Ready to get organized and rid your home of the clutter? Whether you’re cleaning out your closet or bookshelf or updating your furniture, don’t just toss those items — donate them and make a difference to one of the many local organizations in need. Here’s our guide to where to donate throughout the North Shore and Chicago.
First published July 2016; updated May 2024
Toys
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Consider giving toys to patients at Lurie Children’s. They accept in-person donations of new, unopened toys, as long as it fits their other guidelines, which can be found on their donation website. Additionally, Lurie also accepts donations via their Amazon Wish Lists.
225 E. Chicago Ave.
Beacon Place
Beacon Place is a community center in southeast Waukegan with programs for kids and adults that allow them to see a path toward their own brighter tomorrow by building the life skills they need, to achieve the dreams that they want. While they accept financial donations, they also accept in-kind donations such as food, health supplies, toiletries and more.
603 S. McAlister Ave., Waukegan
Fill a Heart 4 Kids
Fill a Heart 4 Kids’ mission is to help vulnerable homeless youth and foster children living in institutions to feel loved and remembered through various programs and at-home service projects such as their 4 Kids Care Packages and 4 Kids Survival BacPacs.
400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest
Food
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities assists people in need of food, rental assistance, counseling and more. The organization accepts donations of non-perishable food and toiletries — you can drop off food at their downtown location.
721 N. LaSalle St.
Hillside Food Pantry
You may donate shelf-stable, canned and/or packaged food items to this Evanston food pantry, so long as they are non-perishable, unopened, and not expired. Check out their website to see their hours of operation and more to guarantee your donation is accepted.
2727 Crawford Ave., Evanston
Midwest Veterans Closet
It’s Veteran’s Day everyday at Midwest Veterans Closet, a not-for-profit charity located in North Chicago that betters the lives of veterans by providing free clothing, household items, furniture, food, housing as available and employment assistance. Visit their Military Need Wish List for a run down of all the items they accept and need.
2323 Green Bay Road, North Chicago
Northern Illinois Food Bank
Northern Illinois Food Bank is the source of nutritious food, innovative feeding programs and hope for thousands of people each day. As a nonprofit organization with a goal of solving hunger in their 13-county service area, they rely on community partners such as local food pantries and feeding programs, food manufacturers and retailers, companies, foundations and individuals to join them so no one is hungry in northern Illinois. Visit their website for tips and tools for hosting a food drive in your area.
273 Dearborn Court, Geneva
Clothing & Accessories
Evanston School Children’s Clothing Association
Cleaning out the kids’ closets? ESCCA provides school clothing and shoes to Evanston/Skokie District 65 K-8th grade school children. They accept new or gently used, clean children’s clothing and coats. Donations are accepted all year, and additionally, donors can directly fulfill ESCCA’s Amazon Wish List.
1500 McDaniel Ave., Evanston
New to You Resale Shop of Glenview Community Church
Donate clothes and household merchandise (furniture is not accepted) during The Resale Shop’s open hours: Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check out The Resale Shop online for more details about hours of operation. 1000 Elm St., Glenview
North Shore Exchange
Best of 2017 winner North Shore Exchange, which is made possible by the Woman’s Library Club of Glencoe, supports charities that provide human services and education to low-income families in the Midwest. Appointments are required for donations. Visit their website to view an accepted list of designers.
Various locations
WINGS
WINGS supports those impacted by domestic violence by providing housing, counseling and goods such as hygiene products, health products, food and more. They accept clothing, accessories and household items at their three resale shops and all of the proceeds go toward supporting their clients. For more information on how to donate, visit their website.
Various locations
Electronics
Cell Phones for Soldiers
Donate your used cell phone or tablet to Cell Phones for Soldiers, a nonprofit supported by AT&T that provides troops and veterans with communication services. Gently used items from all wireless carriers and brands are accepted. Device donation and shipping costs are tax-deductible. Print a shipping label from the organization’s website.
Recycling for Charities
Donate used cell phones, iPods, digital cameras and PDAs by printing the shipping label from the website and sending donations to RFC. RFC makes a donation to the charity of your choice for each item you part with.
Secure the Call
Secure the Call collects cell phones, turns them into 911 emergency access phones and donates them to senior citizen centers, domestic violence shelters and police and sheriff departments. Visit the website to print a shipping label.
Books
Donate at your local public library! Call ahead to see if there are any books they don’t accept (like textbooks).
Bernie’s Book Bank
Bernie’s Book Bank collects new and gently used children’s books to distribute to at-risk homes throughout the Chicagoland area. Each child the organization serves receives at least eight books a year. There are drop-off locations throughout the North Shore. Be sure to contact your desired location to see if they’re accepting drop-offs at this time.
Various drop-off locations
Books4Cause
Donate gently used books to Books4Cause, an organization that, through used book donations, has created libraries in Africa, and keeps books out of landfills. All K-12 books given to the organization are donated, and a percentage of other book donations are sold while the rest are given away or recycled. Drop them off at their Skokie location or their Chicago location, visit their website for details.
3415 Madison St., Skokie & 2931 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
Chicago BWP
This volunteer organization distributes paperback books to women’s prisons nationwide to encourage education and self-empowerment. Visit the website for specific books BWP is looking for. You can either shop their wish list at Women & Children First to purchase books for the organization to pick up or you can make an appointment to drop books off at the Chicago location.
4511 N. Hermitage Ave., Chicago
Cradles to Crayons
Providing low-income and homeless children with clothes, books, school supplies and more, Cradles to Crayons helps serve nearly 200,000 children living in poverty in Chicago. Visit their website for a list of drop-off locations throughout the North Shore.
Various drop-off locations
Open Books
Open Books collects used books to sell in their Pilsen and West Loop stores and online. The money collected helps fund book granting programs for thousands of students around Chicago each year. The organization accepts “any sellable book in good condition,” as well as other media items. There are various drop-off locations in Chicago. To inquire about a free pickup, fill out the form on the Open Books website.
Various drop-off locations
Furniture
Salvation Army and Goodwill
Both provide pickup service and provide you with a tax receipt. Visit each organization’s website or call to schedule a pickup time.
Various locations
Brown Elephant Resale Shops
Brown Elephant supports Howard Brown Health using money earned from the resale of donated items. Contactless drop-off is available at the Andersonville, Northalsted and Oak Park locations at this time. Bring in any upholstered furniture, tables, dressers, bookcases, etc., as well as some household goods. Visit their website for a full list of accepted items.
Various locations
Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse
Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse sells reclaimed building materials at low cost to the community and the proceeds support their education and job-training programs. Want to donate your building materials, furniture or appliances? Visit their website to learn more about the approval and donation process.
1245 Hartrey Ave., Evanston
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
All proceeds from the ReStore go to Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that works to provide families with affordable, safe housing and has built many homes in Chicago neighborhoods. Visit their website for a list of acceptable items. To donate, drop off your items at the ReStore or request a free pickup using the form on the website.
6040 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago
Village Treasure House
All proceeds from this Northbrook nonprofit support local agencies serving women and families in crisis. All donated items must be previewed before donating to ensure they meet guidelines. Visit their website for merchandise evaluation information.
1460 Paddock Drive, Northbrook
World Relief Chicago
World Relief Chicago provides cleaning supplies, linens, toiletries, kitchen items, furniture and more to immigrants and refugees who have fled their countries due to war and displacement. They also have an Amazon Wishlist which can be fulfilled. Visit their website for a list of accepted items and for details on drop off instructions, as they vary at each location.
191 S. Gary Ave., Carol Stream and 3507 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago
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