Quick Info
Operating Hours
Monday - Friday: 9 - 5
Weekends: Closed
The Arc donation pick-up hours may vary based on the chapter location.
Contact Information
thearc.org
(202) 534-3700
Items They Accept
One-time donations, Tribute gifts, Vehicles, Planned gifts (wills, living trusts, etc.), Employer-matched gifts, Physical items (clothing, books, housewares, etc.), Stocks, Cryptocurrency
Do They Give a Tax Receipt?
Yes, The Arc offers tax-deductible receipts for both state and federal returns.
How To Schedule A Pickup
1. Find your local chapter's website. (https://thearc.org/find-a-chapter/)
2. Contact your local chapter to determine whether or not they offer donation pick ups.
3. Schedule a pickup.
Pickup Please History & Background
Pickup Please started in 1978. For the last three decades, the organization has been helping support Vietnam Veterans of America by collecting donations to help fund the organization's mission.
VVA is the only congressionally chartered Vietnam veterans organization. In the 1970s, a group of Vietnam veterans saw how many of their fellow soldiers suffered after returning home. Unfortunately, vets had limited access to programs and help during this time.
To help fellow veterans and their families, the group founded the Council of Vietnam Veterans. Over the years, the group has helped thousands of veterans and strived to improve recognition for their services.
Although it has seen many challenges over the years, it has ultimately grown to become a huge organization impacting thousands of lives across America. Today, it continues helping veterans by providing healthcare and services for treating PTSD while raising awareness for crucial issues regarding women and minority veterans.
Conditions of Items
The Arc has The Arc thrift stores where you can donate used clothing and other items. The thrift stores sell the donated items and use the profits to support people with disabilities through various community-based actions.
Not all local chapters accept physical donations. Contact your local Arc Foundation chapter to learn about its policies.
The Arc thrift stores typically accept the following clothing donations:
- Women's clothing
- Men's clothing
- Children's clothing
- Brand new and used clothing
- Shoes
- Accessories
- Belts, purses, sunglasses, etc.
Because The Arc thrift stores sell clothing donations, your donated items must be in useable condition. You may not be able to donate excessively stained, torn, or worn clothing. Before donating, you should always wash all clothes and place them in clearly labeled bags or boxes.
The Arc Foundation also accepts household items, like furniture and small appliances. Your donation will go to The Arc thrift stores, where the organization will use the profits to support assistive programs and activities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Arc donation pickup services accept the following household items:
- Kitchenware: Pots, pans, dishes, silverware, glasses, small appliances, cutlery, etc.
- Children's goods: Toys, arts and crafts supplies, school supplies, etc.
- Decorations: Art, frames, mirrors, faux plants, etc.
- Small furniture: Stools, foldable chairs, nightstands, side tables, etc.
- Other household items: Books, board games, knick-knacks, pillows, blankets, bedding, small rugs, curtains, handheld tools, etc.
The Arc donation pick-up services only accept items small enough for one person to lift and carry, so you cannot donate large pieces of furniture like mattresses or couches. If you're unsure whether your item will be accepted, call your local thrift store to check.
As with clothes, your donation should be in a relatively usable condition. Before donating, you should wash all fabric and clean all items of dust and debris.
The Arc thrift stores also pick up electronics donations. If you have an old computer collecting dust, you can donate it to support advocacy programs, helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The Arc thrift stores will pick up the following donations for free:
- Computers
- Laptops
- Gaming consoles
- And more!
Before you donate your electronics, you should turn the items on to ensure that they work. If the item has any malfunctions, be sure to notify the pickup team or drop-off employees. The Arc thrift stores may or may not take unusable electronics.
If you'd like to support programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, you can also donate vehicles. The Arc pickup service will take new or damaged vehicles, so you don't have to go through the overwhelming process of trying to repair and list your car.
The Arc will pick up the following vehicles for free:
- Cars
- Trucks
- Vans
- Boats on a trailer
- Recreational vehicles (RVs)
To donate your vehicle to The Arc, you must have the following information:
- The vehicle's make and model
- Its general condition (consider receiving an inspection)
- The vehicle identification number (VIN)
- The title and lien release
After receiving the free auto towing service with your donation, you'll receive a tax-deductible receipt reflecting the vehicle's fair market value within four to six weeks.
The Arc tries to welcome as many donations as possible, though certain items won't benefit the organization's mission. In general, you can only donate items that one person can lift and load onto the truck without help. For example, the organization's pickup services can't take large furniture and appliances.
Additional unaccepted donations include the following:
- Aluminum cans
- Baby walkers, strollers, swings, and playpens
- Bean bag chairs
- Built-in appliances
- Carpets
- Copy machines
- Computer monitors
- Desks
- Doors
- Fencing
- Flooring
- Fireplace inserts
- Flammable liquids
- Fluorescent lights
- Unframed glass
- Hangers
- Mattresses
- Electric scooters
- Televisions
- And more
The list of unacceptable items extends from here, so we recommend viewing the full list before you schedule your donation pickup.
