Community Resources -- Where to Donate Your Items

This is another in a series of posts about community resources. Again, I am focusing on my own area, but this should give you a good jumping off point on where you can donate your items.  Maybe you have leftovers from a garage sale, or maybe you don't have time to do a garage sale, but there are a lot of places where you can take unwanted (but still good) items to be redistributed throughout your community.

These lists can also be a resource for where to find items if you are in need.

Furniture items and Household Goods

• In Ames: Story County Furniture Bank.  You will need to call ahead and make an appointment either to pick up or drop off items.
• In Des Moines: Plymouth Church.  They will come and pick up items, but again you will need to call and schedule for pick up.  They also have distribution information on the same page.
• In Des Moines: The Free Store
• In West Des Moines (Valley Junction area) Found Treasures. Located at 132 5th St, West Des Moines, in Valley Junction, Found Treasure is now accepting donations. For more information please contact 515-490-5198. 
• Nationally: Check with Goodwill, Salvation Army, and there is a National Furniture Bank page with information on distribution centers all over. 
• Bed linens or old towels can be donated at your local animal shelter.

Clothing Items

• In Nevada: The Harmony Clothing Closet, located on 6th Street in downtown Nevada.  They are open on Saturday mornings and Monday afternoons for donations and also to distribute clothing.  Anyone may come in and shop free of charge.
• In Ames: Bethesda Lutheran Church will take in-season clothing only.
• In Des Moines: Found Treasures (listed above)
• In Des Moines: The Clothes Closet located in the basement of Capitol Hill Lutheran Church which is a free distribution site for needy families from all over the metro area or those in almost new condition are taken to the Lutheran Hospital Not New Shop.
• Also in Des Moines: Hope Ministries will take clothing items.
• Nationally: again, Goodwill and Salvation Army.

 Unopened food items

• In Ames: Bethesda Lutheran Church will accept unopened non-perishable food items.
• In Nevada: St. Patrick's Catholic Church
• In Des Moines: Food Bank of Iowa.  Also Hope Ministries.
• Nationally: Here is a list of local food drives.

Toys, Books, and Games

• It is my understanding that Goodwill and Salvation Army will only take unopened board games and puzzles and gently used toys, but NO stuffed animals.
• In Nevada, the Harmony Clothing Closet will accept toys and books, but again NO stuffed animals.
• Stuffed animals can usually be donated to local animal shelters, and often police and fire stations will also accept stuffed animals in like new condition.
• Books can also be donated to local libraries.
• In Des Moines: If you have new toys, books, and games, they can be donated to Blank Children's Hospital.
• In Des Moines: Children Families Urban Ministry accepts donations of toys, games, and art supplies.
• This just in!  There is a place for your stuffed animals.  This site tells you where to send them.

 Other Places and Their Needs

• The Ronald McDonald House has a wish list.
• Beacon of Life has a wish list.
• Donate your old eye glasses to your local Lions Club.
• Your old cell phones can go to help soldiers.
• Donate old bikes to be refurbished.  In Ames and Nevada, contact Richard Atwell (515) 382-5059.
• Donate blood, sign up to be a bone marrow donor, sign up for organ and tissue donation.
  

Where do you take your used items?  Do you have another organization that I should add to this list?

Don't forget that many of these organizations could also use monetary donations or donations of your time as a volunteer.