The Field Guide to Community Service
Someone Needs Your Stuff
“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.”
— Marie Kondo
If you have items in your home that don’t spark joy, then clear the clutter and donate items. Someone out there could put your items to good use. Many organizations have wish lists online, so the list below is just a starting place. If there’s an organization you care about, log on and check out their wish list. And don’t forget that many of these organizations also have volunteer opportunities, such as assisting with collection, sorting and stocking shelves.
A BIT OF EVERYTHING
American Cancer Society Discovery Shops
American Cancer Society Discovery Shops help support the fight against cancer through the sale of high-quality, gently used, donated merchandise.
(408) 395-1678
The Butter Paddle raises money for Uplift Family Services, a statewide nonprofit that helps children and families.
The Freecycle Network is a grassroots movement of people who give (and get) stuff for free in their own towns and neighborhoods. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.
(408) 998-5774
Goodwill of Silicon Valley generates revenue and re-invests in the community through programs that give people the tools to live independent lives.
(408) 354-4072
Happy Dragon raises money for Uplift Family Services, a statewide nonprofit that helps children and families.
(800) 533-8414
Recyclestuff.org is a collaborative effort between the counties of Santa Clara and San Mateo and the environmental studies department at San Jose State University. The website has loads of resources to help you determine best places to recycle just about anything, including hazardous materials.
(408) 374-2350
Your donations to Salvation Army family stores help fund rehabilitation programs that heal addictions, change lives and restore families.
Sacred Heart Community Service
(408) 278-2160
Sacred Heart has donation guidelines online but needs a variety of goods, from clothing and backpacks to hygiene items and sheets.
(408) 997-9188
Unicorn raises money for Uplift Family Services, a statewide nonprofit that helps children and families.
ART SUPPLIES
The Crayon Initiative recycles used and unwanted crayons to preserve our environment and enrich the lives of hospitalized children through art and imagination.
(408) 292-3314
Santa Maria Urban Ministry always needs school and craft supplies.
BABY CARE
(408) 998-4550
Lactating mothers needed to donate fresh milk.
Sacred Heart Community Service
(408) 278-2160
Needs include diapers and infant formula.
(408) 292-3314
Santa Maria Urban Ministry always needs diapers and baby clothes.
(408) 793-0441
Sunday Friends needs diapers and wipes.
(510) 652-2229
This Oakland-based organization works to clothe newborns in need with quality used baby clothing for the first year of life. They collect gently used baby clothes, sort these precious garments into boy and girl wardrobes-in-a-box, and distribute them through social workers in hospitals, shelters and clinics.
BATTERIES
Call2Recycle is the country’s leading consumer battery recycling and stewardship program. Thousands of partners, including retailers and government municipalities, work with Call2Recycle to manage their battery recycling efforts.
Search for “Free Household Battery Drop Locations” for the location nearest you.
BICYCLES
(408) 291-0501
Welcomes new or refurbished bikes, tools and gently used bike parts. Revenue from sales and service is reinvested in programs to help those in need.
BOOKS
(408) 748-2874
Hope accepts good-condition clothing, books, records, CDs, household goods and small appliances.
All San Jose libraries accept donations of gently used books and media.
(415) 310-0360
Accepts new children’s books, ages 0 to pre-teen.
BUILDING SUPPLIES
(408) 287-2640
Needs building supplies and appliances.
(866) 450-4432
Will accept donations of furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances.
CELL PHONES
Cell Phones For Soldiers accepts all types of cell phones from any carrier. Newer, gently used mobile devices are preferred; however, proceeds are generated from the recycling of broken and outdated mobile phones. Chargers and accessories can also be donated.
Lions in Sight of California and Nevada
Lions in Sight accepts donations of eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids, printer and toner cartridges and cell phones.
CHILDREN’S TOYS
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
(650) 497-8365
Lucile Packard accepts new toys.
Ronald McDonald House at Stanford
(650) 470-6000
Ronald McDonald House has Comfort & Joy Drives where it collects many items, from online gaming consoles and toys to bikes and teen gifts.
(408) 793-0441
Sunday Friends needs toys and educational games.
CLOTHING
Don’t throw away your wire hangers! Did you know you can recycle wire hangers at most dry cleaning stores?
American Cancer Society Discovery Shops
If you have items that no longer bring you joy, entrust them to your local Discovery Shop.
(408) 232-5600
CityTeam accepts donations of food, hygiene items, clothes, and some appliances and furniture.
(408) 935-8299
Accepts gently used, nearly new professional attire for women.
(408) 354-4072
Happy Dragon raises money for Uplift Family Services, a statewide nonprofit that helps children and families.
LifeMoves has locations across the Bay Area and each site has different needs, such as clothing, household goods and furniture.
(408) 946-5564
Milpitas Food Pantry provides emergency food and clothing for residents of Milpitas and Alviso.
