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Finding a good home for things you don’t use anymore is a solid move any time of year, and especially so in the season of giving.
Several organizations in the Philadelphia area accept donated items, with some giving them directly to people in need and others running thrift shops to raise money for a cause. Each has different preferences, including what types of items they’ll take and what methods they use to receive.
See below for details, with a little about each group’s mission, and some information about how to give.
There’s also a chart at the end that summarizes it all, with checkboxes that make it easy to find the best new landing place for your former stuff.
Clothing (and more) for specific needs
Cradles to Crayons
4700 Wissahickon Ave. (Germantown), 215-836-0958
“A seasonally appropriate coat. A pair of shoes that fit. School supplies and books. These are just some of the items a child living in poverty desperately needs.”
New and like-new children’s clothing and toys can be brought dropped off at the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory or other locations around Philadelphia.
Philly House (fka Sunday Breakfast)
302 N. 13th St. (Callowhill), 215-922-6400
“Would you like to help us meet the basic needs of the hungry, homeless and hurting in Philadelphia?”
Philly House has an Amazon Wishlist. Contact volunteer@phillyhouse.org to learn about donating items.
The Wardrobe
413 N. 4th St. (Northern Liberties), 215-568-6693
62 W. Marshall Rd. (Lansdowne)
“The Wardrobe, formerly known as Career Wardrobe, is a nonprofit social enterprise open to all. Our goal is to eliminate clothing insecurity by outfitting people for life or work.”
Accepts clothing for adults, either new or gently used, washed — and still in fashion.
Bethesda Project
907 Hamilton St., 215-839-8720
“Your gifts allow staff to better welcome and support guests and residents, helping them feel safe and aiding in their overall journey to overcome homelessness.”
Accepts men’s clothing, shoes and outerwear; toiletries and personal items; disposable dishes and cutlery; and various other items listed here. Call or email communitylife@bethesdaproject.org to arrange a drop-off.
PAR-Recycle Works
2024 W. Hunting Park Ave., 267-335-5455
“PAR-Recycle Works is a nonprofit electronics recycler that provides transitional employment to people returning from prison.”
Accepts computers, printers, cell phones and other outdated or obsolete electronics and appliances. Items can be dropped off at Nicetown location, or contact PAR-Recycle Works to schedule a pick-up.
Local Thrift Stores
Philly AIDS Thrift Shop
710 S 5th St. (Queen Village), 215-922-3186
“Our goal is to sell the lovely, useful, interesting, amusing, and sometimes mysterious items that generous people donate to our thrift store and then distribute the proceeds to local organizations involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”
Donations accepted noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Project HOME/HOMEspun Boutique
1523 Fairmount Ave. (Francisville), 215-309-5246
“HOMEspun Boutique empowers people recovering from chronic homelessness with employment and job training opportunities.”
The boutique accepts gently used adult clothing. Project HOME also accepts in-kind donations. Find more information here or contact vcoordinator@projecthome.org.
Second Mile Thrift Shop
214 S. 45th St. (Spruce Hill), 215-662-1663
“A large Thrift Store Complex in West Philadelphia, offering employment to re-entry folks from prison, halfway houses and rehabs.”
Whosoever Gospel Mission
6515 Rising Sun Ave. (Lawndale)
101 E. Chelten Ave. (Germantown)
“In addition to raising much needed funds for our ministry to homeless men, our two thrift shops also provide real life workforce development training for the 55 homeless men enrolled in our New Life Rehabilitation and Job Readiness Program.”
To schedule a pickup, call 215-438-3094, 12:30 to 3 p.m. Monday – Friday
Bargain Thrift Center
5261 Germantown Ave. (Germantown), 215-849-3225
“All donated items dropped off at our shop directly benefit the Marlyn R. Fein Chapter of Fox Chase Cancer Center.”
Drop items for donation in the big red bin inside the front door.
Circle Thrift
2233 Frankford Ave. (Kensington), 215-423-1222
“A project of Circle of Hope Church”
Furniture, building materials and specialty home items
Philadelphia Furniture Bank
3650 I St. (Juniata), 215-291-9830
“Because a home is more than four walls, PFB was founded to provide all the items needed to turn a house into a home.”
Donors can also schedule a pick-up.
Uhuru Furniture
832 N. Broad St. (Francisville), 215-546-9616
“A non-profit furniture store and economic development project of the African People’s Education and Defense Fund.”
Email ufcphilly@gmail.com to arrange drop-off or free pick-up
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
2318 Washington Ave. (Point Breeze), 215-739-9300
“Habitat uses 100% of profits to build and repair homes in Philadelphia.”
Free pick-up can be scheduled online.
The Resource Exchange
1800 N. American St. (West Kensington), 267-997-0060
“All donations are used to further our mission of promoting creative reuse in Philadelphia.”
For one box/bin of material or less, walk-ins are acceptable at least 30 minutes before the store closes. For larger donations, email info@theresourceexchange.org to schedule drop-off.
Pet supplies
Philly PAWS
2900 Grays Ferry Ave. (Grays Ferry), 215-298-9680
1810 Grant Ave. (Bustleton), 215-545-9600
“By providing things we use daily to care for animals, you can help us stretch our limited funds and save even more lives.”
Large organizations with Philadelphia locations
Goodwill
330 W. Oregon Ave. (Whitman)
5050 Parkside Ave. (Parkside)
5400 Ridge Ave. (Wissahickon)
7061 Lincoln Drive (Mt. Airy)
9920 Bustleton Ave. (Bustleton)
“[W]e are a non-profit provider of job training and career services for individuals with disabilities and disadvantages. Put quite simply, Goodwill’s mission is to help put people to work.”
Additional drop-off locations around Philadelphia
GreenDrop
163 Franklin Mills Blvd. (Millbrook)
“GreenDrop is a for-profit company and registered professional fundraiser where required. We pay our nonprofit and charity partners for your donations, helping them fund their programs in your community.”
More drop-off locations around Philadelphia. Home pick-ups can also be scheduled online.
Little Free Library
“We believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.”
Little Free Library book-sharing boxes are accessible for book drop-offs (and taking books) every day at all times. Note: These are small by definition, so a huge donation may not fit.
Dozens of locations in and around Philadelphia. Check this map.
The Salvation Army
4555 Pechin St. (Roxborough)
6432 Rising Sun Ave. (Lawndale)
6427 Torresdale Ave. (Tacony)
“You see a pile of your gently used clothes. We see hope for those at risk in your community.”
Additional drop-off locations around Philadelphia
Grid: Where to donate things you no longer need
Scroll for more info, or tap the name of a location to view all details.
