Habitat for Humanity operates five local ReStores — in Sandtown, Timonium, Halethorpe, Glen Burnie and Dundalk — where your donations help fund their good works. Habitat and other nonprofits may pick up donations at your home for free. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity

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While isolated at home this past 18 months, some of us opened closets that had not seen the light of day for years. Faced with time at home and a tsunami of clutter, we cleaned our way through the pandemic.

Now, what to do with all the suits no longer suitable, forgotten housewares or books stacked up to the ceiling? Give them away, of course!

Starting in the summer of 2020, nonprofits saw a dramatic increase in donations, according to Jonathan Balog, vice president of marketing and Communications at Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake. Donations are up 25%, an increase that has remained steady at his organization.

What donations are wanted?

What to donate and what to toss? Donate items that are in “dignity condition” so they can be sold.

Goodwill, helping jobseekers since 1902, sells donated items at its stores and puts the revenue toward job training and placement services for local community members in need. Many organizations use the same acceptance criteria as Goodwill.

“Our general rule of thumb is we accept gently used goods,” Balog said. Most organizations also have lists of items they don’t accept. For example, Goodwill doesn’t accept tube TVs, mattresses or appliances.

What happens to donations not sold in stores? In Goodwill’s case, they are sent to their outlet, where they are sold by the pound.

And the final chapter in the life of unwanted items? “They are sent to our recycling center, where they are bailed, packaged and sold as salvage,” Balog said.

What to do before donating

It’s always a good idea to check an organization’s website or call them to determine current hours of operation, where and how to drop items off, or whether free pick-up is available.

Drop your items during store hours and in deposit locations; some overzealous de-hoarders have engaged in overnight dumping, which burdens the organization with the expense of trash removal.

If you have a large pile of items, or just items that are large, free pick-up may be available directly through the organization or a shared transportation service.

The Salvation Army makes things easy by letting you schedule a free pick-up directly on its satruck.org website. In operation since 1865, it has more than 7,000 U.S. locations and many drop-off sites as well.

GreenDrop is a service that picks up items donated to the American Red Cross, Military Order of the Purple Heart, National Federation of the Blind (based in Baltimore) and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. This shared transportation service operates in the Mid-Atlantic region as well as Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

Perhaps you would like to direct your donations to stay local or go to specific causes. For example, if you would like to help military veterans, American Veterans (AMVETS) was founded in 1944 and chartered by an act of Congress to do just that.

With more than 250,000 members nationwide, they assist veterans, their families and survivors with programs funded by proceeds from AMVETS Thrift Stores.

Diapers, gowns, medical equipment

Despite the pandemic purging, some local organizations found bare shelves during a time of need. ShareBaby experienced “greatly” increased demand for diapers and gently used baby essentials while supplies declined, said warehouse coordinator Tonya Bond.

In addition to clothes outgrown, many closets are stuffed with gowns worn once or professional clothes now retired. Hold on to the pictures, but perhaps let go of the dress.

If you are inclined to make another bride beautiful for their wedding day, Fairytale Brides on a Shoestring in Rockville, Maryland, sells wedding gowns at reduced prices to help brides on a budget.

The Priceless Gown Project was founded in Baltimore in 2004 to provide free prom dresses to high school seniors who cannot afford them on their own.

If your work life has changed and your professional clothes are no longer needed, donate them to Dress for Success Greater Baltimore, which helps women look their best for job interviews.

If you have been a caregiver, you may have accumulated a lot of medical equipment you don’t know what to do with: wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, scooters, even hospital beds.

The Maryland Durable Equipment Re-Use Program is a unique statewide initiative that provides free durable medical equipment (DME) to Maryland residents in need. DME donations are always sanitized and can be repaired.

Furniture, instruments, Legos

Have remodeling projects left you with piles of extra tile, doorknobs not chosen and fixtures cast off? Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail prices. Proceeds are directed toward the local community.

Many families have a stash of long-forgotten musical instruments played for a while and then thrown into the corner of the attic. Dig them out and help others discover their musical talent by donating to Hungry for Music, established in 1994. They even give new life to instruments that need repair and refurbishing.

Pianos can be hard to donate, depending on their size and condition. Pianos for Education will pick up your piano for free if it meets their requirements.

On the smaller side, Lego Replay has teamed up with Give Back Box to collect, clean and donate Legos to organizations like Teach for America.

Finally, for those needing more help in pairing their donations with the right charity, Donation Town will connect your items to their perfect match. Donation Town is a national directory of donation pick-up services that is free for all donors and charities.

Contact information for donations in Greater Washington, D.C.

American Veterans (AMVETS)
1-800-526-8387, AMVETSPickup.org
American Veterans is a service organization founded 75 years ago. It operates thrift stores in Alexandria, Virginia; Laurel, Maryland; and Waldorf, Maryland. Drop off at donations
directly at a store or call the number above for a free pickup.

College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving
(540) 931-0935
Not sure where to donate? Hire a moving company that pledges to recycle or donate 70% of your items to charities like Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Goodwill.
Although the pickup isn’t free, the company charges a “fair price,” according to one customer review. Workers can also clean out a storage facility or office.

Donation Town
donationtown.org
Enter your ZIP code on the website, and Donation Town will suggest a nonprofit near you and help arrange a free pickup.

Eco City Junk
(310) 963-4326, ecocityjunk.com
Eco City Junk accepts damaged or ripped items for a fee, donating reusable items to local charities and then disposing of the rest. Free estimates are available over the phone.

Friendship Place
(202) 503-2971, friendshipplace.org.
Friendship Place assists homeless people in D.C. To schedule a donation drop-off, call Chris Cannedy at (202) 503-2971 or ccannedy@friendshipplace.org.