(650) 241-3911
Needs new, school-appropriate shoes in all sizes, preferably solid black or white.
Princess Project accepts new or gently used prom dresses, party dresses and accessories.
Sacred Heart Community Service
(408) 278-2160
Greatest needs include coats, jackets, socks and underwear.
The Salvation Army accepts clothing, furniture, household goods and appliances.
(408) 292-3314
Santa Maria Urban Ministry accepts clothing, socks and shoes (men’s and baby clothes are especially needed).
(408) 997-9188
Unicorn raises money for Uplift Family Services, a statewide nonprofit that helps children and families.
COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
Most computer manufacturers have recycling programs so contact them first.
(408) 464-9999
GreenMouse Recycling brings the widest range of e-waste recycling services to its customers through scheduled corporate pick-ups, convenient drop-offs (corporate and residential) and community collection events.
EVENT TICKETS
Donate tickets to community plays, sporting events and movie theaters to Child Advocates to enable a foster child to enjoy a fun outing with his or her CASA volunteer.
EYEGLASSES
Accepts used glasses at LensCrafters, Sears Optical or Pearle Vision locations.
Lions in Sight of California and Nevada
Lions in Sight accepts donations of eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids, printer and toner cartridges and cell phones.
FOOD
(408) 232-5600
CityTeam accepts donations of food, hygiene items, clothes, and some appliances and furniture.
LifeMoves has locations across the Bay Area and each site has different needs, such as food, clothing, household goods and furniture.
(408) 946-5564
Milpitas Food Pantry provides emergency food and clothing for residents of Milpitas and Alviso.
Sacred Heart Community Service
(408) 278-2160
Sacred Heart accepts unopened, packaged food and fresh produce.
(408) 292-3314
Santa Maria Urban Ministry always needs canned food and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
(408) 266-8866
Second Harvest accepts canned food and backyard produce, and has a wishlist of most-needed items on its website.
StandUp for Kids Silicon Valley
StandUp for Kids needs non-perishable food products and hot meals for kids who come to its daily drop in center.
(888) 378-4841
Village Harvest will mobilize volunteers to come to your backyard or orchard to harvest fruit that will be donated to local food banks.
FURNITURE
(408) 232-5600
CityTeam accepts donations of food, hygiene items, clothes, and some appliances and furniture.
LifeMoves has locations across the Bay Area and each site has different needs, such as food, clothing, household goods and furniture.
The Salvation Army accepts clothing, furniture, household goods and appliances.
GOLF EQUIPMENT
First Tee will accept junior clubs and women’s clubs that are in good, gently used condition as well as men’s clubs that are in excellent, virtually new condition. They also accept new bags, balls, towels and tees.
HEARING AIDS
Lions in Sight of California and Nevada
Lions in Sight accepts donations of eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids, printer and toner cartridges and cell phones.
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
Did you know you can recycle wire hangers at most dry cleaning stores?
(408) 232-5600
CityTeam accepts donations of food, hygiene items, clothes, and some appliances and furniture.
(408) 748-2874
Hope accepts good-condition clothing, books, records, CDs, household goods and small appliances.
LifeMoves has locations across the Bay Area and each site has different needs, such as food, clothing, household goods and furniture.
Ronald McDonald House at Stanford
(650) 470-6000
Ronald McDonald needs mini-fridges, non-stick cookware and many other household items.
The Salvation Army accepts clothing, furniture, household goods and appliances.
MEDICAL
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s office and many local pharmacies accept unused or expired medicine.
Accepts used wheelchairs, walkers and similar equipment.
(800) 733-2767
Accepts blood and platelet donations.
Accepts hair donations to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss. Organization uses donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hairpiece to financially disadvantaged children free of charge.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
If you no longer play your musical instrument, you have the opportunity to enable new music students to “Play it Again.” Your gift of a musical instrument can open a door to students to shine in an area outside the traditional classroom that they might otherwise never explore.
OFFICE SUPPLIES
Will take empty printer ink cartridges.
Lions in Sight of California and Nevada
Lions in Sight accepts donations of eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids, printer and toner cartridges and cell phones.
(408) 451-1420
RAFT accepts office supplies, plastics and more. Check out its extensive wish list online.
PET SUPPLIES
Humane Society of Silicon Valley
Humane Society accepts donations of new and unopened bags and cans of cat and dog food.
(408) 224-6273
NARF always needs items, including dog and cat food, toys and cat litter, to help care for its foster pets.
STUFFED ANIMALS
(415) 310-0360
Project Night Night accepts new blankets, new stuffed animals and new books.
NO EXCUSES
Volunteer at a polling place.
Bring in your neighbor’s trash cans.
Learn a second (or third or fourth) language.
Volunteer: somewhere, anywhere.