Quick Info
Operating Hours
Monday - Saturday: 10 - 8
Sunday: 12 - 6
Goodwill stores' operating hours may vary depending on location.
Contact Information
goodwill.org
800-466-3945
Items They Accept
Clothing donation, furniture donations, toys and games, books, art, household items, kitchenware, and electronics
Do They Give a Tax Receipt?
Goodwill Industries will accept donations of gently used items and provide a tax receipt as proof of such contributions on the day of the donation.
How To Schedule A Pickup
Contact your local Goodwill to find out if free donation pickups are available in your area.
Goodwill History & Background
Following the Salvation Army's footsteps, Reverend Edgar J. Helms founded Goodwill Industries in 1902. Unlike many charities, Helms wanted to combat poverty with Goodwill Industries by providing working-class citizens with trade skills and valuable learning resources. Helms himself went door-to-door, requesting accessories, household items, clothing, and other donations from the wealthier residents of Boston to help fund and support his idea.
Today, Goodwill Industries has more than 3,200 thrift stores across the United States and Canada and 156 community organizations that provide job seekers with support and training. Goodwill Industries is a 501C3 or not-for-profit organization. According to the Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Goodwill Industries has been donating most of its annual profit to charity and using it to fund programs and resources for people in need, such as the elderly, disabled individuals, and previously incarcerated individuals looking to start a new life.
Conditions of Items
Goodwill will accept your furniture donations as long as the item you want to donate is in good condition. The organization takes only gently used furniture with no broken parts. A furniture donation may include sofas, chairs, kitchen sets, coffee tables, office chairs, lamps in working condition, area rugs, bed frames, and more.
Goodwill's pick-up service may be available to you if you're donating more oversized items, such as furniture sets or a heavy box or two of stuff. Some locations may not offer Goodwill pickup services, so it's necessary to visit or contact your local Goodwill to ask about donation pickups, or seek out other pick-up services.
Goodwill accepts household items such as dishes, pots, pans, and other cookware. Cookware should be clean and free of residue, crumbs, or leftover food material.
Donated items should be gently used, clean, and in good condition. Goodwill stores will accept shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, sweaters, and other clothing items. These items should have minimal wear and tear and no visible stains. Because the donation service aims to maintain cleanliness and safety for employees and customers, Goodwill stores do not accept or sell donated underwear.
Though Goodwill generally offers a donation pickup service for larger, difficult-to-transport items, you can also request a pickup for large hauls of clothing, assuming donation pickups are available at your local Goodwill location.
Typically, Goodwill requires that donated electronic items arrive in good working condition. For example, Goodwill Industries requests that donated items such as televisions be operational, as they likely can't make a profit on a broken TV. However, Goodwill accepts computers, printers, and accessories in any condition, in or out of the box.
You can also donate media items such as DVDs, VHS tapes, and vinyl records.
While Goodwill won't accept tools or equipment that present a danger to employees or shoppers, they will accept a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activity equipment, such as:
- Basketballs, baseballs, footballs, tennis rackets, and bats
- Small-scale workout equipment, such as dumbbells or resistance bands
- Lawn and garden tools
- Fishing poles (but not tackles)
As a not-for-profit charity organization, Goodwill is generally eager to accept a wide variety of donations to offer a broader selection of donated furniture, clothing, and other items to low-income communities who rely on their services. However, Goodwill may decline a donation if the item is unclean, broken, or not in a resellable condition.
Safety is also a consideration for whether or not Goodwill will accept your donation. If you're planning on donating to your local Goodwill, be aware that Goodwill won't take the following items for donation:
- Large exercise equipment, such as treadmills or elliptical machines
- Appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, ovens, or dishwashers
- Construction or building materials
- Furniture or equipment for children, such as high chairs and swing sets
- Food, liquids, or any other perishable items
- Car parts
- Broken furniture
- Mattresses and bed pillows
- Cosmetics
Though Goodwill thrift stores will take and sell used items, they must maintain a standard of organization and safety and take precautions to avoid legal, safety, or environmental concerns.
Equipment like treadmills and ellipticals and appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers take up a considerable amount of space in storage and within the stores themselves. Storing such items often proves labor intensive and more expensive in the long run, as Goodwill may have to contact a waste management company to haul off bigger items collecting dust.
When it comes to equipment and furniture for children, Goodwill will not accept these items as a safety measure and an effort to conserve the time and energy of their employees.
Equipment like car seats, cribs, and strollers must meet specific safety standards for the consumer product safety commission to deem them acceptable for sale. Goodwill stores rarely have the capacity to determine the safety of such a product accurately and lack the resources to provide recommendations to concerned parents.
A Note on Free Donation Pickup Services and Acceptable Donated Items
Goodwill donation pickups allow community members looking to donate large items without having to transport said items themselves. Donation pickup is a free service many Goodwill locations offer, and generally, Goodwill employees will assist with loading and unloading pickups as part of the service.
However, even if your local Goodwill store offers donation pickups, employees may decline to load large, unwieldy items if they believe doing so could present a danger to them or anyone else. If you forgo the pickup service and instead decide to visit the store to drop off the items you're donating in person, the same possibility applies, as employees could decline to help unload an item if they feel it's unsafe to do so.
Who Benefits From Your Donation?
Goodwill aims to serve underprivileged, low-income communities with their work. The inexpensive pricing allows low-income community members and families to purchase household necessities. Likewise, a significant portion of the company's profits funds outreach and training programs for job seekers who may need extra help, such as the elderly, disabled individuals, formerly incarcerated individuals, and youth.
Is Goodwill Accessible in My Area?
Goodwill has thousands of stores all over the United States and Canada. To find a Goodwill store close to you, check out Goodwill's store locator tool on their website. To learn more about Goodwill's pickup services, you'll need to contact your local Goodwill, as not every Goodwill location offers free donation pickup.
If your local store does offer donation pickup, you'll have to contact the store directly to make arrangements. Luckily, it's a free service, and assuming your items are in good condition and easy to load, Goodwill employees can take them off your hands.
Why Donate to Goodwill?
Goodwill is a not-for-profit charity organization on a mission to provide affordable clothes, furniture, and other household items to low-income communities, as well as job opportunities and training to those in need.
In 2021, Goodwill helped place over 123,000 people into jobs in the United States through its job placement services. Your donations contribute to these community-based services.
Maybe you have an attic full of household goods and gently used furniture you haven't touched in years, or maybe moving day is fast approaching, and you've begun to realize how much stuff you have. No matter what you have to give or why you want to give it, donating to Goodwill allows you to free up some space in your home and ensures that someone else has quality furniture, clothes, and other necessary household items.
Donors can contribute to a community-based initiative by donating to their local Goodwill store. Low-income families and community members can have access to affordable household items and necessities, and you can declutter your space. If you're hoping to donate large items such as couches, vanities, or tables, Goodwill can simplify the process and take these items off your hands without the hassle.
Other Alternatives to Goodwill
Donations Made Simple with Easy Donation Pickup
Easy Donation Pickup provides quick, accessible pickups of used or new items to donate to families and individuals in need. As an organization for veterans by veterans, we strive to create and maintain outreach programs that provide veterans in need with food, transportation, employment, and other necessities through the funds we receive.
Scheduling a pickup is easier than ever with our locator tool. Just like Goodwill's donation pick up service, we'll load and deliver your items for you. Contact us today to learn more, or simply use our handy locator tool to schedule your pickup!