Your Guide to Donating at CommunityAid

So you've got a pile of stuff you no longer need and you're wondering what to do with it. Good news: you're in the right place. Donating to CommunityAid is genuinely easy, and knowing a few basics beforehand makes the whole process even smoother.

Here's everything you need to know.

Two Ways to Donate

We make it easy to give no matter where you are in Central Pennsylvania.

At One of Our Donation Centers

Every one of our seven stores has its own Donation Center, and it's open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm. Just pull up to the drive-up entrance, follow the signs in the parking lot, and one of our associates will come outside to greet you and help unload your car. No appointment needed. We handle the heavy lifting.

This is the best option if you have household items, furniture, or anything beyond clothing and shoes. Our Donation Centers are the only place that accepts the full range of what we take in.

At One of Our Donation Bins

We have more than 200 bins placed throughout Central Pennsylvania, and there's a good chance one is right in your neighborhood. Bins are fast and convenient. You can drop off any time, any day.

Just keep in mind that bins are for clothing and shoes only. If you have other items, please bring those to a Donation Center at one of our stores.

One important ask: please only place items inside the bin, not outside of it. When donations are left on the ground next to a bin, weather, animals, and other elements contaminate them quickly and we have no choice but to throw them away. That's a real cost to our mission. If a bin is full, your nearest store Donation Center is always an option.

What We Love to Receive

We accept a wide range of gently used items in good condition. Here's what we're always glad to see:

Clothing and Accessories- Men's, women's, and children's clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, wallets, belts, ties, hats, and wigs. New or gently used, all ages, all styles.

Household Items- Pots, pans, kitchenware, home decor, knick-knacks, bed sheets, and curtains.

Entertainment -Books, CDs, DVDs, video games, records, artwork, and collectibles.

Kids' Stuff- Toys and stuffed animals in good condition.

Electronics- Small, fully functional electronics are welcome.

Furniture- Small furniture pieces like nightstands, end tables, coffee tables, and bookshelves. Please note that large furniture acceptance can depend on store space, so it's worth calling ahead.

We also welcome estate items and business or corporate liquidations. If you have a larger situation like that, just reach out and we can talk through it.

A Few Things We Can't Take

We want to be upfront about this because nobody wants to make a trip for nothing.

We can't accept items that are stained, torn, have a strong odor, show signs of mold or pests, or have missing essential parts. Even the best intentions don't change what we can and can't put on the sales floor.

Beyond condition, there are some categories we just don't accept regardless of how good they look:

·       Infant furniture, including car seats, booster seats, highchairs, and baby swings (we can't accept these due to the risk of undetected recalls)

·       Small appliances that are stained or dirty, Tube style TV’s or monitors

·       Computers and computer accessories

·       Air conditioners and dehumidifiers

·       Large exercise equipment

·       Linens, towels, and blankets that are stained or torn

·       Lawn mowers, tires, and rusted tools

·       Kerosene heaters

·       Weapons of any kind

If you're not sure whether something qualifies, your best bet is to bring it to a Donation Center and let our team take a look.

Why It All Matters

Every item you donate sets something in motion. It goes onto our sales floor, gets purchased by a neighbor, generates revenue, and flows back to local nonprofits serving communities across Central Pennsylvania. Your old jacket, your spare kitchen gadgets, your kids' outgrown shoes — they all become part of that cycle.

It really is as simple as pulling up to one of our Donation Centers or dropping something in a bin on your way home.

We're grateful for every single donation. Thank you for being part of what makes this work.

Find your nearest store Donation Center or bin at communityaid.org.