Best Places to Donate Toys, Clothes, And Household Goods in Richmond

While the holidays are a wonderful time of giving and receiving gifts from family and friends, the post-holiday season can leave us reevaluating our “stuff.” Whether we find that we suddenly have way too many toys cluttering the house, or we now have sets of small kitchen appliances that weren’t meant to be used in pairs, many of us are left feeling overwhelmed by the contents of our closets, cupboards, and general living spaces after the influx of the holiday season. As we reclaim our schedules and routines in the coming weeks and start the new year, a home purge can be a great way to, quite literally, usher out the old and welcome in the new.

Of course, the next big question is – what to do with all of those things? Often times, the items that we are ready to offload are still in good shape and should not be thrown away. Fortunately, if you find yourself needing to thin out your family’s clothes, toys, and household items, there are a number of amazing organizations in the Richmond area that allow you to donate gently used items.

Most of us are already familiar with national organizations like Goodwill and The Salvation Army, both of which offer chances to donate a variety of clothes, toys, and household goods that will, in turn, be used to support these organizations’ ongoing charitable work around the country. However, Richmond offers a number of other locally-sourced organizations that provide specific services in your immediate community. We’ve taken a look at some of these groups to identify their services and legitimacy, as well as to offer you the chance to donate items in support of a variety of causes.

In our search, we found five particular organizations that stood out to us based on their mission, services, and donation options. To make our list, each of these groups had to offer the following:

1. Local services
2. The chance to donate a variety of goods
3. Tax deductions for donations

If you’re ready to get rid of gently used items to make room for new things, or just want to support an amazing organization in your community, then the following five places will not only meet your needs but allow you to give back in ways that are meaningful to you and your family.

If you’re looking for even more ways to give, don’t miss our complete Resource Guide to Donations in Richmond – and in the meantime, let us know about any local organizations that you know of that provide valuable community services through donations.

ChildSavers

Founded in 1924, ChildSavers first began as a means of protecting Richmond area children during a major flu epidemic. However, since its inceptions, ChildSavers has grown to focus on the mental health and developmental needs of children. Today, it specifically focuses on those who have experienced trauma. As a community-supported nonprofit organization, ChildSavers relies on donations of money and goods to help support the children they serve. If you have toys, books, or learning tools that your children have outgrown – or you simply need to reduce the number of these items in your home – ChildSavers can and will put these items to use as a means of therapy for children seeking mental health and trauma services.

Donations Accepted: Gently used toys, books, costumes, and art supplies. For a complete list of their most requested items, click here.

How to Donate: Donations can be made at the ChildSavers office (200 North 22nd Street, Richmond, VA 23223) during their hours of operation, Monday through Friday, 8am – 5:30pm. Call (804) 644-9590 to request detailed donation information or email [email protected]. Donations are tax deductible.

Contact:
ChildSavers
200 North 22nd Street
Richmond, VA 23223
(804) 644-9590
[email protected]

Boaz and Ruth: Harvest Thrift Store

For more than 15 years, Boaz and Ruth have helped members of the Highland Park neighborhood rebuild lives and communities through relationships, training, transitional jobs, and economic development. By partnering with local governmental and charitable organizations, they have been able to provide support for their community members, many of whom are underserved and/or transitioning from jail or prison. Their programs not only provide valuable re-entry and rehabilitation programs but through their thrift store, Harvest Thrift, they are able to offer quality clothing and household items at significantly reduced costs. Your donations to Harvest Thrift offer a chance for those in need to rebuild their lives with dignity and confidence.

Donations Accepted:
New and gently used clothing for men, women, and children. Home goods, lightly used furniture, housewares, home décor, small appliances, and more. Click here to see a complete list of requested items.

How to Donate:  Donations are accepted at Harvest Thrift (3030 Meadowbridge Road), Monday through Friday, 9am – 4pm. For inquiries or to arrange donation pick-up at your home call Cynthia Brown at (804) 329-4900 or email [email protected]. All donations are tax deductible, so be sure to request a tax receipt at the time of donation.

