Congratulations on clearing out the clutter! Now the question is, where should those once-loved items go?

If they’re still sitting in a corner waiting for their next home, their journey isn’t quite over. It’s easy to forget this final step, but finding the right place for your donations is key to giving them a second chance.

By donating thoughtfully, you ensure that your items can continue to serve a purpose for someone else. To help make this easier, I’ve compiled a list of excellent donation spots across Toronto, sorted by category, so you can find the best new home for your belongings.

Choose Your Items To Donate

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Physical Donation Centres in Toronto That Accept a Variety of Items and Offer Multiple Drop-Off Locations

The Salvation Army

They accept pretty wide variety of stuff with only small limitations, such as:

• No furniture
• No infant equipment (car seats, strollers, cribs)
• No built in appliances (Ovens, Stoves, Dishwashers, microwave etc.)
• No autoparts
• No barbecues, propane tanks, hazardous materials

Note: Make sure to go to “Salvation Army Thrift Store”, as they also have Churches and Support Centres that do not accept donations.

Benefit of donating here

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The Salvation Army has many drop off locations and little limitations on what you can donate, which makes it super convenient. 

They are a very good not for profit organization, helping children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, provides shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction.

Goodwill

They accept lots of categories for donation, although they also have an extensive list of items that won’t be accepted, so check before you go. 

Items that will NOT be accepted:

Benefit of donating here

Three locations around GTA. Goodwill employs people with disabilities and cares about the environment. They recycle or repurpose donations that cannot be sold to keep them out of landfills. 

Value Village

Even though Value Village is a for-profit organization, we’re including them here, because they are very convenient with lots of drop off locations around GTA and employees help you unload your donations.

Items that will NOT be accepted:

Benefit of donating here

Value Village has lots of convenient locations, accepts almost everything so it’s a one stop donations drop off and it reduces waste in landfills.

Schedule a Donation Pick Up

Don’t want to drop off your donations? No worries, these organizations below will come to your location and pick up donations from your porch.

Diabetes Canada

Diabetes Canada accept a lot of items, similar to donation centres mentioned above, and there are a few thing they won’t take:

• Beds and bedding
• Construction material
• All furniture 
• Exercise and sport equipment
• Infant products
• Large appliances
• Tv and monitors

Benefit of donating here

Diabetes Canada is very convenient as they pick up from your porch on a scheduled day. You can schedule time online. 

They lead the fight against diabetes by preventing the onset and consequences of diabetes, helping those affected by diabetes to live healthy lives amd working to find a cure.

Kidney Clothes

Like Diabetes Canada, Kidney Clothes will come to your house and pick up your donations from your porch. 

They will take all the typical donations, plus yarn and fabric. You can also include ripped or worn out items for recycling as long as they are clean, dry, and free of contaminants.

Items that will NOT be accepted:

• Building and hazardous materials 
• Cribs and car seats
• Food
• Furniture
• Large Appliances
• Tires

Benefit of donating here

The Kidney Foundation is very convenient as they pick up from your porch on a scheduled day. You can schedule time online.

The Kidney Foundation is a leading investor in kidney research and provides programs and services to those living with and at risk of developing kidney disease.

OFCP

Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy accept a lot of items, including textiles & clothing, toys, books & equipment, small appliances & furniture.

Items OFCP will not accept are:

• Baby Car Seats, Cribs and Strollers
• Air Conditioners, Large Appliances (Fridges/Stoves Etc.)
• Lawnmowers, BBQ’s, Anything with a Gas Tank
• Doors, Windows or any Construction Materials

Benefit of donating here

Your donations help divert items that would otherwise end up in landfills, and all proceeds generated will go towards supporting the Ontario Federation of Cerebral Palsy, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping people with cerebral palsy.

Construction Materials & Large Appliances

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Habitat for Humanity ReStore has lots of locations in Toronto and GTA and they will do pickup for your furniture, kitchen cabinets, or appliances that are in good condition. Just send them pictures of the stuff you want picked up.

