Free Donation Pickup: 8 Charities That Collect for Free [2026]

Eight national organizations offer free donation pickup for furniture, clothing, and household goods. Coverage, accepted items, and wait times vary by location — call ahead before staging items outside.

The Salvation Army is the largest donation pickup service in the US. Schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825). They accept furniture, clothing, small appliances, and household goods in sellable condition. Typical wait: 3-14 days. Some locations have suspended in-home pickups since 2020.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore operates 900+ locations that resell donated furniture, appliances, and building materials. Most ReStores offer free pickup for large items. Call your local store to schedule — there is no national scheduling system. Typical wait: 4-12 days.

Pickup Please partners with Vietnam Veterans of America to pick up clothing, household items, and small furniture. Schedule at pickupplease.org. They serve most major metro areas from Los Angeles to New York. Typical wait: 3-7 days.

AMVETS accepts clothing, furniture, and household items to support veteran programs. Schedule at amvets.org or call your local post. Coverage is strongest in the Midwest and East Coast. Typical wait: 3-7 days.

GreenDrop collects clothing and household goods on behalf of partner nonprofits including the American Red Cross. Schedule at gogreendrop.com. Service is concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic and New England states. Typical wait: 2-5 days.

The Furniture Bank Network connects you with local charities that redistribute donated furniture to families in need. Visit furniturebanknetwork.org to find a member near you. Not all members offer pickup.

Goodwill offers limited pickup for large donations (5+ boxes or 3-4 large items) at some locations. Most Goodwill stores are drop-off only. Call your local Goodwill to ask about pickup availability.

Schedule a Donation (formerly DonationTown) connects you with local charities in your zip code. Visit scheduleadonation.com to see which organizations serve your area.

Every donation charity has a list of accepted and rejected items. Knowing what each organization takes before you schedule prevents wasted time and the frustration of a crew showing up and refusing your items.

Furniture accepted by most charities: couches, dining tables, chairs, dressers, desks, bookshelves, bed frames, and nightstands — all in good condition without rips, stains, pet damage, or structural issues.

Furniture almost always rejected: mattresses and box springs (bed bug liability), futon mattresses, particle board furniture with water damage, recliners with broken mechanisms, and any upholstered item with odors.

Appliances: Habitat ReStore is the best option for appliance donations. They accept working refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and stoves. Salvation Army and Goodwill also accept small working appliances. No charity accepts non-working appliances.

Clothing and soft goods: Salvation Army, AMVETS, GreenDrop, and Goodwill all accept clean clothing in wearable condition. Pickup Please focuses heavily on clothing and bagged household goods.

Electronics: Most charities accept working small electronics (laptops, tablets, game consoles). No charity accepts CRT televisions, non-working electronics, or items with cracked screens.

Charities reject donations more often than most people expect. The most common reasons:

• •Item condition: Anything with stains, rips, pet damage, or structural problems is refused. Charities resell your items — they cannot sell damaged goods.

• •Oversupply: ReStores and Salvation Army stores have limited floor space. When they are overstocked on a specific item category (brown sofas, entertainment centers, older dressers), they stop accepting those items even in good condition.

• •Mattresses and box springs: Nearly every charity refuses them outright. Bed bug liability and hygiene regulations make mattresses unsellable for most nonprofits.

• •Service area: Charities limit pickup routes to certain zip codes. If you are outside the service radius (often 15-30 miles from the store), you are ineligible for free pickup.

• •Pickup minimums: Goodwill requires 5+ boxes or 3-4 large items for pickup. Smaller donations must be dropped off.

Reddit users frequently report arriving at a Salvation Army or Habitat ReStore with items they considered "perfectly fine" and having them rejected. The threshold for "good condition" is higher than most people realize — charities need items that will sell within days, not sit on the floor for months.

Each charity has its own scheduling process. Here is how to book with the most popular services:

Salvation Army: Visit satruck.org, enter your zip code, select items, and choose a date. Or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825). Available nationwide, but some locations have suspended pickups.

Habitat ReStore: No national scheduling system. Find your local ReStore at habitat.org/restores and call directly. Describe your items over the phone for pre-approval.

Pickup Please: Visit pickupplease.org, enter your address, and select a pickup date. Leave bagged items on your porch or curb by 7 AM on your scheduled date.

AMVETS: Call your local AMVETS post or visit amvets.org. Scheduling is handled at the local level.

GreenDrop: Visit gogreendrop.com and enter your zip code to check availability. Online scheduling available in service areas (primarily Mid-Atlantic states).

Donations to any 501(c)(3) charity are tax-deductible when you itemize deductions on your federal tax return. The charity provides a donation receipt — you determine the fair market value.

Common donation values (IRS fair market value estimates):

• •Sofa or couch: $35-200
• •Dining table with chairs: $75-400
• •Dresser: $25-150
• •Working refrigerator: $100-300
• •Washer or dryer: $75-250
• •Clothing (per bag): $15-50

For total donation values exceeding $500, file IRS Form 8283. For any single item valued over $5,000, a qualified appraisal is required. Photograph all donated items before the pickup crew arrives and keep your receipt with your tax records.

The Salvation Army publishes a Donation Value Guide at satruck.org to help estimate item values. Habitat ReStore provides itemized receipts at pickup.

When every charity says no — items are damaged, you are outside service areas, or wait times are too long — you still have options:

• •Facebook Marketplace or Buy Nothing groups: List items for free. In metro areas, free furniture is typically claimed within 24-72 hours.
• •Craigslist free section: Post with a photo. Specify "must pick up." Many items are claimed the same day.
• •City bulk pickup: Call 311 to schedule. Free in most cities, but wait times range from 2-8 weeks depending on your municipality.
• •Dropcurb curbside removal: $79 flat rate, same-day pickup, any condition. Move the item to the curb and book at dropcurb.com. One hauler with a pickup truck handles everything.
• •1-800-GOT-JUNK: $150-400+ depending on volume. They come inside your home but charge significantly more.

The fastest path is always: try to donate first (free, tax deduction), list for free second (no cost, 1-3 day wait), then pay for removal if neither works.