Donations

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

How this was put together

If you only read a few

Donate frayed, torn, or stained towels, sheets, and blankets to animal shelters if they are clean and have no holes.
Animal shelters go through huge amounts of linens and do not care about stains or fraying as long as items are clean.
- Do not donate items with holes due to strangulation risk.
- Do not donate quilted items with wadding as dogs may chew and swallow it, causing blockages.
6 people, independently
- Donate spare blankets, towels, rags, and pet toys to local non-profit shelters.1
- Donate towels to groomers if animal shelters do not accept them, as groomers use many towels.1
- Donate old towels and linens to small-scale farms, homesteads, wildlife rescue centers, or farm animal sanctuaries for drying animals and cleaning.1
Donate socks and menstrual products like pads or diva cups to shelters.
They are in high demand.
- Most shelters do not allow tampons.
2 people, independently
- Donate underwear and deodorant to shelters.2
Donate money found in unopened books to local food banks.
Many people could use the help right now.
one person who lived it
Donate gaming systems, clothes, toys, and games to youth psych wards or residential homes.
Most items being thrown out are appreciated there.
- Acceptance of PCs depends on the specific unit; some older children's care units accept them only if modern.
one person who lived it
Verify donated goods are sellable and free of damage before dropping them off at thrift stores.
Unusable items end up in the trash, wasting space for people who want to donate useful things; recipients also have dignity.
3 people, independently

shelters, items, donating, donate30

Contact shelters or charitable organizations prior to donating to verify they have room and a specific requirement for your goods.
Shelters might lack capacity for certain donations, and unsolicited items could be discarded.
- Some places prefer new items to avoid infection.
6 people, independently
- Ensure donated items are clean and well-kept before giving them to shelters.1
- Call local women's shelters directly to ask what specific items they need before donating clothes or other goods.1
Donate excess toys in good condition to family homeless shelters.
It brings joy to the children, similar to Christmas.
- Do not donate broken items or those missing vital pieces, as they will not be used.
one person who lived it
Donate cash to NGOs instead of physical goods during disasters.
NGOs have greater purchasing power and efficiency; unsolicited goods create logistical nightmares and are often unwanted.
- Local grants may be welcome, but foreign response efforts generally are not suited for unsolicited goods.
4 people, independently
Avoid posting on social media or pointing out when someone wears hand-me-down clothes you gave them.
It can be perceived as tacky and cause emotional distress to the recipient.
one person who lived it

23 more on this

Give old gaming consoles to local youth centers.
Your old console can serve as an equipment update for places that need it.
one person who lived it
Save hotel toiletries to give to nurses for patients who lack visitors or supplies.
Patients without visitors often have no one to bring them toiletries.
one person who lived it
Donate old clothing like winter jackets and boots directly to homeless shelters or soup kitchens before trying Goodwill.
Goodwill's mission is job training, not giving clothes to the poor, and they do not always donate items.
one person who lived it
Send free gift magazine subscriptions to your local library if you do not already have a swap deal.
Someone will benefit from it.
one person who lived it
Cut your hair dry before mailing it for donation to prevent mold growth.
Hair cut while wet can arrive moldy if mailed immediately.
one person who lived it
Donate old books to your local 'Friends of the Library' chapter for sale.
Sales raise money for library improvements like elevators, computers, and digital subscriptions.
one person who lived it
Verify whether a charity shop is distinct from a thrift shop before donating.
Not all charities are made the same.
one person who lived it
Donate winter clothing and seasonal items in October so people receive them when they need them most.
one person who lived it
Donate clothes to shelters or charity shops rather than giving them directly to people on the street.
Organizations provide a wider variety of clothing that may actually fit the recipients.
one person who lived it
Donate toys that do not require batteries to families in need.
Families who cannot afford toys likely cannot afford batteries.
one person who lived it
Verify that donation bins belong to legitimate registered charities rather than for-profit companies.
Anyone can put up a bin and sell the clothes for profit.
one person who lived it
Donate non-irritant soap, such as Dove, to shelters.
Women in shelters have specifically requested it.
one person who lived it
Update gaming systems and install games before donating them.
It saves the recipient time and bandwidth.
one person who lived it
Do not steal trial-sized toiletries from hotels to donate.
Hotels already donate surplus items, and saving money for the hotel prevents rate increases.
one person who lived it
Completely wipe old laptops before donating them to shelters.
To prevent recipients from accessing your personal accounts, such as Facebook, banking, or employer data.
one person who lived it
If you are discarding an old gaming system, research whether a specific charity sanitizes used consoles for hospital donation rather than giving directly to hospitals, as many facilities refuse pre-owned electronics for health reasons.
- Many hospitals and charities refuse used items due to compromised immune systems or sanitation policies.
- Some organizations specifically require brand new items in packaging.
3 people, independently
- Avoid donating used video game consoles and games to children's hospitals unless explicitly requested.1
Contact nursing homes before donating large quantities of unwanted clothes to confirm they need them.
Some residents may have few clothes, and families of deceased residents often leave clothes behind for distribution.
one person who lived it
Donate old furniture and building materials like tubs, shower doors, and knobs to contractors or remodelers who can reuse them.
It benefits everyone involved.
one person who lived it
Donate cat litter to animal shelters.
It is rarely donated but appreciated.
- Verify if they accept clumping kinds.
one person who lived it
Donate shoe boxes and refundable bottles/cans to shelters with cats.
Shoe boxes are often tossed but accepted; collecting refundables allows giving without spending much money.
one person who lived it
Include multiple different games with donated consoles.
Children have different interests.
one person who lived it
Call your local elementary school to donate children's clothing for students who have accidents or arrive with improper attire.
one person who lived it
Collect extra hotel toiletries from business travelers and donate them in bulk to homeless shelters when the collection is full.
one person who lived it

Call the high school directly to ask if they have a teen parent program.
Non-religious schools will likely have something.
one person who lived it
Check how nonprofits spend funds via IRS Form 990 or Charity Navigator before giving money.
3 people, independently
Donate baby or maternity items to your school district's teen pregnancy program.
Teen parents avoid the overhead costs of resale shops.
one person who lived it