Items that will be accepted:

• Kitchens
• Lumber
• Windows & doors
• Light fixtures
• Appliances
• Paint
• Tiles
• Hardware
• Furniture
• Home decor
• Tools

They have extensive explanation on their website, of what exactly they will and will not take. So you better check before going there, for example, they will not take appliances 10 years old or more.

Health Equipment & Medical Supplies

ALS

ALS will accept health equipment that is less than 5 years old:

• Bathroom Equipment
• Lifts and Transfers
• Mobility Equipment
• Beds and Mattresses
• Cushions

Benefits of donating here

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also known as ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, or motor neuron disease) is a disease that progressively paralyzes people. ALS Foundation in Ontario plays a crucial role in supporting those affected by ALS and advancing the search for a cure.

Not Just Tourists

Not Just Tourists receives donations from Canada’s largest hospitals, clinics, medical suppliers and individuals. The supplies donated are typically gauze, bandages, surgical instruments, masks, gloves, antiseptics, IV kits, urinary supplies and birthing kits. The supplies are packed by volunteers into suitcases during weekly “packing parties”. Travellers sign up and are given the suitcases to deliver to remote clinics where they are needed. 

Accepting the following donations:

• blood pressure cuffs
• stethoscopes
• needles
• syringes
• wound care dressings
• urinary products
• IV kits
• ECG machines
• nebulizers
• creams and products not on prescription
• surgical equipment and tools
• gowns
• masks
• drapes
• medical tape
• other unused medical equipment

They also accept donations of suitcases, that will be used to transport medical supplies.

Benefits of donating here

Not Just Tourists was founded with the purpose of getting medical supplies to those who can’t afford them. Since its inception 30 years ago, NJT has delivered over 10,000 suitcases and 1,000,000+ lbs of medical supplies and equipment to 82 countries.

Hygiene Items

WomenAide

WomenAide’s mission is to donate goods-in-kind to women who have suffered spousal abuse. 

List of most needed items:

Benefits of donating here

WomenAide has collected and donated thousands of personal care products to women in need. These goods have been distributed to women’s abuse shelters in Toronto such as Women’s Habitat, Ernestine’s, ETA Vaughan, Red Door Family Shelter and Nellie’s.

Street Health

Street health provides hygiene supplies for people experiencing homelessness.

List of items they will accept (must be in new condition):

• Feminine hygiene products
• Incontinence supplies for men/women
• Shampoo and conditioner (sample and travel sizes preferred)
• Soap and body wash
• Moisturizer and lip balms
• Toothbrush and toothpaste (small size)
• Individual size: tissues and hand sanitizer
• Razors and combs
• Cough drops and lozenges
• Sleeping bags
• Socks (clients often request socks that include some wool content)
• Underwear all sizes for men and women

Benefits of donating here

Street Health has over 150 daily visits from individuals who need personal care & hygiene supplies. Their mission is to improve the health and well-being of people who are homeless or under-housed or underserved through low barrier and equitable care, advocacy and education.

YWS

Most Needed Items in our YWCA Toronto Shelters and Housing Programs:

• Adult incontinence products
• New toiletries, both regular and sample or travel sizes (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, hand lotion, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, toothbrush, floss, bar of soap etc.)
• New personal care items (razors, nail clippers etc.)
• Menstrual pads, diva cups, tampons, panty liners
• Diapers (size 1 and up)

Benefits of donating here

YWS helps women, girls and gender diverse people flee violence, secure housing, find jobs, establish their voices, enhance skills and develop confidence. They offer a range of housing options, employment and training programs, community support programs, girls’ programs and family programs.

The Personal Care Bank

TPCB accepts new, unused, unopened, and in-date personal care items. Only donate what is on ‘yes’ list below.

Benefit of donating here

Donating to The Personal Care Bank provides essential personal care items to individuals in need, helping to improve their quality of life and dignity.

Car Seats & Baby Items

Jessie’s

Car seats must be less than five years old, have never been in any kind of accident, have no recalls, have no signs of wear/tear, must be clean. Call 416-365-1888 about dropping off donations at Jessie’s, 205 Parliament St.

