When you are getting rid of items, instead of throwing them into the trash, consider that you can donate stuff that is gently used to charitable locations either near you or mail it to a worthy cause listed below. With some planning, you can make a big difference in someone's life!
Several places in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area will accept donations of gently used items. And I also included United States-based charitable locations outside the PA for your convenience.
Below is a vast list of unwanted items and where to donate stuff. Here are the unwanted items you may want to donate at charitable locations: Unused/Unwrapped toys, American Girl Dolls, Furniture, Bicycles, Stuffed Animals, blankets, baby items, household items, kids' books, CDs, audiobooks, clothing, shoes, hangers, jewelry, cars or automobiles, old trophies, clothing, electronics, including mobile devices, prescription glasses, work attire, yearbooks, and formal wear/gowns.
Where can I donate this item?
Jump to:
- Donate Unused toys
- Good shape American Girl Dolls
- Stuffed Animals in good condition
- Unwanted blankets and other animal supplies
- Gently or New Baby items and other small household items
- Donate household items like electronics, mobile devices, furniture, tools, children's bicycles, and other miscellaneous items.
- Gently used kids' books, CDs, and audiobooks
- Medical Supplies - where to donate?
- Kitchen supplies, pots and pans, kitchenware, and dishes
- Gently used business attire, casual clothing, shoes, hangers, etc.?
- Custom jewelry and Fine Jewelry
- Donate Dresses, Work Clothes, Gowns, and Wedding Dresses.
- Donate a Running Car
- Donate Old Trophies
- Prescription eyeglasses
- Additional Various Items Not Listed.
- Donate Old Yearbooks
- How can I remember to donate to these places?
- Apps to help you track your donations
Donate Unused toys
Below are just three I found for the area and nationwide.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and other children's hospitals
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Daycare Centers
Churches, synagogues, Mosques, and other Religious Organizations
Good shape American Girl Dolls
Visit the American Girl Doll Philanthropy page for information on who they recommend.
Stuffed Animals in good condition
Stuffed Animals for Emergencies
New, unused, and recently purchased toys, Ronald McDonald House Charities
Unwanted blankets and other animal supplies
Animal hospital centers, like ACCT Philly (Animal Care and Control Team).
Your local animal grooming and boarding place, the Pennsylvania SPCA animal shelter, is looking for items.
Gently or New Baby items and other small household items
Women shelters, like Laurel House. The phone number for the office is 610-277-1860.
If you have larger baby furniture, contact them to see if they accept the baby furniture. Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Furniture Only). Enter your zip code here to find one near you.
There is a place called "Once Upon a Child" where you can sell gently used baby and kids' stuff.
Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia is accepting donations for baby and kid gently used items. Visit their website for details. There is a National Website, Chicago website, and Boston website if you live in these areas.
Baby Formula Donation
If you need to donate baby formula (not opened), you can check out Feeding America to find a Food Bank near you.
A Baby's Breath has several locations for baby formula donation.
A Women's Concern also accepts baby formula.
Donate household items like electronics, mobile devices, furniture, tools, children's bicycles, and other miscellaneous items.
Some locations will pick up, and some will need to deliver the items. Check the site below to find out their policies.
NOTE: Pennsylvania passed a law about recycling tube TVs but hasn't set up the procedures. So, to get rid of tube TVs, you will need to either give them away on Craigslist or contact a haul away company where you need to pay a fee.
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, PA
Liberty Thrift and Home Furnishings
Feel free to visit a more detailed post on how to donate electronics: HOW TO GET RID OF HOUSEHOLD ELECTRONICS
Cell phone and Various Mobile Devices Accessories Recycling Programs
The list of links below is specifically for cell phones, tablets, and accessories.
Apple has a Trade-In program where you can recycle any competitor's mobile devices and accessories. If you recycle their device, you may also get store credit for a new one. Visit this link for more information below.
Samsung also has a recycling program for its products. Check it out below.
Google also has a recycling program where you can recycle their phones, tablets, etc..
Gently used kids' books, CDs, and audiobooks
Kids should always be learning, but when they have outgrown their books, CDs, and audiobooks, try these places to donate things.
Perkiomen Valley Library at Schwenksville
Libraries
Check out this page to see where to donate books when you don't want them any longer.
