If you're anything like me, you go through your closets and attic at least once a year and find items to donate to a friend's garage sale or yard sale, or perhaps enough to hold your own garage sale. But let's face it, the preparation that goes into one of these sales can be quite overwhelming and the money you make might not be worth the effort.
So, if you're looking for local charities in the Charlotte area to donate your household goods, here is a list to save you from too much searching.
Most are familiar with the Goodwill organization and in Charlotte, Goodwill is probably the most accessible for easy donation of household items. Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont began providing services to people in this region in 1965. The Southern Piedmont territory includes 13 counties in North Carolina and five counties in South Carolina. Locally, Goodwill has a retail store or provides services in seven of these 18 counties: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Union, Lincoln, Cleveland, York and Lancaster. With twelve retail stores in the immediate Charlotte area, Goodwill also provides seven staffed drop-off locations and provides a pick-up service to homes donating at least six large furniture items by calling 704-393-6880.
The Salvation Army operates [link url=http://www.salvationarmycharlotte.org/ThriftStores.html]five retail thrift stores[/link] in the Charlotte area that all accept donations during specified times. The Salvation Army also provides a shelter called Center of Hope and donations are always being accepted for diapers, feminine products, toiletries (soap, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes), towels and washcloths and pillows. For more about donating to the homeless shelter, please contact the Center of Hope at 704-348-2560.
The National Kidney Foundation will pick up any household and clothing items for resale at Carolina Value Village where 100 percent of the proceeds benefit the National Kidney Foundation of North Carolina by funding important programs. To schedule a pickup of items, please call 704-393-5780.
Charlotte's Crisis Assistance Ministry operates a Free Store that provides donated clothing and household items at no charge to families in need, such as clothing for men, women and children, household items such as blankets, kitchenware and personal care products. Items also needed are furniture and appliances that are in good working condition such as stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, mattresses, kitchen tables, sofas and chairs. If you have any questions about donating items to the Crisis Assistance Ministry, please call 704-371-3001.
Dress for Success is an organization that allows women to interview for jobs and enter the workforce dressed in appropriate attire. Right now they are accepting business attire (suits and blouses) in sizes 0-4 and sizes 24 and larger suits and blouses, maternity business attire, accessories and scarves, shoes, especially in larger sizes, knee-high's and pantyhose of all sizes in unopened packages and purses in conservative colors. For any questions about donating to Dress for Success, please call 704-525-7706.
Charlotte's Catholic Social Services provides the community with many services including refugee resettlement, immigration services, pregnancy support and more. In particular the refugee resettlement department accepts donations in the form of household items and furniture. If you'd like to learn more about this service and donate your items, please call 704-370-3262.
There are two Habitat for Humanity ReStores in Charlotte that both accept donations of new and gently used items from individuals and businesses in the community, and sell those items to the public at a reduced cost, usually 50-70 percent of the original retail value with all proceeds going toward building Habitat homes with the local Habitat affiliate. Both stores accept items and materials useful in home building such as furniture, appliances, building materials, flooring, doors, cabinets, hardware, plumbing supplies and windows. For more information on donating to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore please call 704-392-4495.