Jessie’s also accepts donations of:

• foldable strollers
• high chairs
• maternity clothes
• gently used toys
• clothing for kids up to age 10

Benefit of donating here

Jessie’s – The June Callwood Centre for Young Women is a drop-in multi-service resource centre dedicated to supporting pregnant and parenting individuals who are 21 years old or under at intake. Centre provides services to these young women and their children until they reach the age of 24.

ATMO

If Jessie’s won’t accept your car seat because it’s older than 5 years or is in a bad shape, you can drop if off at Toys R Us/Babies R Us locations within Ontario for recycling.

In 2023, ATMO and Babies “R” Us joined hands to become recycling partners and are now accepting expired, damaged, or outgrown child seats that will be recycled instead of ending up in landfills.

Hockey equipment

Project North

They collect gently used and new hockey equipment through hockey equipment drives normally co-hosted with hockey associations.

Items that won’t be accepted:

• socks
• jerseys
• jocks
• undergarments
• neck guards

For more information about the drive contact mcwaters1@rogers.com or 416.809.2130

Benefit of donating here

Inspired by the first hockey drive in 2015 there have been numerous drives with each growing larger than the last to the point where over 1,000 bags of hockey equipment are accumulated and donated each fall to numerous Indigenous communities in Ontario. 

Skate To Great

Donate your gently used or new skates, hockey equipment and helmets. Helmets must be manufactured within the last three years.

If your skates are in poor condition or are very old dispose of them instead of trying to donate them. Skate To Great only collect skates, helmets and sticks in usable condition.

Benefits of donating here

Skate To Great mission is to provide every child in Canada the opportunity to skate; regardless of their economic or physical circumstances.

Skate To Great collected and distributed upwards of 25,000 pairs of skates to date. The organization directly supports schools, programs and charities in Canada, which enable deserving kids and at-risk youth the opportunity to skate.

Books & textbooks

Any large donation centre accepts books, but if you recently decluttered your book library and have only books to donate, you may consider donating to these wonderful organizations that only specialize in books. 

Note: New textbooks can be donated, outdated textbooks should be recycled.

Second Life Books

Books are heavy and if you have lots of them we totally recommend making your life easy and scheduling free books pick up with Second Life Books. Fill out the pick up form and place all the books in boxes outside on the day of our pickup.

Benefit of donating here

Second Life Books do free pick up from your porch. Even though this is for profit organization, they have donated over 300,000 books in the last five years.

Textbooks For Change

Drop off your textbooks at Textbooks For Change drop box in Toronto & GTA. They have lots of drop boxes throughout the city. Check closest location to you on their website map.

Benefit of donating here

They accept all textbooks, there are no restrictions. After donation, textbooks are allocated as follows: 50% are sent to partner campus libraries in East Africa. 20% are resold at affordable prices to students, with proceeds supporting campus initiatives. 30% are recycled, particularly if they are out-of-date or damaged, to promote environmental sustainability.

The Children’s Book Bank

Looking where to donate children’s books? Consider dropping them off at The Children’s Book Bank Warehouse at at 585 Dundas St E. They provide free books and literacy support to children in high-needs neighbourhoods in Toronto.

Benefit of donating here

The Children’s Book Bank was founded by a small group of dedicated individuals who saw the importance of ensuring that all children have access to books. Since 2008, it has distributed 1.5 million books across the city.

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These are just a few of the many organizations that accept donations in Toronto. When choosing a place to donate, consider the types of items you have and the causes you want to support.

By donating your unwanted items, you can help those in need, reduce waste, and protect the environment. So next time you declutter your home, be sure to consider donating your gently used items to a local organization.

What you should not donate, but should recycle or dispose

• Any appliances that have mechanical difficulties, missing power cord or is rusty or dirty.
• Automobile parts
• Old car seats
• Stained or ripped clothes
• Toys that have missing parts
• Anything broken
• Firearms, fireworks, dangerous goods