Where to Donate Tools You No Longer Need

Whether gardening or building a shed, tools are vital for completing the project. Unfortunately, their high cost leaves many people without the tools they need.

By knowing where to donate tools, you can help less fortunate members of your community and beyond get tools and equipment to facilitate their projects and save money.

Your tools require regular cleaning and maintenance to keep them in good condition. If it’s time to replace your gently used tools, consider donating instead of selling them.

Understanding where to donate tools will help you find a suitable local or national organization to support.

Why Donate Your Old Tools?

Does your collection feature duplicate, outdated, or worn-out tools? You’ll benefit from clearing out your shed or workshop each year to keep track of tools you still use.

Whether they’re still in good condition, have slight wear, or are primarily inoperable, you can still donate your unwanted gadgets.

Help disenfranchised people get quality tools for less by donating your old ones. Giving your old tools to a donation center provides resources for those who need them and gives people a chance to develop building or gardening skills. You’ll also keep your equipment out of landfills.

Many donation programs accept gardening tools such as:

• Spades
• Rakes
• Lawnmowers
• Gloves
• Shovels
• Soil tillers
• Hoes

Organizations also accept donations of power tools, including drills, chainsaws, electric saws, and other power equipment. Hand tools, including screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches, and pliers, are also welcome donations.

What Happens to Donated Tools?

Depending on where you donate, tools may go directly to individuals or towards funding. Some donation programs partner with corporate businesses to take on overstock tools.

Other organizations sell donated tools and use the proceeds to help less fortunate families and individuals.

Where to Donate Tools

Finding where to donate tools can be challenging, depending on your location. Donation programs, charities, and non-profit organizations are the most common places to donate unwanted items.

Alternatively, check with local schools and organizations to see if they accept tool donations.

• Schools: Low budgets mean many schools can’t get all the equipment or resources they need. Schools may accept tools for student gardens, woodworking classes, and more. Consider donating to a school to help your area’s children.
• Disenfranchised community members: Less fortunate members of your community may appreciate tools still in good condition. Ask friends and family if they know of anyone who needs tools, ask on social media, or contact your local shelters.
• Donation programs: Donation pickup and drop-off programs accept tools to benefit select charities. They make it especially easy to donate your used tools and equipment.
• Non-profit organizations: Some non-profits accept tools, refurbish them, and resell them to fund charities or labor for disenfranchised families. Donating to a non-profit organization also gives you a tax deduction.
• Charities: Charities accept tool donations to build new establishments, increase funding, help disenfranchised individuals, and more. Donate directly to charities that accept your old tools to support worthwhile causes without a go-between.

Donation Programs and Resources

Charities and organizations run donation programs to make donating to their cause straightforward. If you’re wondering where to donate tools, a donation program is one of the most accessible options.

Easy Donation Pickup and Earth911 offer resources for stress-free donations, no matter the size.

Easy Donation Pickup

The National Veterans Foundation offers a donation pickup that contributes to funding for veterans and their families: Easy Donation Pickup. For 34 years, they’ve helped veterans get tools, equipment, clothing, and household items. They accept tools in good condition that don’t need repairs.

Donating with Easy Donation Pickup is simple:

• Schedule the perfect pickup time online or by phone.
• Pack the items you wish to donate in manageable bags or boxes and mark them with “NVF” for the National Veterans Foundation.
• Leave your donations in an area where the pickup driver will see them.
• The driver picks up the donation at the scheduled time, and you receive a tax deduction receipt.

You don’t even have to be home for the pickup.

Earth911

Wondering where to donate tools for recycling purposes? Earth911 is a resource that helps you find local recycling centers that accept the items you wish to donate. They offer an extensive database of recycling facilities.

Those looking to donate power or hand tools can quickly find the nearest recycling center. To find yours, enter your zip code into Earth911’s recycling center database, and in seconds you’ll see a list of the closest facilities or donation organizations. Each listing shows the accepted items.