Medical Supplies - where to donate?
You can donate wheelchairs, crutches, and blood pressure cuffs can be donated to:
Kitchen supplies, pots and pans, kitchenware, and dishes
Kitchen supplies are usually plenty in a home. Finding the right location to donate is critical, so it doesn't get tossed in a landfill. Below are just some locations.
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
American Veterans - AMVETS - They pick up in Maryland, Washington DC, Northern Virginia, Delaware, Texas, and Oklahoma. ***5 years old or less.
Gently used business attire, casual clothing, shoes, hangers, etc.?
Be sure to wash the clothes before donating. Contact them first before dropping things off.
American Veterans - AMVETS - They pick up in Maryland, Washington DC, Northern Virginia, Delaware, Texas, and Oklahoma. ***5 years old or less.
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
Check out ReTold Recycling; there is a fee, but you can fill up the bags of clothing and scraps of material and mail it to them postage paid. They donate the items to thrift stores, donation centers, recyclers, resellers, and upcyclers. The goal of this company is not to place items in a landfill.
Custom jewelry and Fine Jewelry
Custom jewelry are can go to a variety of places.
Goodwill Industries International Inc.
Crafters/artists
Visit our post: Where to donate jewelry you do not want for more options.
Donate Dresses, Work Clothes, Gowns, and Wedding Dresses.
If you have several dresses, formalwear, or work clothes, check out these places to donate to a worthy cause.
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
Donate a Running Car
Check out local charities to see if they need a running vehicle. Or, you can check out these locations below. Be sure you have the owner's papers for the vehicle.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA
Donate Old Trophies
Read the requirements for trophy donations. They do not accept several types of trophies.
You can sell recycled trophies on Esty. Check out some examples here.
Thrift stores and nonprofits - may take old trophies. Contact places like Salvation Army and Goodwill to confirm before bringing them to the store.
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
Prescription eyeglasses
The Lions club international has a prescription eyeglasses donation. Feel free to read about the program here. At the Walmart Vision Centers, usually inside Walmart, they have a Lions Club bin. For local people: The Walmart in Norristown on Trooper Road has a bin. I called to confirm.
Also, check out: OneSight - gently used glasses
Looking for a cause that is close to your heart? Visit our 15 Charitable Locations with a cause.
Additional Various Items Not Listed.
You can check out this site to find one near you: Donationtown.org
Additional Tips: Ask your accountant or financial adviser about what limits there may be for you when donating large quantities of items. With the new tax laws, there may be limits on how much you can deduct from your tax return.
Visit our NEW post: 15 Charitable Locations with a Cause, for even more options for your unwanted stuff!
Donate Old Yearbooks
There are places to donate your unwanted yearbooks. This one is one I just recently came across from another organizer. Feel free to check it out. Feel free to visit our What to do with old yearbooks for more tips.
Classmates High School Yearbooks
You can also contact your high school and ask them if they want it.
Visit our post about "Where to Donate Old Yearbooks" to get even more information.
How can I remember to donate to these places?
Create a where to donate charitable donation sheet as a reminder.
Create your own charitable donation location list. Include columns like the address of the location, what you donate to that charity, the phone number or email for any questions, their hours and pick up or drop off times. Using colored dots to place on the larger items works nicely if you cannot be there when they are picking up the items. You can even add the name of the color dot to the checklist. Feel free to print the checklist below if you don't want to make your own. If you want more information, click here.
Apps to help you track your donations
NEW: Check out an app for iOS that will help you track your donations.
ItsDeductible Donation Tracker – Maximize your charitable donation tax deductions by Intuit Inc.
NEW: These apps for iOS will help you find charitable locations near you to donate to.
The Salvation Army Family Store App by The Salvation Army Family Stores
Goodwill Locations by Goodwill Industries International
If you are looking for charity locations outside of Pennsylvania, please visit Charity Navigator. You can search by zip code. =)
Are you looking for another way to recycle your boxes AND donate things? Check out this company called Give Back Box. Read more about them here. -NOT an affiliate. Are you going to try it?
Well, there you have it! I hope this page helps you get rid of unwanted items. This extensive list gives you a great place to donate stuff in your life.
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