Quick Info
Operating Hours
Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Vietnam Veterans of America's operating hours may vary based on location.
Contact Information
vva.org
1 (800) 882-1316
Items They Accept
Clothing and household goods, Small appliances, Kitchen items, Baby items, Electronics and toys, Vehicles, Cash (monetary donation), Bequests (will, living trust, or codicil monetary gifts)
Do They Give a Tax Receipt?
Yes, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) can provide a tax-deductible receipt upon request for qualifying donations.
How To Schedule A Pickup
You can schedule a pickup of used clothes with ClothingDonations.org, which will send your donation to Vietnam Veterans of America.
Vietnam Veterans of America History and Background
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) began in 1978 when a small group of activists traveled to Washington, D.C., seeking support and advocacy for Vietnam veterans. Within a year, the council raised $46,506. The small council quickly grew into a much larger organization of Vietnam veterans seeking political justice with power in numbers.
Over the next several years, Vietnam Veterans of America continued to grow steadily, collecting donations, and funding various programs, like the Vietnam Veterans of America Legal Services (currently called the VVA Service Representative program). Today, the organization has over 85,000 service members and 650 chapters across the United States, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, all helping veterans with ample support programs and services.
Conditions of Items
If you'd like to support Vietnam veterans, you can donate clothing and accessories. Acceptable donations for gently used clothes include:
- Men's clothing: Pants, shirts, jackets, suits, shoes
- Women's clothing: Blouses, sweaters, pants, shorts, dresses, skirts, shoes
- Children's clothing: Onesies, tops, bottoms, and other clothing
- Accessories: Purses, bags, ties, wallets, belts, shoes, sunglasses, cosmetics, jewelry
Vietnam Veterans of America accepts nearly all clothing donations, including used clothes, though the organization doesn't specify condition preferences. Generally, you shouldn't donate clothing that's excessively stained, torn, or unusable. We recommend calling your local branch to ask for more specific details.
Vietnam Veterans of America sells used clothing and household goods and donates the funds. If your items are beyond the point of being sold for use by people in need, then you may not be able to donate them.
Aside from used clothes, Vietnam Veterans of America also accepts small household items. Acceptable household item donations include:
- Kitchenware: Glasses, dishes, silverware, and small appliances, like toasters, microwaves, etc.
- Homeware: Pillows, bedding, sheets, linens, comforters, curtains, rugs, draperies, and other household items
- Home decor: Art, mirrors, picture frames, etc.
- Children's toys: Stuffed animals, board games, toys, action figures, dolls, etc.
- Books: Hardcovers, softcovers, children's books, e-readers, non-fiction, and fiction
- Small furniture: Chairs, decorations, headboards, small bedside tables, mirrors, and other small furniture items
You may donate used household items, though we recommend calling your local center if you have any questions on specific item conditions. For example, the organization cannot sell a cracked dish. Before donating, clean your items of any residue, debris, pet hair, or food.
Note that you cannot donate large furniture to VVA.
Aside from clothes and household items, you can also fund local programs, veterans, and their families by donating small electronics, exercise equipment, tools, and yard equipment. Vietnam Veterans of America accepts the following veterans donations:
- Electronics: Radios, Xboxes, PlayStation consoles, Nintendo devices, stereos, laptops, computers, monitors, cameras, DVD players, typewriters, toys, etc. (no televisions)
- Exercise equipment: Weights, sporting gear, ski and snowboarding equipment, baseball bats, helmets, basketballs, soccer equipment, tennis equipment, small weight benches, pads, etc.
- Tools: Saws, drills, nail guns, etc.
- Maintenance equipment: Weed eaters, push lawnmowers (not riders), hand trucks, rakes, shovels, etc.
The Vietnam Veterans car donation program will pick up and tow your vehicle for free. You can receive a tax deduction receipt for your vehicle based on your estimated fair market value. After donating a vehicle with the free home pickup service and receiving your tax receipt, Vietnam Veterans of America will sell your car for the best value possible and use the proceeds to support America's veterans and their families.
You can donate the following types of motor vehicles:
- Cars
- Trucks
- Vans
- Conversion vans
- Golf carts
- Boats
- Campers
- Motorcycles
The organization accepts vehicles that run or no longer operate. If you have an old truck sitting on your property that hasn't started in years, you can schedule a free donation pickup to support the lives of America's veterans.
Most support programs only accept items they actually need. If you'd like to fund local programs, you must understand whether or not your donated items will help. Currently, Vietnam Veterans of America won't accept the following veterans donations:
- Televisions
- Fuel of any kind (people commonly include it with appliances)
- Large furniture
- Other large appliances or items
As a general rule of thumb, any household goods you donate must be small and light enough for one person to carry. For example, mattresses, couches, dressers, and stoves would all be too large. The only exception to this rule is motor vehicles since a separate pickup service includes towing for the donated items.