Goodwill of Greater Washington
goodwill.org
Drop off your donations at one of nine local stores in Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale, Bethesda, Bowie, Fairfax, Falls Church, Gaithersburg, Hyattsville or Rockville. Donate your car by calling (202) 804-3088.

GreenDrop
1-888-944-3767, gogreendrop.com, info@gogreendrop.com
Drop off clothing and household items at one of GreenDrop’s mobile donation trailers in Alexandria, Friendship Heights, Laurel or other cities. Or call to schedule a pickup. Your items will go to one of three charities.

Habitat for Humanity
(301) 990-0014, habitatmm.org, restore@habitatmm.org
Donate to one of two D.C.-area Habitat ReStores — 8380 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD or 1029 East Gude Drive Rockville, MD.
Donation hours are Monday through Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. For larger items, contact (301) 926-4104 to schedule a pickup in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County in Maryland.

Hungry for Music
(202) 374-8649, hungryformusic.org
Drop off old instruments for underserved youths at the House of Musical Traditions, 7010 Westmoreland Avenue, Takoma Park, MD, (301) 270-9090.

Interfaith Works
(301) 762-8682, Iworksmc.org
751 Twinbrook Ave, Rockville, MD 20851
Interfaith Works “accepts most lightly used clothing and home goods…Items that are ripped, dirty, broken, inoperative or missing pieces are not reusable.”
Drop off items in their bins on Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Maryland Department of Aging’s Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Re-Use Program
(240) 230-8000, DME.MDOA@maryland.gov, aging.maryland.gov
Donate wheelchairs, walkers and other medical equipment so others can use them. Drop off at several sites throughout Maryland, including the Rockville Senior Center or Easterseals at 1420 Spring St. Silver Spring, MD, 301-920-9765. ​Staff will come out to your car to retrieve your donation. ​

Mary’s Center
1-855-250-3146, info@mcdonationpickup.org
This local nonprofit operates discounted clinics throughout our area. They pick up donations (except for large furniture, books and other items) in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia. 

Lego Replay
givebackbox.com/lego
Just pack up old Legos (full sets not required), print a free shipping label from the website, and mail the package to Lego Replay.

Salvation Army
1-800-728-7825, sa-md.org
Donate clothes and housewares at any of the 12 local thrift stores, or schedule a free pickup directly on satruck.org.

Suited for Change
1023 15th St. NW, Suite 601, Washington, DC
(202) 293-0351, suitedforchange.org
This nonprofit accepts business attire for the women in its job training program. Donation hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the address above. All clothing donations must be dry-cleaned.

Vietnam Veterans of America
1-800-775-VETS (8387), pickupplease.org.
This organization, which helps veterans make claims for VA benefits, often is able to pick up donated items within a week. Schedule a free pickup of clothing or household items on their website, vva.org, or call the number above.

Contact information for donations in Baltimore

Salvation Army
www.sa-md.org
To schedule a free pickup: satruck.org
The Salvation Army of Central Maryland, 814 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 783-2920
Tax-Deductible: yes

Goodwill
goodwill.org
Donation sites include:
Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc., 222 East Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 358-8411
Tax-Deductible: yes

GreenDrop
gogreendrop.com
info@gogreendrop.com
1-888-944-3767
Tax deductible: yes
Note: label which organization out of the groups they serve to direct your donation.

American Veterans (AMVETS)
amvets.org
AMVETS National Headquarters, 647 Forbes Blvd., Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 459-9600
Tax Deductible: yes
Note: schedule items for free pick-up

ShareBaby
sharebaby.org
1792 Union Ave., Baltimore, MD 21211
(667) 212-3455
Note: diaper donations done through partner agencies
Tax deductible: yes
Note: Please call ahead of time so someone will be there when you place donation in designated bins.

Fairytale Brides on a Shoestring
fairytalebrides.org
156 Congressional Lane, Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 468-2000
Tax deductible: yes
Note: gowns within five years old

The Priceless Gown Project
pricelessgownproject.com
(443) 296-2075
Tax deductible: yes
Note: gowns within five years old.
Call first, as donation locations may be on hold due to COVID.

Dress for Success Greater Baltimore
greaterbaltimore.dressforsuccess.org
250 W. Dickman St., Baltimore MD 21230
(410) 528-1799
Tax deductible: yes
Note: Please schedule a curbside drop-off.

The Maryland Department of Aging’s (MDoA) Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Re-Use Program
aging.maryland.gov
MDoA’s Re-Use Center at 11701 Crain Highway, Cheltenham, MD 20623
Baltimore City Collection sites at the Northwest Transfer Station, located at 5030 Reisterstown Road, and the Quarantine Road Landfill, located at 6100 Quarantine Road. Satellite sites are available throughout Maryland.
(240) 230-8000
DME.MDOA@maryland.gov

Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake ReStores
habitatchesapeake.org/restore
Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake Office, 3741 Commerce Drive, Suite 309, Baltimore, MD 21227
(410) 366-1250
Tax deductible: yes
Note: free pick-up for large items.
Donate in person at any local store Tuesday through Saturday. Locations include Halethorpe, Sandtown, Dundalk, Glen Burnie and Timonium.

Hungry for Music
hungryformusic.org
Hungry for Music, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, #384, Washington D.C. 20006
(202) 374-8649
Drop off site in Maryland:  House of Musical Traditions, 7010 Westmoreland Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912
(301) 270-9090
Tax deductible: yes
Note: pianos not accepted

Pianos for Education
pianosforeducation.org
Tax deductible: yes
Note: serves all 50 states

Lego Replay
givebackbox.com/lego
Note: Full sets not required. Put all pieces in a box and print free shipping label from site.

Donation Town
donationtown.org
Matchmaking for items and charities that pick up.