Giving your things away is usually cheaper than hauling them, and it's the better outcome when they still work. The catch is that every organization has its own list, pickup rules and fees. This guide covers the big programs serving the San Fernando Valley and nearby cities, then lists drop-off locations by area. It's general information: none of these groups is affiliated with Legacy Junk Removal, and policies change, so call before you load the car.
What almost every donation center wants
Across the programs below, the same rules come up again and again:
- Clean and sellable, as is. Goodwill Southern California says donations must be in good, clean, sellable condition, and it doesn't repair, refinish or reupholster.[1] Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA turns away anything broken, damaged or missing parts.[2]
- No mattresses, mostly. Goodwill,[1] Habitat LA ReStores,[2] Out of the Closet[3] and Pickup Please[4] all refuse mattresses and box springs. See the mattress section below.
- No cribs, car seats or strollers. Cribs, car seats, strollers and high chairs are refused by Goodwill[1] and St. Vincent de Paul LA.[5]
- No hazardous materials. Paint, motor oil, pesticides, pool chemicals and propane are out at Goodwill,[1] and St. Vincent de Paul won't take flammables such as paint and propane.[5]
- Appliances have age and condition rules. More on that below.
Pickup programs compared
If you can't haul it yourself, these are the donation pickup options we could confirm for the LA area.
| Organization | Pickup | Main limits |
|---|---|---|
| The Salvation Army | Free, booked by ZIP or 1-800-728-7825[6] | Accepted items vary by location[6] |
| St. Vincent de Paul LA | Free truck pickup, 1-800-974-3571[5] | Outside at street level and labeled; crews don't enter homes[5] |
| Out of the Closet | Free with 2+ large furniture items or 10 large bags or boxes[3] | 8 a.m.–4 p.m. in LA County, 1-800-558-8220[3] |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA | $50 fee; drop-off free[2] | Ground floor, garage, carport or curb[7] |
| San Gabriel Valley Habitat (Pasadena) | $40 fee[8] | Ground level, resalable condition[8] |
| Pickup Please (Vietnam Veterans of America) | Free[9] | Only items one person can easily carry[4] |
| Hope the Mission | Scheduled pickups, (818) 392-0020[10] | Gently used clothing and household items[10] |
| Goodwill Southern California | None of its own[11] | Drop off at a store or donation center |
A few details matter when you book:
- The Salvation Army is the broadest free option for furniture. It generally takes working appliances that aren't built in and unbroken furniture,[6] but not appliances with mechanical problems, gas appliances or TVs older than five years.[6] Its thrift stores fund its Adult Rehabilitation Center programs.[12]
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA expanded its territory to the San Fernando Valley portion of the county.[13] Book a pickup at (424) 246-3637.[2]
- Out of the Closet takes adult clothing, select furniture, kitchenware, electronics, appliances and tools, and its sales fund AIDS Healthcare Foundation services.[3] It doesn't take office furniture, wall units, china cabinets, or TVs and appliances over 3 years old.[3]
- Pickup Please won't take couches, mattresses, washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves or TVs.[4] Think bags of clothes, small kitchen items and boxed decor.
Donation drop-offs by area
Goodwill says it accepts donations at more than 80 retail stores and over 40 attended donation centers.[11] Donation hours weren't published for each store, so call the one you plan to visit.
North Hollywood, Valley Village and Studio City
- Goodwill store at 5855 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood (91601)[14]
- Out of the Closet, 6241 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood 91606[15]
- Hope the Mission thrift store, 10955 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood 91601[10]
Burbank
- Goodwill Southern California, 3226 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank 91505[16]
- For towels and bedding, see the shelter section further down.