Enter “tools” in the search box, and you’ll see all local organizations that accept or recycle tools. The Earth911 tool offers essential information on each donation site or recycling center. Find out whether they offer pickup or drop-off services, take broken power tools, or prefer residential vs. commercial equipment.

Non-Profit Organizations and Charities

Non-profit organizations represent some of the most popular ways to donate tools. Where to donate tools depends on the cause you choose to support.

While thousands of charities and non-profits accept tools as donations, there are clear favorites, including Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity builds homes for disenfranchised families and individuals around the world. They have several home improvement stores that accept gently used tools and more.

You can help your local community and beyond by donating to a Habitat ReStore.

Visit the Habitat for Humanity website and enter your zip code to find a Habitat ReStore near you. Once you notify them that you have tools to donate, you’ll pack your unwanted items and take them to the ReStore.

Vietnam Veterans of America

Vietnam Veterans of America helps veterans with PTSD and homelessness get proper healthcare and assistance. With their Pickup Please donation program, your tool donations go into auctions where private businesses buy them.

All proceeds go to Vietnam Veterans of America’s national and state programs.

Unlike other donation programs, Vietnam Veterans of America doesn’t require you to schedule pickups far in advance. They can typically pick up your tool donations within 24 hours.

Mark your bags and boxes with “VVA donation” and notify their driver of the best pickup day.

The Pickup Please program arrives on your selected day, no matter the weather. They pick up your boxes and leave a tax receipt whether or not you are home.

Workaid

In the UK, knowing where to donate tools can be incredibly challenging. Workaid is a UK charity that helps young people in Africa and the United Kingdom develop essential skills to secure their futures.

This program primarily accepts tools and equipment.

Workaid refurbishes and sends the best-quality donations to disenfranchised people in Africa. Less suitable tools go to the Workaid Shop, where all sales go towards shipping costs.

Proper tools and equipment include:

• Horticultural tools, such as electric garden tools, watering cans, wheelbarrows, and trowels
• Sewing and knitting tools and machinery, including knitting needles, antique sewing machines, and fabric
• Tools for carpentry, plumbing, welding, bricklaying, and drilling
• Upholstering, cobbling, and leatherworking tools

If you’re looking to make sizeable donations, Workaid is ideal. The donation program also accepts miscellaneous personal protective equipment, including gloves, respirators, and more, to help donation recipients stay safe and healthy while using tools.

Salvation Army

Donate unwanted tools or lawn equipment to the Salvation Army. Founded in England in the 1800s, the Salvation Army has homeless shelters, thrift stores, and rehabilitation centers worldwide.

Depending on your distance to a Salvation Army location, you may have a drop-off location near you, or a driver can pick up your items for free.

The Salvation Army sells your donated tools at their thrift stores. The money funds their adult rehabilitation facilities to help people with addictions recover successfully.

Valuate your donations accurately and get tax deduction benefits.

Whether you want to part with a drill, shovel, or protective clothing, the Salvation Army accepts most tools. Contact your local Salvation Army thrift store to find out what tools they take.

Then, schedule a free pickup or deliver them yourself.

Goodwill Industries

Goodwill Industries International has helped countless individuals obtain the necessary skills to find employment and be successful workers.

They have over 4,000 Goodwill thrift stores in the US selling donated clothing, tools, toys, and more. Proceeds go towards their various programs.

You can donate your hand and power tools to Goodwill. They’ll also accept small and mid-size landscaping equipment in good working condition.

Takeaway

No matter where you choose to donate your tools, you’ll support a worthy cause. If you’re interested in donating your unwanted tools in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, consider Easy Donation Pickup for a quick and easy process. Pack your tools, schedule your donation pickup online, and leave the rest to our pickup drivers.

If you’re ready to find where to donate tools, Easy Donation Pickup is here to help. Our team answers all your questions regarding donations to the National Veterans Foundation. Call us with questions and concerns or schedule your donation pickup at 855-628-8387, or fill out our online contact form.