless. ... Don't look back. ... Keep moving. ... Go at a pace that feels right to you. ... Get rid of redundancy.More items...

How do I give something away?

Easy Ways to Sell, Donate, or Recycle Your StuffeBay is one place to sell your unwanted possessions, but it's not the only option. David Nield via eBay.Tap into the Freecycle network to give away your stuff. David Nield via Freecycle.Apple and other manufacturers will recycle your electronics. David Nield via Apple.May 23, 2021

Who get rid of unwanted products?

5 crafty ideas to get rid of unwanted “stuff”Donate It. The easiest way to get rid of your unwanted items is to drop them off at a local charity shop or second-hand reseller. ... Sell it on Online Classifieds. ... Sell it on Online Marketplaces. ... Sell it on Mobile Marketplaces. ... Hold a Garage/Yard Sale.Oct 4, 2019

What charities take toys?

Salvation Army and Goodwill are two of the most recognizable charities that take toy donations. But call your local branch before you go to confirm that it's accepting toy donations. Such charities often give toys directly to less fortunate children, or they sell the toys and put the proceeds toward the organization's efforts. Either way, the toys will be helping people in your community. As an extra incentive, you can donate toys to a qualifying charity or nonprofit group and deduct the items on your taxes.

Can you donate toys to a charity?

As an extra incentive, you can donate toys to a qualifying charity or nonprofit group and deduct the items on your taxes. 2. Hospitals. Many medical facilities accept gently used toys for their young patients to play with while they are hospitalized.

Do religious centers take donations?

If it's not accepting toy donations at the moment, there's a good chance it will be able to direct you to a reputable location that will take your donations.

Do police officers carry toys?

Police officers and firefighters often carry small toys, usually stuffed animals, to comfort scared and injured children on the scene. And local departments generally look to the public for donations to provide this service. So call your local police and fire departments to find out whether they would like some gently used toys. Around the holidays, departments also often serve as drop-off locations for toy, coat, and other donations.

Do daycares need more toys?

It is rare to find a daycare center that is not in need of more toys. With so many children to entertain, daycare centers run through toys pretty fast. If you don't use a daycare center yourself, check with parents in your area to find one that will take your toy donations.

What is Planet Aid?

Planet Aid. Many charities only accept clothing that's in good and wearable condition — but Planet Aid is different. The organization makes it easy to donate and recycle all of your unwanted clothes, with the mission of saving all textiles from the landfill to help protect the environment.

What is the Salvation Army?

The Salvation Army is an international charity organization that provides assistance to nearly 23 million Americans each year, with services that include everything from operating homeless shelters and conducting disaster relief to providing support for veterans, the elderly and the LGBTQ+ community. Clothing donations go toward stocking the charity's network of thrift stores, with all proceeds helping fund The Salvation Army's adult rehabilitation centers.

What is the Red Cross?

One of the oldest and most well-respected humanitarian organizations in the country , the American Red Cross provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and disaster preparedness education for millions of people around the world. The non-profit currently has a partnership with GreenDrop, an organization that will take donated clothes and re-sell them to thrift stores to benefit the American Red Cross.

Is Goodwill a non profit?

The non-profit is funded by a massive network of retail thrift stores across the country. Revenue from the stores goes directly toward helping individuals find employment and grow their careers by providing them with job training, placement services and other community-based programs. Anything they can't sell, Goodwill will forward to recycling organizations that will help the items avoid the landfill.

Does Goodwill take used clothes?

Accepted donations: Goodwill accepts all new and gently used clothing, including shoes and accessories. They also take other household items such as books, furniture, appliances and more.

What is the VVA?

The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is an organization dedicated to promoting and serving the needs of Vietnam War veterans through legislative initiatives, education and outreach programs. The non-profit collects donations of clothing and household items, which they either give directly to homeless and low-income veterans or re-sell in their resale stores to generate funds for their various programs and initiatives.

What is one warm coat?

Donate your spare jackets to One Warm Coat, a non-profit that provides free coats to people in need. Working towards its mission of raising awareness of the vital need for warm coats across the country, the organization has hosted more than 38,000 coat drives and has provided 6.6 million free coats since 1992.

What charities accept gently used toys?

