After an overwhelming response to an innocent Instagram story, you all flooded my DMs with re: where to donate clothing, housewares, etc.
So you want to donate items in Baltimore?? After all your support on Instagram, I felt obligated to share all these responses with you because 1) many of you are seemingly looking to turn over your closet 2) and give to local, Baltimore organizations that can directly benefit from donated pieces. I’ve compiled your suggestions with the results with a few Google searches into the list below!
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WOMEN’S
Dress for Success
Contact Information: (410) 528-1799 (Greater Baltimore Chapter)
Dress for Success is an organization helping women on their search for new employment opportunities. In the spirit of supporting women make a lasting impression for a job that may change their life, Dress for Success asks that your donated clothes be “interview ready” by simply washing and ensuring there are no wrinkles. The organization also accepts work-appropriate shoes, scarves, jewelry, and handbags!
House of Ruth
Details: Donating Goods and Services
Contact Information: 410-889-0840
House of Ruth accepts donations that support their mission of helping victims of intimate partner violence. Their Donation Guildelines spell out acceptable items for donation, as well as when and where donations are accepted. Check out their Wish List for those preferred donation items (including home goods!) House of Ruth also accepts unlocked, cleared cell phones; we take the ease of communication for granted so you can also consider donating your old phones!
Disclaimer: House of Ruth seemingly accepts a lot of NEW items for donation, as outlined by their Wish List. If you have used items that you’re looking to donate, please be responsible and send them elsewhere (like some of the organizations below) that take gently-used as opposed to new.
Priceless Gown Project
Contact Information: https://www.pricelessgownproject.com/contact, @pricelessgownproject
Priceless Gown Project strives to make high school Junior and Senior women feel like queens on one of the most exciting days of the year - Prom! We can all agree that prom dresses can be exceptionally expensive and often, that money can be used for other more immediate needs. That’s why Priceless Gown Project gives FREE prom gowns to girls headed to prom. If you have old event wear, please consider donating it to this local non-profit aiming to empower young women in our community!
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CO-ED & HOMEGOODS
Paul’s Place
Contact Information: 410-625-0775
Paul's Place accepts both men's and women's clothes (gently used and IN SEASON), as well as home goods and other household necessities such as towels, blankets, dishes, pots, pans. They also accept gently used bags such as duffels and backpacks. In addition, the organization encourages donations of:
New Men's, Women's, and Children's socks, underwear (all sizes)
Disposable Double-edged Razors
Reading Glasses
Hotel Size Toiletries (especially deodorant)
Diapers (Sizes 1-6)
Laundry Detergent
Success in Style
Details: https://successinstyle.org/donate/#donation-cart and https://successinstyle.org/2020/news/reopening/
Contact Information: https://successinstyle.org/contact/
We accept donations from individuals, groups, businesses and brides. All donations find a new home in our client studios, in our retail venues or with one of our partners — everything gets used! All revenue from sales in our volunteer-staffed retail shops support the mission of Success In Style.
Accepted Items:
Women's & Men's - Casual & Dressy Clothing, Business Suits, Shoes, Dress Shirts, Handbags, Laptop Bags, Hats, Watches, Jewelry, Accessories
Bridal - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Veils, Shoes, Evening Wear
New, Unused Items - White T-Shirts, Undergarments, Socks, Cosmetics
Donation Tip: Many of our volunteers are retired people (and not weightlifters!) who struggle to lift heavy black trash bags full of donation items. We love receiving your donations in shopping bags, reusable bags, or small trash bags. Please donate with empathy!
CHANA
Details: http://chanabaltimore.org/about/
Contact Information: info@chanabaltimore.org
CHANA strives to help women in the Jewish community affected by any form of abuse - emotional, physical, mental, financial - through crisis intervention, outreach, and education to women in need. They accept donations at Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC and the Weinberg Park Heights JCC. They must be in tied, plastic bags.
Accepted Items: clothing, shoes/sneakers, belts, purses, blankets/linens and stuffed animals. Not Accepted: household items, breakables, toys, pillows or toys.
Students Helping Honduras
Details: http://shhkids.org/
Contact Information: info@shhkids.org, @shhtowson (local chapter)
Students Helping Honduras has local chapters all over the country aimed to empower youth and help end the poverty cycle in Honduras. The Towson chapter accepts donations for their pop-up thrift shops; anything they don't sell goes with them to Honduras to help community members in need!
Donations and pick-ups can be coordinated through towsonshh@gmail.com or their FB Page, SHH @ TU!
Project PLASE
Contact Information: 410-837-1400, ext. 210
Project PLASE helps to deliver housing and services for Baltimore's homeless community members. Donations of clothing, purses, furniture, and household items go directly to clients, supporting the organization's mission to equip clients' new homes and lives. Furniture donations go directly to client's homes. Project PLASE also collaborates with Dress for Success to help client's prepare for job interviews!
Donations are accepted: Mon-Fri between 8:15 am and 3:45 pm at the reception desk at 1814 Maryland Avenue
Wise Penny
Details: https://www.jlbalt.org/donations/
Contact Information: (410) 435-3244, @jlofbaltimore
Wise Penny is a shop run by the Junior League of Baltimore, a woman-run educational and charitable organization committed to "promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women" in our community. Please check HERE for acceptable and non-acceptable donation items. All proceeds are used to fund the JLB's community projects.
Donations are accepted during all regular business hours!
Soccer Without Borders
Contact Information: baltimore@soccerwithoutborders.org (Baltimore chapter), @soccerwoborders
Soccer Without Borders works to inspire our youth through soccer, emphasizing growth, inclusion, and personal success. The organization works with refugees from 60+ countries, and they accept in-kind donations for kids! To coordinate a donation, contact stephanie@soccerywithoutborders.org!
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MEN’S
Sharp Dressed Man
Contact Information: info@sharpdressedman.org, Facebook Page
Sharp Dressed Man was founded in Baltimore but runs donation centers out of both Baltimore and Los Angeles. The organization aims to help men change their lives through supporting their efforts to re-enter the workforce. All donated clothing must be in good condition and ready-to-wear. Before donating - ask yourself, "Would this item help a man to make the best first impression at his interview?" For more information and success stories, visit Sharp Dressed Man's Facebook Page.
Baltimore Drop-Offs are: FRI & SAT 12-5PM at 1400 Aliceanna St, Baltimore MD 21231
Okay, so I hope you found this where-to-donate breakdown helpful! Personally, I've started to divide up my donations by "type" - business attire, casual attire, shoes, home goods, etc. To maximize the chances of donated items being utilized by the community, I consulted this list to divide the goods to best match their accepted donations. Contact, donate, and voila! Your space is less cluttered and the Baltimore community benefits.
In addition, your donations are tax deductible. Most of the websites above give details on obtaining a tax receipt for your donation. Although not a main concern, it may help you get some $ back come tax time!
If you know of other non-profits in Baltimore accepting donations, please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or via my Contact Page! I'd be happy to update this post so it serves as a resource for our community.
Until next time, keep donating!