Are you looking to find where to donate furniture or clothing? Did you know some companies do furniture donation pick-ups? Well, it’s true.
There are nonprofit organizations that offer free pickup of your charitable donations. Free furniture pick-up sounds excellent!
Furniture donations are commonplace for quite a few people. We’ll be looking in-depth at the companies that do donation furniture pick-ups.
Your move is going to be a significant change – one that brings new challenges and new rewards. One of the nice things about moving is that it allows you to start fresh.
Donating the things you no longer want or need is an excellent way to clear out space in your closet, storage unit, and life.
Getting rid of unwanted items can feel very liberating.
But how do you begin? And how do you find companies to take your furniture donations? Is there one local charity that is better than another?
The answers to those questions and others will be covered here.
In the past, I’ve covered organizations that do donation pickup for most things in your home for free. It’s a beautiful way to get your home de-cluttered before putting it on the market for sale.
Ask any real estate agent, and they will surely tell you homes that are spacious and bright sell for more money. From many years of experience as a Realtor, it makes when you remove unnecessary stuff from your property.
Removing unwanted furniture and other household goods is an excellent home-selling strategy. The further away your home looks like a hoarder house, the better.
Real Estate agents love it when their clients listen to the advice for getting their house ready to sell.
Facts Worth Knowing
1. Donating furniture is an act of generosity that helps individuals and families in need.
2. research local charities or non-profit organizations that accept donations to donate furniture.
3. Many charities have specific guidelines about the types of furniture they can accept, so it’s essential to check their requirements beforehand.
4. Some charities offer pick-up services for more oversized furniture items, while others may require you to drop off the donation yourself.
5. ensure the furniture is clean and in good condition before donating. Charities often cannot accept items that are broken or heavily damaged.
6. It’s a good idea to take photos of the donated furniture before giving it away for your records and potential tax deductions.
7. Certain organizations also accept appliances, household goods, and furniture donations.
8. Consider contacting local schools, shelters, or community centers that may need specific furniture items.
9. Donating furniture benefits those in need, helps reduce waste, and promotes sustainability by extending the life cycle of these items.
10. Remember to keep documentation of your donation for tax purposes, as some charitable contributions may be tax-deductible.
Companies to Be Reviewed
These are the companies we shall be reviewing for furniture donation pickup.
- The Salvation Army
- Goodwill
- Habitat For Humanity
- AMVETS
- Furniture Banks
- The National Furniture Bank Association of America
- Donation Town
Steps For Donating Furniture to a Charity
Research local charities that accept furniture donations: Start by searching online or contacting local community centers, churches, or non-profit organizations to find out if they accept furniture donations.
Check donation guidelines: Once you have a list of potential charities, review their donation guidelines to ensure that they accept the type of furniture you have and that it is in acceptable condition.
Clean and prepare the furniture: Clean and, if needed, repair the furniture to ensure it is in good condition and ready for donation.
Contact the charity: Reach out to the charity of your choice to inquire about their donation process and to schedule a pick-up or drop-off time.
Schedule a pick-up or drop-off: Depending on the charity’s policies, you may be able to schedule a pick-up of the furniture from your home or arrange a drop-off at their designated location.
Complete any required paperwork: Some charities may require you to complete a donation form, including details about the furniture and its value for tax purposes.
Arrange transportation: If you are responsible for transporting the furniture to the charity, ensure you have the necessary means, such as a truck or van.
Follow through with the donation: Keep your scheduled pick-up or drop-off appointment and deliver the furniture to the charity as planned.
Obtain a receipt: Once the donation is complete, ask the charity for a receipt or acknowledgment letter for your records. This will be useful for tax purposes if you plan to claim a deduction for your donation.
Consider additional donations: If you have other items to donate, such as clothing or household goods, inquire with the charity if they also accept those.
Get Rid of What You Don’t Need
Depending on your personality, clearing out your old things could fill you with hope, dread, or something in between.
If you feel hesitant, remember that clearing out the clutter in your life is often a good thing. You are moving to a new home, and there are multiple benefits to be had if you take the process of clearing out what you don’t need seriously, including:
You Have to Move Less
Moving is not an easy task. Depending on your circumstances, you could be looking at days or weeks of work and high financial costs. Before you move, every item you get rid of is an item you don’t have to pack, load onto a moving truck, and unpack.
The gains in efficiency and lowering of moving costs can stack up quickly. Donated furniture cleared out of your home will make your move easier. You can replace it with new furniture once you move into your new place.
You Make Room in Your New Home
Space is beautiful to have. It can be restful to live in a home free of clutter. Limiting the number of items you must sort through and consider every day before getting ready for work or coming home from a long day can be calming.
Space is also something you can fill with things that make sense for you now – not things you’ve been carrying around for years or decades. Donation pickups allow you to eliminate various items while helping families in need.