Contact:
Boaz and Ruth
3030 Meadowbridge Road
Richmond, VA 23222
(804) 329-4900
[email protected]

The Clothes Rack (Junior League of Richmond)

The Junior League of Richmond (JLR) is a dedicated gathering of women who not only engage with one another but who actively work to give back to the Richmond community at large. For more than 70 years, The Clothes Rack has been a vital part of the JLR’s mission, offering affordably priced clothing and household goods. Proceeds from their two stores (in Carytown and on the Southside) provide essential funding for other outreach and community programs. Your donations go directly to supporting the JLR’s mission and allow you to be part of enhancing the lives of countless people throughout the city.

Donations Accepted:  Clothes, jewelry, handbags, household goods, home décor, light furniture, and more. Be sure to check out their complete donation guide for a full list of items that are accepted and those that are not.

How to Donate:  Drop off donations at either of The Clothes Rack locations (2618 W. Cary Street or 6780 Forest Hill Avenue) between 10am – 6pm, Monday through Saturday. Donations can be dropped off at the back door of either facility during business hours. Tax receipts are provided for donated goods, so be sure to ask for one at the time of donation.

Contact:
The Clothes Rack Locations
2618 W. Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 358-4693

6780 Forest Hill Avenue
Richmond, VA 23225
(804) 323-6270

Junior League of Richmond 205 W. Franklin St.
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 643-4886

Boot to Suits

Founded in 2014, Boots to Suits is a unique clothing voucher program that is designed specifically for military veterans (and eligible family members). This program provides male and female veterans with two vouchers for two complimentary career outfits, enabling them to look and feel their best for job interviews and non-military work environments. While Boots to Suits has its own mission and purpose, it is administered in partnership with The Clothes Rack, making it easy for you and your partner or spouse to clean out your closets at the same time, donate at a single location, and serve two incredible causes.

Donations Accepted:  Business and business casual attire for men and women, including dress pants and khakis; button-up shirts, polo shirts and blouses; dresses and skirts; sweaters; blazers; ties and belts; and shoes for both men and women.

How to Donate:  The Boots to Suits program is located at The Clothes Rack, run by the Junior League of Richmond. To donate Boots to Suits items, drop off your donation at The Clothes Rack at Stratford Hills (6780 Forest Hill Avenue), Monday – Saturday, between 10am and 5:45pm. All donations are tax deductible. Request a tax receipt at the time of donation.

Contact:
Boots to Suits
For program information, tax information or information about holding a donation drive, contact Sue Farrell at (804) 405- 0044 or email [email protected].

Program and Donation Drop-Off Location
The Clothes Rack at Stratford Hills
6780 Forest Hill Avenue
Richmond, VA 23225
(804) 323-6270

Housing Families First

Housing Families First provides tools, resources, and programs for families in the Richmond area who are experiencing homelessness. Through their programs, they help these families achieve housing stability and ensure that each family has access to the supportive services necessary for long-term success. To donate to Housing Families First, think about the items that a family might need to set up a home. No matter how basic, your donation will help restore dignity and pride to men, women, and children, many of whom only have a small bag of possessions when they enter the program.

Donations Accepted:  Clothing, sofas, chairs, coffee and end tables, beds, gently used mattresses, chests of drawers, kitchen tables and chairs, kitchen appliances, washers/dryers, and other furniture items, home décor, kitchenware, or anything else that would go into helping a family set up a new home. Click here to see a complete list of requested items.

How to Donate:  Contact Terri Iguina, Operations and Volunteer Manager, at [email protected] or 804-236-5800, ext. 24. Housing Families First is a 501(c)3 organization and offers tax deductions for all eligible donations.

Contact:
Housing Families First 
3900 Nine Mile Road
Henrico, VA 23223
(804) 236-5800
[email protected]