Acceptable Items to Donate to the Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is a charitable organization that provides support to needy families and senior citizens. They accept both monetary and in-kind donations. In-kind donations are basically any household or clothing goods that are in serviceable condition and can be used by others.

Appliances such as stoves, washing machines and refrigerators are important to running a household, but they can be expensive if buying them new or used from a commercial store. The Salvation Army sells these items at a low price to families and individuals who have limited income, and accepts these items as donations, as long as they are in working condition.

Families living in poverty face extra costs in the form of caring for children. Just keeping growing kids in clothes that fit can be difficult. Children's clothing donations to the Salvation Army allows them to sell or give children's clothing to families that need them.

The Salvation Army accepts complete room sets for bedrooms and kitchens or individual pieces such as beds, sofas, kitchen tables, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and cribs. Furniture donations can be very important because they provide needy families with necessary items to furnish their home.

Household good include kitchen items such as bakeware, flatware and utensils. They also include other items found around the house like towels, blankets, lamps and curtains. Though used, donated household items should be clean and in serviceable condition.

The Salvation Army accepts men's clothing including shirts, pants, overcoats, sweaters and swimming trunks. Suits are also useful because when men go on job interviews, a suit is usually the standard dress code.

In terms of clothes for women, useful donations include blouses, boots, bras, hats, skirts and slacks. As with men, women going out for interviews need business or business casual clothing, therefore pants suits and handbags are useful donations.

There are several more items that do not fall under the above categories, yet would still be useful to needy families, including books, CDs, computers, printers, luggage, stuffed animals and vacuum cleaners. These are items that, though they might be taken for granted by most families, will be valued by families who have less money.

Though in-kind donations make up the inventory of Salvation Army thrift stores, monetary donations are also appreciated. Money donated to the Salvation Army can be used to make additional purchases for thrift store inventories or it can go to fund other programs.