You Help Others With Your Donations
Just because you don’t like your old sweaters or the couch you inherited from your mom doesn’t mean others won’t love these things.
When you donate your gently used furniture to charities, they can turn around and use those things to better others’ lives by giving them the items they need or selling them to fund support projects.
This is one of the most rewarding factors associated with donating furniture. Just think about someone with no furniture setting it up in their place. That’s an incredible feeling!
Many of these charities have local chapters that will help those nearby. They may also provide a bed frame or other pieces of furniture to a nearby homeless shelter.
With furniture donation pick up it's a great option to make your best efforts to help recycle. Click To TweetChoosing Furniture to Donate is Easier Than You Think
You can find advice for clearing your clutter through a simple internet search. While there are different approaches to the problem, most of what you find will be useful if you apply it.
The key is to take action, whatever steps appeal to you. Some common advice that can get you started includes:
Create Categories and Spaces to Put Things in Those Categories
For example, you could grab boxes and label them “Donate,” “Gift,” “Trash,” or “Sell.” As you go through each piece of clothing in your closet or consider the furniture you don’t use, you can put it into one of these categories. (If you are in a hurry, sticking to “Donate” and “Trash” would be simplest.)
Set a Timer and Focus Exclusively on The Sorting Process
You could start as small as 5 minutes if you are feeling overwhelmed. A 30-minute timer would help you progress significantly but still be short enough not to be intimidating.
Take The Final Steps to Complete Each Goal You Set
Once everything is sorted, don’t waste time and let it sit around, still taking up space. Pack up the donations, donate them, and get the trash to the garbage can or dump if necessary.
If you have a significant amount of junk and don’t have the time to move it yourself, you might want to consider a company like 1-800-got-junk that will come to your home and take what you don’t want away.
1-800-got-junk is the leader in junk removal and a very well-known company. You might, however, find a better deal from a local company. If you decide to go that route, check their references.
VIDEO: Help Someone in Need By Donating Furniture, Clothes.
Watch this quick video on why donating can be so beneficial and rewarding!
There Are Some Items You Can’t Donate
There are some rules regarding clothing and furniture regarding what you can and cannot donate.
Rules can vary by donation center, but some general guidelines you should keep in mind include:
Goods Should Be Gently Used
They don’t expect your donations to be brand new, but they also need them to be in good enough condition to give to those in need or sell in their retail stores.
If your furniture is shredded, or your clothing is missing sleeves or has giant holes, they will have to throw the donations away – a waste of their time and yours.
When donating clothes, look them over carefully for apparent blemishes.
If you have ever visited a thrift shop in your local area, consider the acceptable items you have seen on display. Without a doubt, they are all usable.
Donations Should Be Clean
Most charities are pretty limited in funds and resources, so they would prefer to deliver your gifts in decent condition.
Severely stained or soiled furniture and clothing may be too difficult to clean and have to be tossed.
You should wipe off the furniture at home and run the clothing through the wash if needed before taking it over.
When donating furniture, it is essential to look it over for any obvious repairs to help the charity repair before delivery.
They May Not Accept Certain Types of Items
The best example of such prohibitions is mattresses and box springs. Most charities will not accept used mattresses or box springs.
If you show up with such items, they will turn you away, and if you leave them at the donation center, they will have to pay to have them disposed of. Before setting up the pick-up service, ask what they will not take.
Furniture Donations Near Me
There are lots of folks who want to know who will pick up furniture donations nearby. Free furniture pickup can make your life far more manageable.
When you are looking to make furniture donations, there are a few methods to try. The first will be asking friends and family if they have had any experiences of where to donate. If they don’t have any solid suggestions, you can turn to Google for help.
Take out your phone, computer, or laptop and search for one of the following furniture donations near me, donate furniture near me. You are bound to see some of the companies we’ll be reviewing below. You are also bound to see some smaller local charities as well. Do your homework. Make a few calls, and you’ll devise a few options.
You can also try donation centers near me if you strike out. While it won’t be as convenient as them coming to your home, you can still donate and help someone in need.
7 Charities That Offer Free Furniture Donation Pick-Up
Here are the charities where you can donate your furniture. These companies will do furniture donation pick-ups as well.
1. The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army operates numerous Adult Rehabilitation Centers throughout the country to help those struggling with substance use disorders and other services that help those in need.
When you donate your furniture to the Salvation Army, they will sell it in their family stores. They use the profits from your donated furniture to fund their rehab centers and other charity services the organization supports.
You can either drop off your furniture at one of their locations or schedule a pickup for the furniture online. The Salvation Army is one of the most well-known charities in the country that picks up clothes and furniture.
The Salvation Army is undoubtedly a leader in the furniture donation pick-up industry. They will be an excellent choice.