A Note on Free Donation Pickup Services and Acceptable Donated Items
Everyone wants to help people in need; it’s natural for us as human beings to do so. We help our friends, we volunteer for organizations, and most importantly, we donate. Whether it be in terms of food, cash, or physical items we no longer need, giving people things they need is one of the most effective ways to make a difference in your community.
Donation pick up services make this process infinitely easier. When you have physical items like clothes or old electronics, you can have people come directly to your house to pick them up and carry out the rest of the donation process for you. The question remains, does your organization of choice offer this service?
Read on to learn more about The Arc Donation Pick Up and how this organization helps people in need.
Your generous donations to The Arc help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Arc Drop-off Locations
The Arc has 43 thrift store drop-off locations located throughout Colorado. If you don't live near one of the Colorado locations, you can still try to schedule a pickup service or visit your local chapter.
The Arc has chapters throughout the country. You can use the "Find a Chapter" tool on the website to locate the closest The Arc donation center near you.
The Arc History and Background Helping Those With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The Arc's advocacy mission dates back to the 1950s, when many didn't understand intellectual and developmental disabilities. At the time, families with intellectual and developmental disabilities had few support programs or advocates and little help from medical professionals.
The Arc began in 1953 with the mission of supporting families with disabilities with the services and programs they need to live healthy lives without being "shuttered away in dark institutions." By the 1960s, The Arc opened a Governmental Affairs office, supporting resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, like Medicare and Medicaid. In the 1970s, The Arc helped create the U.S. Supplemental Security Income program, giving better financial opportunities to severely disabled citizens who can't work.
Over the last few decades, The Arc has continued supporting more political actions and community programs to give people with intellectual and developmental disabilities equal opportunity.
Who Benefits From Your Donation?
U.S. adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities benefit most from your donations. The Arc uses all of its donations to fund various programs that support the disabled community. Doing your part by donating to this organization encourages others to do the same, improves awareness and education surrounding disabilities, and helps tie the community together.
The Arc's Donation Process
When donating to The Arc, you can either enter a monetary donation online or schedule a pickup service for physical items, like clothes, if you have a store nearby. The store will pick up your donation for free.
To schedule a pickup service with your local store, simply:
- Find your closest location.
- Schedule a time that works for you.
- Leave your donations outside in clearly labeled containers.
- Request a tax-deductible receipt for qualifying donations.
The store will come and pick up all your items and send a receipt, if you requested it. Next, the store will sell your donations and use the profits to fund opportunity services.
Is The Arc Accessible in My Area?
While The Arc has chapters throughout the country, it doesn't have thrift store locations in most states. The Arc may be unable to pick up your donation if you don't live near an Arc thrift store. When you schedule a team to pick up your donation, you can enter your zip code or address to see whether or not The Arc operates in your area.
Common Guidelines When Giving Donations
Because The Arc will pick up your donation for free, be sure to follow the organization's preferences. While every charity has different guidelines, most prefer that your goods adhere to certain criteria. Before the team arrives to pick up your donation, we recommend following these standard practices:
- Wash all clothing donations beforehand.
- Clean and sanitize all household goods.
- Call your local branch to ensure that it accepts your donations.
- Remove your personal information from all donations.
- Request a tax-deductible receipt for any donations exceeding $250.
- Place all donations in clearly labeled containers.
- Ensure that no items are too heavy for one person to pick up.
Why Donate to The Arc?
Many remarkable charity organizations exist, making it hard to pick just one. Scheduling for The Arc to pick up your donation enables you to join a community of people working toward change. With The Arc, you can:
- Help people with disabilities receive the advocacy and assistance they need
- Create a better political environment for future families
- Join your local donation community
- Become a part of a positive movement for change
- Request a tax-deductible receipt for potential returns
- Reduce your environmental impact by recycling your used goods
- Improve the awareness and education of important disability matters
Can You Get a Tax Deduction When Donating to The Arc?
Yes, after The Arc team arrives to pick up your donation, you can receive a tax receipt to use the next time you file taxes. The Arc can't guarantee whether or not you'll receive a substantial deduction for your donation. We recommend viewing more information from the IRS website or speaking with your financial advisor.
Other Alternatives to The Arc
- Goodwill
- Habitat for Humanity
- Salvation Army
- Vietnam Veterans of America
- AMVETS
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
- Furniture Bank Association
- GreenDrop
- Easy Donation Pickup
Support America's Veterans With Easy Donation Pickup
The Arc isn't the only charity that will pick up your donation for free. If you'd like to donate to the National Veterans Foundation, we offer free pickups at Easy Donation Pickup. So far, we've helped over 450,000 U.S. veterans and their families.
We offer free pickup services throughout Orange County and certain Los Angeles, CA, neighborhoods. You can schedule a pickup from our team online today or contact us to learn more about the donation process and what we do or don't take.