There are so many charities that will accept gently used toys and distribute them throughout their networks. For example, thrift-store organizations like Goodwill and The Salvation Army will resell toys in their shops and use the profits to support their charitable work. You could also give to Toys for Tots, the United States Marine Corps Reserve-run program that gives donated toys to children in need. Toys for Tots hosts popular toy drives around the holidays, but they also accept gently used toys year-round. Cradles to Crayons is another organization that accepts new and nearly new toys to benefit low-income families.

Can daycares go through toys?

If you've ever been to a day-care center, you know that they go through toys quickly. That's why if you have a ton of lightly used toys to donate, you might contact a center in your area to see if they're able to give your items a second life.

Can hospitals accept toys?

Hospitals. Many hospitals will accept donated toys for their young patients to play with, or to keep children entertained in the waiting room; the same thing goes for doctor's offices. But keep in mind: If you want to donate toys to your local children's hospital, they must be new.

How to claim toy donations on taxes?

Then, you must specifically donate to a tax-exempt organization. If you’re not sure if a facility can claim exempt organization status, check the IRS EO Select Check tool. Then, ask the organization for a donation receipt when you drop off the toys – you’ll need it for your tax records.

Can you deduct toys from a church?

Churches are tax-exempt organizations, so you can claim a deduction if you donate old toys to a church nursery. Many religious organizations offer daycares or nurseries to their parishioners, and since the service is often low-cost or free, they’re often in need of toys.

Do shelters accept toys?

If you know of a shelter or children’s charity in your area, there’s a good chance that it accepts toy donations. After all, kids will be kids, and children who visit shelters can feel more at ease when there are toys nearby. You just need to call ahead, as some charities won’t accept toy donations.

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Charities

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Salvation Army and Goodwill are two of the most recognizable charitiesthat take toy donations. But call your local branch before you go to confirm that it's accepting toy donations. Such charities often give toys directly to less fortunate children, or they sell the toys and put the proceeds toward the organization's effor…
See more on thespruce.com

Hospitals

  • Many medical facilities accept gently used toys for their young patients to play with while they are hospitalized. Your local hospital might have a toy wish list posted on its website that you can check for its exact needs. Always check with the medical facility before you show up with a box of toys. Some won't accept any items that aren't new due to the risk of spreading illness from seco…
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Doctors' Offices

  • Visit a children's doctor's office, and you might see toys that people have donated. Large toys can entertain children in the waiting room. And small toys can be used in the doctor's prize bin to reward kids for making it through a checkup. Check with your local doctor's office to see what its needs are. If you have kids, you can have them write short messages of well wishes on certain t…
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Daycare Centers

  • It is rare to find a daycare center that is not in need of more toys. With so many children to entertain, daycare centers run through toys pretty fast. If you don't use a daycare center yourself, check with parents in your area to find one that will take your toy donations. The greatest need will likely be toys for young children.
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Shelters

  • Women's shelters, as well as shelters for homeless people, are often overlooked as toy donation sites. But children end up at these locations too, and they often come with very few possessions. So many of these shelters will gladly take gently used toy donations. At the same time, you might be able to donate other items, including clothing, bedding, and toiletries. Contact a particular she…
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Children's Homes

  • Children's homes are another place where you can donate used toys for kids in need. Groups of kids live together in children's homes, so toys for kids of all ages are usually appreciated. Don't forget about toys for older children, as they're often an overlooked group in favor of cute toys for young kids. Check your local directory to see whether there is a children's home near you, and fin…
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Military Families

  • With military families constantly on the move, some toys might not make the trip to the family's new home. So some gently used toys could be a nice welcoming gesture for a military family with kids that's new to your city. You also can contact a local military family support group to find a home for your toy donations, or contact Operation Homefrontto search for current needs.
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Religious Centers

  • From newborns to school-age kids, local religious centers often provide childcare services to a variety of children during services and other facility events. Contact a local place of worship to find out what its needs are. If it's not accepting toy donations at the moment, there's a good chance it will be able to direct you to a reputable location that will take your donations.
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Social Services

  • Your local social services division likely will be able to connect you with a variety of kids who would love to play with your gently used children's toys. Contact your local department to find out what it needs and where to bring donations. It also might have needs for other children's items, such as clothing and shoes.
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Police and Fire Departments

