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.


The Butter Paddle

(408) 395-1678

The Butter Paddle raises money for Uplift Family Services, a statewide nonprofit that helps children and families.


Freecycle Network

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.


Goodwill of Silicon Valley

(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.


Happy Dragon Thrift Shop

(408) 354-4072

Happy Dragon raises money for Uplift Family Services, a statewide nonprofit that helps children and families.


Recycle Stuff.org

(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.


Salvation Army

(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.


Unicorn Thrift Shop

(408) 997-9188

Unicorn raises money for Uplift Family Services, a statewide nonprofit that helps children and families.


ART SUPPLIES

Crayon Initiative, The

The Crayon Initiative recycles used and unwanted crayons to preserve our environment and enrich the lives of hospitalized children through art and imagination.


Santa Maria Urban Ministry

(408) 292-3314

Santa Maria Urban Ministry always needs school and craft supplies.


BABY CARE

Mothers’ Milk Bank

(408) 998-4550

Lactating mothers needed to donate fresh milk.


Sacred Heart Community Service

(408) 278-2160

Needs include diapers and infant formula.


Santa Maria Urban Ministry

(408) 292-3314

Santa Maria Urban Ministry always needs diapers and baby clothes.


Sunday Friends

(408) 793-0441

Sunday Friends needs diapers and wipes.


Loved Twice

(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

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.


County of Santa Clara

Search for “Free Household Battery Drop Locations” for the location nearest you.


BICYCLES

Good Karma Bikes

(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

Hope Services

(408) 748-2874

Hope accepts good-condition clothing, books, records, CDs, household goods and small appliances.


Local libraries

All San Jose libraries accept donations of gently used books and media.


Project Night Night

(415) 310-0360

Accepts new children’s books, ages 0 to pre-teen.


BUILDING SUPPLIES

ACT for Mental Health

(408) 287-2640

Needs building supplies and appliances.


Habitat for Humanity

(866) 450-4432

Will accept donations of furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances.


CELL PHONES

Cell Phones For Soldiers

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.


Sunday Friends

(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.


CityTeam San Jose

(408) 232-5600

CityTeam accepts donations of food, hygiene items, clothes, and some appliances and furniture.


Dress for Success San Jose

(408) 935-8299

Accepts gently used, nearly new professional attire for women.


Happy Dragon Thrift Shop

(408) 354-4072

Happy Dragon raises money for Uplift Family Services, a statewide nonprofit that helps children and families.


LifeMoves

LifeMoves has locations across the Bay Area and each site has different needs, such as clothing, household goods and furniture.


Milpitas Food Pantry

(408) 946-5564

Milpitas Food Pantry provides emergency food and clothing for residents of Milpitas and Alviso.


My New Red Shoes

(650) 241-3911

Needs new, school-appropriate shoes in all sizes, preferably solid black or white.


Princess Project

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.


Salvation Army

The Salvation Army accepts clothing, furniture, household goods and appliances.


Santa Maria Urban Ministry

(408) 292-3314

Santa Maria Urban Ministry accepts clothing, socks and shoes (men’s and baby clothes are especially needed).


Unicorn Thrift Shop

(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.


GreenMouse Recycling

(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

Child Advocates

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

OneSight

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

CityTeam San Jose

(408) 232-5600

CityTeam accepts donations of food, hygiene items, clothes, and some appliances and furniture.


LifeMoves

LifeMoves has locations across the Bay Area and each site has different needs, such as food, clothing, household goods and furniture.


Milpitas Food Pantry

(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.


Santa Maria Urban Ministry

(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.


Village Harvest

(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

CityTeam San Jose

(408) 232-5600

CityTeam accepts donations of food, hygiene items, clothes, and some appliances and furniture.


LifeMoves

LifeMoves has locations across the Bay Area and each site has different needs, such as food, clothing, household goods and furniture.


Salvation Army

The Salvation Army accepts clothing, furniture, household goods and appliances.


GOLF EQUIPMENT

First Tee of Silicon Valley

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?


CityTeam San Jose

(408) 232-5600

CityTeam accepts donations of food, hygiene items, clothes, and some appliances and furniture.


Hope Services

(408) 748-2874

Hope accepts good-condition clothing, books, records, CDs, household goods and small appliances.


LifeMoves

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.


Salvation Army

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.


Able People Foundation

Accepts used wheelchairs, walkers and similar equipment.


American Red Cross

(800) 733-2767

Accepts blood and platelet donations.


Locks of Love

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

Play it Again Santa Clara

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

Project Linus

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.


RAFT

(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.


Nike Animal Rescue Foundation

(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

Project Night Night

(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.