Quick Info
Operating Hours
National Headquarters in Washington, DC:
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Local affiliate hours may vary.
Contact Information
redcross.org
1-800-733-2767
Items They Accept
Monetary gifts, Stock donations, Vehicle donations, Real estate donations, Legacy gifts
Do They Give a Tax Receipt?
The American Red Cross gives donors a receipt at the end of each tax year. By law, the organization must verify any gift made over $250.
How To Schedule A Pickup
The American Red Cross does not offer free pickup services itself. Instead, it partners with other organizations like GreenDrop to collect items on its behalf.
American Red Cross: A Brief History & Background
Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 to help the working poor and disadvantaged families. The United States government awarded the American Red Cross its first Congressional charter in 1900. Since then, it has provided essential aid to the armed forces and those who struggle to recover from war, famine, and hurricanes.
The Red Cross was the first organization to complete a nationwide blood program in the mid-20th century. This tradition of blood donation continues today, offering support to those with injuries or life-threatening conditions.
Thousands of volunteers train under the Red Cross, learning how to respond to crises quickly and effectively. It maintains its funding through public and government support. However, the Red Cross does not accept individual item donations due to logistical constraints.
Affiliates that collect donations on behalf of the Red Cross convert these items into monetary gifts by selling them at thrift stores and charities. Still, the Red Cross offers grants and support to institutions that help them in their efforts to revitalize communities.
Conditions of Items
Any clothing donation given to organizations that help fund the Red Cross must be new or gently used. These charities require items to be clean and free of holes or tears. Clothing like pants, shirts, shoes, skirts, and socks are some of the most popular donations.
Red Cross affiliates cannot sell or reuse clothing donations that do not meet these requirements. Additionally, some pick-up services may refuse to collect items in bulk. If you want to make a large clothing donation, explore other charities that may accept large hauls.
The Red Cross does not accept furniture donations due to storage limitations. However, it works closely with other organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, that take these gifts. In 2013, the American Red Cross issued a two million dollar grant to Habitat for Humanity to help the nonprofit restore homes following the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy.
Charities like these accept household items that comply with safe sale guidelines from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Furniture donations must be free of dangerous materials and have all their parts. A local Habitat ReStore might accept the following:
- Large furniture: Bedframes, cabinets, desks
- Small furniture: Office chairs, ottomans, coffee tables
- Décor and other small home furnishings, like rugs
Some Habitat for Humanity donation centers do not have the resources to offer a free pick-up. If you want to donate multiple small furnishings, contact us at Easy Donation Pickup. We will provide a complete list of accepted items and help you schedule a pickup date.
Most charities accept small appliances. However, you cannot donate objects containing hazardous materials like chemicals or oil.
Any household goods you want to donate to Red Cross partner organizations should be functional and retain resale value. Each item sold helps fund the efforts of the American Red Cross. Your chosen affiliate nonprofit organization will help determine whether these gifts will be sold or used to improve affordable housing for natural disaster victims.
Depending on which pickup charity you choose, accepted donated items may include:
- Large appliances: Dishwashers and water heaters
- Building materials: Tubs, sinks, bricks, and fencing
- Electronics: Stereos, intact televisions, and cell phones
Gifting food is one of the best ways to donate and make a difference in the community. However, the Red Cross does not accept food gifts, even if they are non-perishable.
The best way to donate bulk food gifts to charity is by getting a pickup scheduled with a separate entity.
Make sure any cans you plan to donate do not have dents that may spoil organic material inside. Be sure to check the expiration dates.
Depending on the organization you give these items to, they may not go directly to those in need. Like clothing, they may end up for sale at a resale store for a fraction of the retail price.
Do you want to donate a car to the Red Cross? The organization will accept:
- SUVs
- Large trucks
- RVs
- Farming vehicles
- Construction vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Water vehicles
- And more
These options are the only physical contributions the Red Cross accepts. Unlike small gifts like musical instruments or cleaning supplies, a sold car will generate more money for the organization.
You must fill out a form to gift a vehicle to a Red Cross donation center.
