Have you ever looked around your house and seen piles of things you no longer use, just waiting to be tossed out? Goodwill can take most of those items off your hands, and chances are, they’ll happily accept what you want to donate! For over 120 years, Goodwill has been finding new homes for everything from clothes and furniture to electronics and household items. The best part? By donating to Goodwill, you're helping fund job training and community programs that make a real difference.
What you might see as "junk" could be incredibly valuable to someone else. A pair of shoes could go to someone who needs them, or a CD could bring a little comfort to someone who’s having a tough day. It feels good to know that what you no longer need can truly help someone in need. But before you start filling up your car with donations, it’s helpful to know what Goodwill can (and can’t) accept. While they accept a lot of items, there are some things they simply can’t take. For example, broken or unsafe items, or anything stained or in poor condition, won’t make the cut. Goodwill wants to ensure that all donations are in good, usable shape to benefit those who receive them.
Here’s a quick rundown of what you can donate:
Clothing, shoes, and accessories: including jewelry, purses, belts, hats, scarves, and more
Household items: like kitchenware, home decor, and holiday decorations
Electronics: such as computers, printers, small appliances, and game consoles (even if they're broken)
Books, comics, and magazines: any reading material in good condition
Media: like CDs, DVDs, and even VHS tapes
Handheld musical instruments: such as guitars, tambourines, and small percussion instruments
Bicycles: working bikes or parts that can be reused
Hand tools: both small power tools and manual ones
Sporting goods: from sports balls to tennis rackets and other equipment
Luggage: including suitcases, backpacks, and travel bags
Linens: blankets, sheets, towels, and other fabric-based items
Toys: like Legos, dolls, Hot Wheels, puzzles, and stuffed animals
Collectibles: including action figures, trading cards, vinyl records, and more
Games: board games, card games, and other tabletop games in good condition
Cash donations: or gifts left in wills to support Goodwill's programs
Once you know what you can donate, it’s a good idea to organize your items before you drop them off. Sort your clothing by type (shirts, pants, coats), separate linens like towels and sheets, and group together books, toys, and electronics. The more organized your donation, the easier it is for Goodwill to process and get your items to people who need them.
Goodwill also takes monetary gifts. Cash donations help fund programs that provide job training and education, giving people the skills they need to secure employment. By contributing money, you’re supporting individuals in building a better future for themselves.
You might not realize it, but Goodwill also runs programs that benefit veterans, the youth, people with disabilities, and those who are homeless. When you donate, you're helping to support these programs and empowering people to become more self-sufficient and thrive.
And donating your unwanted items isn’t just a nice thing to do, it's also a great way to declutter your space and make room for new things. You get a cleaner, more organized home, and others get the items they need.
So the next time you look at that pile of things you don’t need, think about how your donations could make a real difference. Goodwill’s mission is about more than just collecting donations. It’s about creating opportunities for people to improve their lives and build a stronger, more supportive community. And who knows? That old pair of shoes or unused blanket you no longer want might be exactly what someone else needs to make a fresh start.
Comentários