Glendale
- Goodwill Southern California, 240 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale 91203[17]
- Goodwill boutique and donation center (Montrose), 2064 Verdugo Rd., Unit E, Glendale 91020[18]
- The Salvation Army thrift store, 333 N. Central Ave., Glendale 91203[12]
Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks and Encino
- Goodwill Southern California, 14760 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks 91403[17]
- The Salvation Army thrift store, 16934 Ventura Blvd., Encino 91316[12]
- Goodwill's San Fernando Valley outlet store, 14565 Lanark St., Panorama City 91402[19]
- LA Animal Services East Valley center, 14409 Vanowen St., Van Nuys 91405, for towels and blankets[20]
West Valley
- Goodwill boutique and donation center, 21840 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills 91364[18]
- Goodwill boutique and donation center, 6415 Platt Ave., West Hills 91307[18]
- The Salvation Army thrift store, 21375 Roscoe Blvd., Canoga Park 91304[12]
- Hope the Mission donation drop-off, 9700 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Chatsworth, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.[10]
- LA Animal Services West Valley center, 20655 Plummer St., Chatsworth 91311[20]
North Valley
- Goodwill boutique and donation center, 11243 Tampa Ave., Porter Ranch 91326[18]
- The Salvation Army thrift store, 10158 Balboa Blvd., Granada Hills 91344[12]
- Hope the Mission thrift store, 18167 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills 91344[10]
- Chrysalis, 13545 Van Nuys Blvd. #1, Pacoima, for gently used, laundered professional clothing[21], Monday to Thursday 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m., Fridays 8 to 11:30 a.m.[21]
Hollywood
- Goodwill Southern California (Hollywood-Sunset), 5124 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90027[17]
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 1071 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles 90019, the nearest ReStore to Hollywood,[2] open daily 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.[22]
- St. Vincent de Paul LA drop-off, 210 North Avenue 21, Los Angeles 90031[5]
Pasadena
- Goodwill boutique and donation center, 703 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena 91104[18]
- SGV Habitat ReStore at 32 N. Sierra Madre Blvd., with drop-offs Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.[8]
- Pasadena Humane, 361 S. Raymond Ave., bins for gently used towels and bedding[23]
Mattresses: the item almost nobody takes
Only one program in our research lists mattresses as accepted: The Salvation Army's FAQ includes them among furniture it takes,[6] with the usual note that acceptance varies by location.[6] Everyone else on this page says no.
If donating doesn't work, recycling is free:
- California's Bye Bye Mattress program takes mattresses and box springs at participating drop-off sites at no added cost,[24] whatever their condition or age.[25]
- A retailer delivering a new mattress must offer to take the old one back at no extra charge.[24]
- In the City of LA, mattresses and box springs are on LASAN's free bulky pickup list.[26]
Our mattress guide has the full list of options.
Appliances, TVs and electronics
Appliance donations depend on age and whether the thing works:
- Habitat LA ReStores take working major and small appliances less than 8 years old, uninstalled and disconnected, plus flatscreen TVs under 8 years old.[2]
- The Salvation Army won't take gas appliances or TVs older than five years.[6]
- Out of the Closet won't take built-in appliances or TVs and appliances more than 3 years old.[3]
- Goodwill doesn't take major appliances like stoves, washers, dryers and refrigerators,[1] but it accepts e-waste, anything with a battery or a plug, in any condition.[27]
Goodwill's e-waste policy is the easy route for a dead laptop or a broken lamp. For a TV that doesn't work, see our TV and electronics guide.
Towels, blankets and bedding
Burbank's recycling guide points out that many secondhand stores won't take old bedding, while animal sanctuaries and shelters often will.[28] LA Animal Services lists towels and blankets under items it always needs.[20] Pasadena Humane makes an exception to its new-items-only rule for gently used towels and bedding, but not sheets, pillowcases or pillows.[23]
Tax receipts: the basics
This is general information, not tax advice. Talk to a tax professional about your own situation.
- IRS Publication 526 says donated household items, including furniture, electronics, appliances and linens, must be in good used condition or better to be deductible, unless you claim more than $500 and have a qualified appraisal.[29]
- The value of a used item is usually what buyers actually pay for similar things in thrift or consignment shops.[29]
- For a contribution of $250 or more, you need a written acknowledgment from the charity at the time of the gift.[29]
- You generally have to itemize on Schedule A (Form 1040) to deduct anything.[29]
Ask for a receipt when you drop off, and photograph the items before they leave.
Programs that have closed
Dress for Success closed its Los Angeles location,[30] so older lists that send work clothes there are out of date. Chrysalis's Pacoima center, listed above, is the confirmed option for professional clothing.
Donation day checklist
Before you donate
- Call the organization and describe each large item; policies change often.
- Wipe down furniture and run appliances once to confirm they work.
- Check the age of TVs and appliances against each group's cutoff.
- Label items for pickup if the organization asks, and put them where its crew can reach them.
- Pull out mattresses, cribs, car seats and anything hazardous; plan another route for those.
- Photograph items and ask for a receipt.
- Keep a short list of what went where for your records.
When a hauler is the easier option
Donation pickups have limits that don't fit every situation. Crews may stay at street level, some charge a fee, and most will only take the pieces that pass their checks. A hauler makes more sense when:
- items are upstairs or deep in a garage and the charity only collects from the curb;
- half the load is donatable and half isn't, and it all needs to go the same day;
- you're clearing an estate or a move-out on a deadline;
- the charity's next pickup window is weeks out.
We donate items that are in fair shape so they get a second life, and recycle what we can. When your items are donated, you'll get a donation receipt from the drop-off location within 14 business days. Whatever can't be reused or recycled goes for disposal. Tell us before we start loading if a particular piece matters to you, and we'll give you a straight answer about whether it's likely to be accepted. Send photos of the whole pile for a price.