The Red Cross and its collecting affiliates will not accept some gifts, citing safety concerns. Although you may feel that certain household goods can be helpful, donating some items can create liability for these organizations. More specifically, a charity accepting a donation that might harm a recipient can jeopardize its legitimacy.
Some donations are not accepted by affiliate charities, which includes the following:
- Exercise equipment: Treadmills, stationary bikes, and dumbbells
- Chemical products: Makeup and prescription medicine
- Box spring mattresses
- Aging or tattered clothing
- Broken objects
If you want to remove these items from your home, recycling or selling them elsewhere may be an appropriate option. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of unacceptable items.
A Note on Free Donation Pickup Services and Acceptable Donated Items
Do you have unwanted items lying around the house? You can make a difference by donating furniture, building materials, automobiles, or food to a local charity. At Easy Donation Pickup, we arrange free pick-up services to benefit struggling veterans. Here, we review some of the top-ranking charities.
Consider donating to organizations like the American Red Cross to help communities around the world recover from destruction. This nonprofit has over 140 years of experience restoring towns through disaster relief, volunteer work, and development.
In this article, we help you understand what gifts the American Red Cross accepts along with other ways to donate.
The American Red Cross helps people prepare for and respond to natural disasters and conflicts. A registered, charitable institution supporting millions of vulnerable people, The American Red Cross enjoys a close relationship with the United States government due to its long history.
The Best Ways to Donate to Red Cross
The best ways to donate to the Red Cross include sending monetary gifts through the mail or texting $10 to a disaster relief fund.
Additionally, you can offer airline miles to the organization. This contribution makes it easier for volunteers to travel.
Schedule monthly gifts online or by speaking to an ambassador at a local donation center.
More significant ways to donate include offering legacy gifts or adding the American Red Cross to your will. This method allows you to gift your assets to the organization after your death. The American Red Cross even accepts donations of real estate and securities.
You can explore more ways to donate to the American Red Cross by visiting its website.
Are These Gifts Tax-Deductible?
Depending on the gift you give to the American Red Cross, you may be eligible for a tax deduction at the end of the financial year. If you do not itemize your donation, you can receive up to $300 in deductions.
Why Should I Donate to the American Red Cross?
Although the American Red Cross does not accept gifts of useful items like clothing or cleaning supplies, the organization helps millions of people access shelter, clean water, and medicine. By donating, you can help service members, their families, and victims of disasters without leaving your home.
Often, people contribute to the Red Cross because it offers many ways to donate money directly to a cause.
Moreover, many people commend the Red Cross for its financial integrity. The nonprofit provides charts and graphs that explain where the money you donate goes.
Is the Red Cross Available in My Area?
The Red Cross operates in over 200 locations across the United States. Furthermore, most locations offer volunteer programs and fundraisers that promote outreach in towns across America.
A simple Google search will help you find Red Cross resources in your area.
Other Charities to Explore
Donating items to other organizations is ideal if you can't afford to make financial contributions to the Red Cross. Below is a list of reputable charity groups and some of their accepted items:
- Easy Donation Pickup: Clothing, tools, toys, jewelry, backpacks, and more
- Habitat For Humanity: Furniture, appliances, building supplies, vehicles, and other large items
- GreenDrop: Clothing, blankets, games, baby items, and sporting equipment
- The Arc: Household gifts, personal accessories, kitchenware
These charities offer pick-up options if you need help transporting your donation.
Looking for a Free Donation Pickup? Easy Donation Pickup Makes Contributions Simple
If you are ready to schedule a pick-up, contact the professionals! At Easy Donation Pickup, we make the process simple. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps former and active duty military personnel access the help they need.
We offer free donation pickup services so you can avoid the hassle of finding reliable transportation for your donations. Use our locator tool to find volunteers near you. We are active in the entire Orange County area and parts of Los Angeles.
Read more articles and charity reviews to learn more about how you can support your community.
Contact Easy Donation Pickup in Orange County, CA, today. Schedule donation pickups at (855)-628-8387.