A Note on Free Donation Pickup Services and Acceptable Donated Items
Donating old, unused objects/appliances in your household is one of the most common ways the average person can help their community. However, in this day and age, it may be hard to find the time to pack your donations, drive all the way to an organization, and come back with time to spare for the night. That’s where donation pick up services come in.
By finding the right donation pickup service, anybody can easily donate their usable goods to people in need, and the organization Vietnam Vets is no exception. Read on to discover more about the Vietnam Vets pickup service and how you can improve the lives of Vietnam veterans today.
Vietnam Veterans of America helps Vietnam veterans by selling donations and using the funds to support the community.
Vietnam Veterans of America Drop-off Locations
Vietnam Veterans of America offers drop-off locations in the following states:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Deleware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Who Benefits From Your Donation?
Your donation will benefit Vietnam veterans, their families, and all U.S. veterans or active military members. Vietnam Veterans of America uses your donations to fund local programs and the following services:
- Veteran services: VVA helps veterans through the complex application process of seeking veterans benefits. Service representatives help veterans seek the support programs and benefits they need to live healthy lives.
- Political actions: VVA programs consistently take various legislative actions that support improving the lives of Vietnam veterans and their families. The main goals include addressing legal toxic exposures, supporting family caregivers and aging veterans, and obtaining the fullest accounting.
- Outreach programs: VVA supports outreach services to veterans in need, including substance abuse, PTSD, health care, incarceration, minority, homeless, and educational support programs.
- Educational services: VVA also publishes various educational content to inform the general public on the need for veteran charity donations, the lives of veterans, and much more.
Vietnam Veterans of America: Donation Process
VVA's donation process is simple:
- Gather your items into clearly labeled bags or boxes.
- Schedule a pickup service using the online scheduling at ClothingDonations.org.
- Place your charity bags or boxes outside for the driver to pick up.
- Request the tax-deductible receipt, if desired.
The VVA driver will accept your donation, regardless of the weather. Be sure to leave all donations outside at the appropriate time.
Is Vietnam Veterans of America Accessible in My Area?
VVA offers pickup services across most of the United States, though you can check your exact zip code using the Schedule a Pickup Tool at ClothingDonations.org. We recommend reviewing our list of states above to learn where VVA accepts donations.
Common Guidelines When Giving Donations
Before you schedule a pickup service for your donation, make sure you know how to send your items properly. While every organization has different preferences, we recommend following the common guidelines below when giving any donation to charity:
- Wash used clothing before you donate it.
- Clean all toys, clothes, and household goods of pet hair or debris.
- Check to ensure that the donation service accepts your household goods and other items.
- Remove any personal information from your items.
- Request a tax deduction receipt on donations over $250.
- Donate household goods and other items in clearly labeled bags or boxes.
- Test all electronic donations before you donate (and notify of any malfunctions).
Why Donate to Vietnam Veterans of America
Picking a charity for your donations can feel overwhelming when so many excellent options exist. With Vietnam Veterans of America, you can:
- Support America's veterans with program funding
- Improve the political environment for future veterans and military members
- Connect with your local donation community
- Join the network of local veteran advocates
- Receive a tax-deductible receipt
- Improve the environment by recycling your clothes and household goods
- Spread awareness of important Vietnam veteran matters
Can You Get a Tax Deduction When Donating to Vietnam Veterans of America?
Yes, you can receive a tax-deductible receipt after donating to Vietnam Veterans of America. VVA can't ensure that you'll receive any deductions, so you'll need to consult with the IRA or your tax advisor after receiving your tax receipt.
Other Alternatives to Vietnam Veterans of America
- Habitat for Humanity
- Goodwill
- Salvation Army
- AMVETS
- The Arc
- GreenDrop
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
- Furniture Bank Association
- Easy Donation Pickup
Schedule a Free Pickup With Easy Donation Pickup
Donations support your entire community and those in need. If you'd like to donate to another veteran-focused organization, consider using our Easy Donation Pickup services.
At Easy Donation Pickup, we provide free donation schedule and pickup services throughout all of Orange County and certain Los Angeles, California, neighborhoods. Your donation will go toward the National Veterans Foundation, helping over 450,000 veterans across the United States. You can donate most small items that one person can carry, though you can find the full list on our acceptable items page.
Schedule a pickup for your donations online today, or contact us to learn more about how your donations help those in need.