Household Stuff
So, what exactly can you donate to Goodwill? Probably more than you’d think! Read on to learn about the kinds of items we do and don’t accept, and more.
PLEASE DO NOT DONATE AFTER HOURS. Goodwill can’t guarantee the safety of donations dropped off after hours. Please help eliminate donation theft by not donating after hours.
Types of Donations
Clothing
- Women’s, men’s, girls’, boys’ and infants’
- Shoes and boots
- Hats, gloves, mittens and scarves
- Purses, jewelry, belts and accessories
Household/Furniture/Appliances
- Dishes, kitchen utensils, lamps and small appliances
- Lamps, paintings, frames, shelves, baskets and wall decorations
- Dressers, tables, bed frames, sofas and more
- Antiques and collectibles
- Hardware and tools
- Curtains, drapery, blinds, linen, bedspreads and blankets
- Strollers, high chairs, pack-and-plays
- Washers, dryers, refrigerators and more
Books/Media/Toys
- Books, school textbooks, records, compact discs, videotapes and DVDs
- Games, bikes, sporting equipment and toys
- Playground equipment
Electronics/Computers
- Video game consoles and accessories, video equipment and recording devices (VHS, DVD, etc.)
- Printers, electronics and other computer accessories (mice, keyboards, monitors, power cords and adapters, scanners, MP3 players, cell phones, etc.)
- Computers
- Goodwill is a partnered with Dell on the Dell Reconnect program, which ensures that donated computers are safely and securely recycled.
- This ensures that hazardous substances, like mercury, don’t end up in landfills, and helps keep donors’ safe.
- Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana does not sell donated computers in our stores. All computers are recycled through Dell Reconnect.
Goodwill Can't Accept
- All donations that Goodwill can sell in our stores are greatly appreciated. However, when Goodwill receives items that cannot be sold, staff must dispose of them – this includes loose papers that could contain donors’ personal information. Disposal of such items (especially secure shredding of loose papers) raises expenses and reduces the revenue available for employment and educational services.Items we can’t accept include:
- Documents containing personal information, including bank statements, passports, checkbooks, medical histories and other, similar materials. Donors should always check their donations for such materials before donating.
- Used tires
- Hot water heaters
- Furnaces
- Carpeting and padding
- Mattresses, bed springs, sofa beds, hospital beds
- Cribs and carseats
- Household trash and garbage
- Scrap lumber, concrete, bricks, stones
- Air conditioners
- Firearms
- Paint, household chemicals, insecticides, etc.
- Food items
- Large commercial desks
- Cubicles
- Entertainment Centers
- Televisions
Need help properly disposing of a TV? Many communities, the state of Indiana and even some stores have recycling programs. Links to a variety of resources are listed below.
Drop off Your Donation
Donations, including vehicles with titles, are accepted at Goodwill Stores.
PLEASE DO NOT DONATE AFTER HOURS. Goodwill can’t guarantee the safety of donations dropped off after hours. Please help eliminate donation theft by not donating after hours.
Looking for auto donation information?
Goodwill Rewards members can track donations using their online account. Make sure to ask a Goodwill employee to scan your Rewards card each time you donate. Then, you can log in to your account and add the details of your donation whenever it’s convenient.
TurboTax’s ItsDeductible also provides online tracking of your donations.
For donations of cars, trucks and other vehicles, Goodwill will mail you a letter with the final auction price and other information needed for your itemized federal return.
Goodwill always recommends you consult with a tax adviser about your particular circumstances. More information is also available at irs.gov.
To make sure your donation process goes smoothly and that you’re donating items Goodwill can sell in our stores, follow these tips:
- Check for and remove any documents containing personal information – including tax statements, bank statements, medical records and similar items. To learn more about Indiana Code 24-4.9-2-10 which defines “personal information,” click here.
- Check your items for valuables before donating. Make sure you know for sure what items you want to give to Goodwill.
- Check our lists of what we can and can’t accept.
- Check pockets of clothing for jewelry, money and other valuables you might not be intending to donate.
- Separate clothing into different bags/boxes than household items.
- Check to ensure that items you are donating are not soiled, stained or ripped.
- Test electrical equipment and battery-operated items to make sure they work.
- Include all pieces and parts to games, toys and household appliances.