Remember that the Salvation Army will not pick up some things, including large television sets and stereo systems. To find a Salvation Army nearby, do a Google search for Salvation Army near me. You can also reach the Salvation Army by phone. Their phone number is 1-800-728-7825.
2. Goodwill
Goodwill focuses on providing employment opportunities and job training for those in need. When you donate to Goodwill, they sell it in one of their numerous stores and use those profits to fund their programs. It also applies the money to job placement services for those in need.
Some Goodwill locations take furniture donations, and some don’t. You may be able to get them to schedule a donation pickup for your furniture, depending on the location you contact.
Just give them a call and see what they can do to help. Goodwill is located in many states and is an excellent company to work with if they take your furniture.
When considering furniture donations, Goodwill is one of the most recognizable charities in the industry. Goodwill will also not take certain items, including mattresses and box springs. They are also unlikely to pick up large or bulky furniture donations.
If you would rather take your household items directly to one of the Goodwill stores, you can search their nearby locations by Goodwill near me. It is usually relatively easy to find a local store. You can also reach Goodwill at their contact page.
3. Habitat For Humanity
While Habitat for Humanity is well known for its work in creating and providing affordable housing for the needy, it also makes furniture donations.
The furniture pickup is done by an entity known as Habitat Restore, which offers pickup of furniture donations and other large items, including appliances, building materials, and more.
Donating furniture helps Habitat for Humanity by bringing it back to Habitat Restores, where it can be sold to someone in the area who can use it. The sale proceeds will help Habitat ensure a good place for people to live in the local community and worldwide.
A Habitat ReStore
Most Habitat For Humanity locations will accept the following furniture. Double-check locally to be sure.
- Sofas
- Dining room tables
- Chairs
- Bed frames
- Dressers
- End tables
- Coffee tables
- Entertainment centers
- Filing cabinets
- Bookshelves
- Cribs
- Collectibles
- Books
- TVs
- Housewares
- Decor
- Bedding
- Toys
4. AMVETS
American Veterans of AMVETS, for short, assists veterans who have served or are serving in the military. Like the other charities we have mentioned already, AMVETS will pick up your furniture donations.
It will be appropriate to call the local AMVETS to see how they are handling donations for larger furniture items. A nice bonus with AMVETS is that they will take large flat-screen televisions, exercise equipment, and computers.
For smaller items such as lamps, small appliances, and other electronics, you can pack them up in appropriate moving boxes and leave them outside your front door.
By donating with AMVETS, they will sell your items to thrift stores to generate money for its Veterans programs. They will also take your clothing to the local thrift store as well.
You can visit the AMVETS website here to schedule your donation pick-up. You may also do an online search for AMVETS near me to deliver your donations.
If you want to help out a veteran in need, you might also want to try Pickup Please, another charitable organization dedicated to helping veterans. Pickup Please specializes in picking up clothing and other household items. Donating good to them will help those vets who fight every day for our country.
5. Furniture Banks
Furniture Banks are located in 34 states, making them an ideal choice for furniture donations.
One of the fantastic things about donating furniture with Furniture Banks is that they help the unemployed, women, and children who have been abused, immigrants, the unemployed, and those previously homeless.
Furniture donation pickup is also available with them. When you donate your unwanted furniture to the company, they will put your donations right into the hands of those who need it most. They take all types of furniture.
It is one of the best ways of helping low-income people furnish their homes.
Unlike other charities, Furniture Banks will also accept cars or other vehicles even in poor condition. They offer free donation pickup for these items, too.
They will do that if the car needs to be towed. The organization is one of the few who will accept a car donation.
You can visit their website to find a location near you and call to arrange a free furniture donation pick-up. It will be as easy as requesting your pickup time.
The Furniture Bank Network prevents thousands of pounds of small and large furniture from being sent to landfills annually. The furniture is instead given to those who really could use a hand. Given a second life, the furniture ends up where it can help.
6. The National Furniture Bank Association of North America
FBANA offers a way to connect with smaller organizations in your area that may need furniture donations. They provide a database of all the places in your area that accept donations and help you decide which you want to choose.
You can find stats on each charity on the FBANA website and contact information to finalize your donation. Use the website link to find companies to pick up furniture donations for you.
7. Donation Town
Donation Town is another resource for those looking to donate furniture in good condition. The company was founded in 2008. It is an online directory of local organizations that will do free pick up of things you no longer need or want.
Donation Town does clothing and furniture donation pick-ups, along with household items. The company works hard toward helping charities get more donations.
Donation Town’s free service makes it super simple to connect with the non-profit organization of your choice. By donating old furniture through Donation Town, you can be assured it will be going to a great cause.
All of the above charities are outstanding nonprofit organizations.
