Charities to donate household items & furniture that will actually show up & take the stuff? (appliances, house) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

novatert · 09-09-2012, 04:35 PM

We have a variety of furniture and household items to give away to charity. We tried to donate furniture to Habitat for Humanity. They didn't show up. I called, they said they would call back, and they didn't.

I tried to donate household items to Purple Heart. I left a not on the front door saying "Purple Heart, please take everything on porch." They showed up but took nothing. The left a tag that said "didn't label". They didn't even bother to call and ask what they could take, or to ask me to show up and show them. (I was only 5 minutes away from the house.) Am I supposed to write a label for every single thing? It was during the storm yesterday, so any labels would have been blown off or soaked into illegibility.

Are there any charities that will take furniture and household items, that will pick them up at the house, and will do so reliably and with little hassle? It shouldn't be this hard to give stuff away for free.

chocolatelover · 09-09-2012, 04:47 PM

Depending on what zip code you're in, you may be able to use United Community Ministries' Back Porch. I've used them multiple times to pick up furniture. The instructions for pick up and the zip codes they pick up at are on this website: United Community Ministries

Muffy62 · 09-09-2012, 05:13 PM

Purple Heart has a long list of stuff they will not take. They have it posted on their website. They have been very reliable for me. I put everything out and tape a sign (PH donations) on them so they know it is stuff for them. They will look through and take only the stuff they are suppose to but usually I donate clothes, small kitchen appliances, dishes and books.

Carlingtonian · 09-09-2012, 05:43 PM

Wow. I'm glad I didn't try to donate my old tiles! (After posting an ad on CL, I had three takers in the space of five minutes.)

If I were you, I'd just put it on the curb with a "free" sign and post a "curb alert" on CL.

CAVA1990 · 09-09-2012, 05:51 PM

Purple Heart doesn't take furniture or large appliances. My guess is they sell the clothing to companies that send the clothes to third world countries destroying their local textile trades. Often by donating your clothing you're putting a person in an underdeveloped country out of work, similar to what results from our food aid programs. Burn your old clothes and give cash to charity if you really want to help someone.

VAFan · 09-09-2012, 07:03 PM

I've donated four seperate times to Habitat for Humanity and all four times they were here at exactly what time and day they said they would be. No problem whatsoever.

gingerbreadgirl · 09-09-2012, 10:28 PM

We had some furniture, clothes, odds and ends from my father-in-laws home after he passed away. When the lady called and said Purple Heart would be in the neighborhood, I specifically asked her if they would take the clothes and furniture we had (listing all the furniture piece by piece). I was told that they would take anything that one man would be capable of carrying. He wouldn't have a helper with him. So out on the front porch it went, with a PH donation sign on it. THey actually showed up when expected but would't take any of the furniture, even the small pieces.The furniture was in good condition and less than a year old.

We finally broke everything down and took it to Goodwill ourselves. The collection point at Goodwill was hassle free and quick. I was pleasantly surprised. None of the charities we called could come within 6 weeks and/or weren't interested. I really didn't expect donating things would be so difficult

cdmurphy · 09-10-2012, 04:37 AM

We used to donate clothes to Purple Heart with no problems. However, the last two months we've gotten the yellow postcard, I have put out a bag, clearly labeled and visible from the street, and they've ignored it both times. I thought maybe the first time I'd put the bag out too late, so the next time I put it out the night before. I saw my neighbor had a few bags out as well, also clearly labeled, when I left the house the next morning. When I returned a few hours later, her stuff was gone and mine was still sitting there. I gave up and took it to Goodwill in Sterling.

CAVA1990 · 09-10-2012, 05:32 AM

You can also drop off at the Salvation Army on Little River Turnpike.

Pammyd · 09-10-2012, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novatert

We have a variety of furniture and household items to give away to charity. We tried to donate furniture to Habitat for Humanity. They didn't show up. I called, they said they would call back, and they didn't.

I tried to donate household items to Purple Heart. I left a not on the front door saying "Purple Heart, please take everything on porch." They showed up but took nothing. The left a tag that said "didn't label". They didn't even bother to call and ask what they could take, or to ask me to show up and show them. (I was only 5 minutes away from the house.) Am I supposed to write a label for every single thing? It was during the storm yesterday, so any labels would have been blown off or soaked into illegibility.
Are there any charities that will take furniture and household items, that will pick them up at the house, and will do so reliably and with little hassle? It shouldn't be this hard to give stuff away for free.

I am finding that when a person puts stuff out at the curb with a huge FREE sign on it, the stuff will usually disappear. When I retired, I put a huge box of high heeled shoes out there with a FREE sign on them..POOF...they went.

Here in CT, we also have several Goodwill stores and a newer store called "Savers" which is operated for the benefit of Big Brothers/Sisters. If you have a Savers, they will come get your stuff.

My advice...do the curb thing, it works!