  • Police officers and firefighters often carry small toys, usually stuffed animals, to comfort scared and injured children on the scene. And local departments generally look to the public for donations to provide this service. So call your local police and fire departments to find out whether they would like some gently used toys. Around the holidays, departments also often ser…
See more on thespruce.com

Charities

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There are so many charities that will accept gently used toys and distribute them throughout their networks. For example, thrift-store organizations like Goodwill and The Salvation Army will resell toys in their shops and use the profits to support their charitable work. You could also give to Toys for Tots, the United States Marine Co…
See more on goodhousekeeping.com

Buy Nothing Groups

  • Especially amid the coronavirus pandemic, it can be difficult to find charities and organizations that will accept donations of gently used toys — but that doesn't mean your kid's old things are destined for the dump. If you can't find any places to donate toys, try posting the items on your local Buy Nothing Facebook group. You could also list the toys on Freecycle or Craigslist. Make …
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Hospitals

  • Many hospitals will accept donated toys for their young patients to play with, or to keep children entertained in the waiting room; the same thing goes for doctor's offices. But keep in mind: If you want to donate toys to your local children's hospital, they must be new. Most hospitals have strict hygiene policies, so you'll need to purchase the toy specifically for the purpose of donating (cont…
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Children's Homes and Shelters

  • Your toys will definitely get played with if you donate them to a local children's or women's shelter. Get in touch with the director of the children's home nearest to you to see where and how your donations can be most useful. Your local social services office might also be able to direct you to children in the foster care system and other children in need who would greatly appreciate gentl…
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Daycare Centers

  • If you've ever been to a day-care center, you know that they go through toys quickly. That's why if you have a ton of lightly used toys to donate, you might contact a center in your area to see if they're able to give your items a second life.
See more on goodhousekeeping.com

Police and Fire Departments

  • Police officers and firefighters often carry stuffed animals and other small toys with them to comfort children at the scenes of traumatic events, and their supply of toys sometimes depends on donations. Reach out to your local police and fire departments to see if they're accepting donations right now. For an easy way to donate toys to this cause, give your items to Stuffed Ani…
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Churches

  • The leader of your local church may know of families within the church who could use a few new toys. Otherwise, the church itself may want the toys to keep children occupied during Sunday school, services or other local events. Contact the church's children's ministry coordinator for more information.
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Recycling Programs

  • If the toys you're looking to get rid of are soiled, torn or otherwise not in great shape, recycling them may be the best bet. You can get in contact with your local recycling service and see if they take toys (because they don't always!), or check out TerraCycle. TerraCycle has a partnership with Hasbro specifically for recycling old toys — it's free and easy! You mail in your toys, and they bre…
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Toy Donation Options

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1. Resell Charities Charity thrift stores such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army accept toys and then put them on the store floor for others to buy. Any proceeds they collect from the sale of the toys is put back into programs that benefit the needy right in your own community. However, you should call your local store prio…
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Specific Charities

  • While local charities may or may not need toys, national charities generally always accept donations. Here are several specific national charities that are looking for goods, such as toys and games. 6. Toys for Tots While you may associate Toys for Tots with a call for new, unwrapped toys, the Marine-facilitated charity also takes used toys in great shape. If you have a box to dona…
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What to Avoid

  • While most charities are thrilled to receive toy donations, there are several things that you must avoid: 1. Don’t Give Broken or Soiled Toys. Most facilities don’t have the ability to clean and repair items, so they may simply be tossed in the garbage if they can’t be put back together quickly. 2. Don’t Give Items With Pieces Missing.It’s unlikely that a charity has the ability to locate a replace…
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Toys and Taxes

  • You can often claim toy donations as a deduction on your taxes, but you have to do a few things first. To start, catalog all of the items you’re donating by type and what shape they are in. Then, you must specifically donate to a tax-exempt organization. If you’re not sure if a facility can claim exempt organization status, check the IRS EO Select Check tool. Then, ask the organization for …
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Final Word

  • If none of these option work for you, visit DonationTown.org, a website designed to facilitate free donation pickups for charities in your area. By going to the website, you can schedule a pickup and delivery to a charity of your choice simply by inputting your ZIP code. Wanting to donate old toys is definitely commendable, and there are literally hundreds of deserving charities that coul…
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