You Get Tax Deductions
One overlooked benefit is taking a tax deduction for donating to a charity. What you provide the charity will be tax-deductible. So, you can save on taxes while providing home goods to those who need it. Nerd Wallet has an excellent resource on what you need to know about tax deductions. Make sure you get your tax receipt.
Interesting Statistics on Charitable Support in The United States
1. Approximately 70% of donated furniture is resold or recycled.
2. The average lifespan of a donated piece of furniture is around 12 years.
3. Donating helps reduce landfill waste by over 2 million tons annually.
4. On average, each person in the United States donates at least one piece of furniture every five years.
5. About 85% of donated furniture goes directly to individuals and families in need, including those in homeless shelters.
6. Contributions generate an estimated $650 million yearly economic value.
7. They provide essential resources for disaster relief efforts, supporting over 100,000 affected individuals annually.
8. Donating reduces the demand for new production, saving approximately 50 billion gallons of water annually.
9. Around 95% of donors report feeling satisfied and fulfilled after donating.
10. Donating one piece of furniture can provide benefits and support for up to three households throughout its lifecycle.
4 Charitable Organizations That Will Pick Up Clothes
Below are the charities where you can donate clothes. They all have national programs in place. These companies will do clothing donation pick-up, too.
When you’re moving, it is a great time to donate clothing.
1. Goodwill
Clothing is one of the Goodwill organization’s most significant categories of donations. Everyone knows you can go to Goodwill to find inexpensive used clothing and support a good cause.
Your charitable donations will be sorted and displayed in one of their stores for sale. All the profits from your donations’ sales go towards their organization, including providing job training and job placement services.
Use this excellent resource that has donation guidelines for Goodwill. It provides all the information on acceptable donations.
As mentioned previously, Goodwill offers a pick-up service.
2. The Salvation Army
Clothing donations are another primary type of donation for the Salvation Army. They will take your clothes to reuse and sell them in their stores to fund their various charity operations, including drug rehabilitation, domestic abuse, and disaster relief.
Here is a handy tool to find the Salvation Army donation locations nearest to you. Just plug in your zip code and go.
The Salvation Army will do free pick-up.
3. Vietnam Veterans of America
The Vietnam Veterans of America organization works to support the veterans of every U.S. war and their families.
They make it very easy to donate because they will pick up your donations at your home if you put them in boxes labeled for donation.
See information on how to donate clothes to the VVA.
4. Project G.L.A.M.
Project G.L.A.M is an organization that has a more focused goal than some of the larger charities. They accept donations of formal dresses for girls in need.
They take any formal dresses you may no longer want or need and provide them to girls in disadvantaged communities so they can enjoy special events in style. Donating to them is a great way to help a less fortunate kid in the clothing department.
Final Thoughts
Donating furniture, clothes, and belongings around your home can kill two birds with one stone. Not only will you make your home feel far more spacious and uncluttered before selling, but you’ll also be helping others in need.
If you are moving, you probably have a lot on your plate. It might be all you can do to sort through your things and decide what to keep and give away. Making multiple trips to the donation center might be more than you can handle.
Fortunately, many of these organizations will help you when you need a pickup. You can go on their websites or call them to determine if they offer donation pickup services and schedule one for your donations.
Just remember that not every organization is equipped to do donation pickups, and even if they are equipped to pick up your furniture or clothing donations, they may need to do it sometime in the future. So, try to be patient with them as you manage the logistics of the pick-up service.
Hopefully, you have found this guide on donating furniture and clothes helpful.
Other Moving Resources to Help With Your Relocation
Look at a few additional moving resources that are full of great advice.
- How to pack your home when moving – get some helpful tips on making your packing far more efficient. Use the advice to ensure your move will go that much smoother.
- Tips for picking a storage unit – see some of the best advice on how to go about choosing a storage facility that will best serve your needs.
- What should I tip a moving company – one of the things many people forget about when trying to figure out moving expenses is a moving tip. If the movers do an excellent job, you should plan on giving them an appropriate gratuity. Use the information found at Maximum Real Estate Exposure to guide when to tip and how much.
- How to organize your things for storage – discover some of the best tips for placing your possessions into storage.
About the Author: Bill Gassett, a nationally recognized leader in his field, provided the above real estate information on how to donate furniture and clothes. He is an expert in mortgages, financing, moving, home improvement, and general real estate.
Learn more about Bill Gassett and the publications he has been featured in. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest towns for the last 38+ years.
Are you thinking of selling your home? I am passionate about real estate and love sharing my marketing expertise!
I service Real Estate Sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Natick, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton, and Uxbridge MA.
Great info Bill. I’ve seen many people donate their used furniture upon the sale of their home. And, they often benefit greatly from the tax deductions.
Thanks for this! Very useful!