When donating clothing, computers, furniture, household goods or vehicles, please DO…
1. …try to make your donation as early in the day as possible when lines will be shorter. Most donation sites are open by 9AM Donation sites and hours of operation can be found on the DC Goodwill website http://www.dcgoodwill.org/. If you're not in the DC area, your local Goodwill organization can be found at http://www.goodwill.org/.
2. …try to make your donation Monday through Thursday when the lines will be shorter. While New Year's Eve falls on a Friday this year, it is a holiday for many, so lines may be longer than usual. New Year's Eve is always the busiest donation day of the year.
3. …try to make your donations in one trip as the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is the busiest week of the year for donated goods.
4. …remember to get a donation receipt, and make an accurate recording of your donation, as well as a copy of your receipt. You will need this if you wish to claim a tax deduction.
5. …make sure the donation receipt is signed and dated before leaving the donation site. It will save you an unnecessary trip back to the donation site.
6. …remember to check for the closest Goodwill donation site before leaving your home. A complete list of attended donation centers and donation bins and stores can be found on Goodwill of Greater Washington’s free mobile app for the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, or by visiting http://www.dcgoodwill.org/.
7. …sort your donated items as best you can (tie shoelaces together so shoes don’t get separated, put suit jacket and matching pants on same hanger, please fold clothing if possible, etc.). Separated or lost items cannot be resold.
8. …remember to clean out your donated computer of all files, documents, discs and CDs before donating it. Cleaning software can be found at www.dcgoodwill.org. All computers and related equipment donated to DC Goodwill are now recycled: http://www.reconnectpartnership.com/.
9. …call Goodwill’s vehicle donation line at 202-715-2636 or visit http://www.gwcars.org/ to schedule a home pickup of your donated automobile.
10. ...call DC Goodwill's home pickup line if you wish to make a very large donation of household goods. Goodwill now offers both a free home pickup service and a priority home pickup service for a small fee. Visit the DC Goodwill website to schedule a pickup.
Please DON’T…
1. …donate large appliances such as dishwashers, freezers, hot water heaters, large refrigerators, stoves, trash compactors, washers or dryers to DC Goodwill. Goodwill doesn’t have the space to store or warehouse such large items. However, other worthwhile organizations such as Habitat for Humanity may accept them.
2. …donate broken, incomplete, severely damaged or other unusable items including furniture, toys, mattresses, box springs; mildewed or soiled clothing; firearms, ammunition, automobile parts, windows, doors or aluminum siding. A good rule of thumb is “if you wouldn’t give it to a friend or family member, perhaps you shouldn’t give it to a charity.”
3. …drop off items after donation sites have closed for the day unless a blue metal donation bin is provided (this is to protect your donation from the elements and from theft).
4. …donate recalled toys. Please consider the safety of all children. You can visit http://cpsc.gov/ if you aren't sure if a toy has been recalled.
5. …ask for a 2010 donation receipt if making a donation after December 31, 2010.
6. …ask someone to pick up a donation receipt for you if you forgot to pick one up when you made your donation.
7. …forget to estimate the value of your donation for your taxes (an IRS value estimator can be found at http://www.dcgoodwill.org/).
8. …forget to secure supporting documentation when claiming a tax deduction, such as an IRS form 8283 and/or an independent appraisal on all large donations.
9. …forget that Goodwill is very grateful for your donation and our attendants are working as hard as possible to expedite the donation process. This is a very busy time of year for donated goods, so your patience is appreciated.
10. ....forget to confirm that the organization to whom you are donating your houseold goods or vehicles is a 501C3 charitable agency. There are numerous thrift retail businesses and donation bins that claim to be affiliated with charitable agencies, but are actually privately owned, for profit companies. If you donate to one of these organizations you cannot claim a tax deduction for your donation.
To everyone who donates used goods, cash or services to Goodwill or any other worthwhile charitable organization…thank you and Happy New Year!
