Where to Donate Clothing and Household Goods in 2025

Give Back to The Salvation Army Thrift Store and Make a Difference

A Simple Way to Do Good

When you donate, isn’t just about clearing clutter. It’s about creating impact—right in your own neighborhood.

When you donate gently used clothing, kitchenware, linens, or books to The Salvation Army Thrift Store, you’re helping more than just one person. You’re supporting families, funding emergency relief programs, protecting the environment, and making sure no usable item ends up in the landfill before its time.

And with over 100 thrift store locations and 113 Donor Welcome Centres across Canada, it’s easy to pitch in and do something good.

Why Choose The Salvation Army Thrift Store?

You’ve got options when it comes to second hand shops and donation bins. But here’s what makes The Salvation Army Thrift Store stand out:

• It’s Canada’s only national second-hand division of The Salvation Army
• It operates 95 stores and 11 distribution & recycling centres
• It supports 60+ community partnerships across the country
• And most importantly, 100% of proceeds from your donations go toward supporting Canadians in need

In 2024, the organization recorded more than 3 million visits for assistance—and your donations help make that possible. Whether it’s helping someone find warm clothes for the winter or funding addiction recovery programs, it all starts with a simple act of giving.

What Can You Donate?

Here’s the good news: You can donate a wide variety of items! Just make sure they’re clean, safe, and gently used.

Accepted items include:

• Clothing – dresses, pants, sweaters, shoes, activewear
• Kitchenware – dishes, bakeware, small appliances, mugs, glasses
• Home décor – picture frames, baskets, wall art, artificial flowers
• Linens & bedding – blankets, pillows, quilts, curtains
• Leisure items – books, toys, games, sports gear, pet accessories

You can also bring in worn or damaged textiles for recycling. Just label them so staff can sort them properly. It’s a great way to keep clothing out of the trash while still supporting textile diversion efforts.

Here’s the full list: Donations of Clothing & Household Goods

The list is longer than you might think. Whether it’s last year’s winter coat, a few unused mugs, or books your kids have outgrown, The Salvation Army Thrift Store can put them to good use.

What We Don’t Accept

While The Salvation Army Thrift Store appreciates all donations, there are a few items that cannot be accepted due to safety or logistics:

• Furniture and mattresses: These are not accepted at Donor Welcome Centres.
• Wet, heavily soiled, or hazardous materials: Items must be clean, safe, and in usable condition.

Read our donation guidelines for details on what we can and cannot accept.

Not Sure Where to Donate? Here’s Where to Go

While we’d love to offer pick-up services, donations do need to be dropped off in person. With locations across Canada, there’s likely a donation centre closer than you think.

Visit this location finder to search by your city or postal code. You’ll find both thrift store locations and Donor Welcome Centres that are ready to accept your items.

Donor Thank-You Coupon

To show appreciation, donors are offered a 20% off coupon for their next purchase of $20 or more at participating stores. It’s one way The Salvation Army Thrift Store says thank you for helping build stronger communities.

Rooted in a Mission to Serve

The work of The Salvation Army Thrift Store is grounded in more than a century of service. Inspired by founder William Booth’s “Household Salvage Brigade,” the organization continues to meet real needs through practical solutions.

The store’s core values guide every aspect of operations. By donating, Canadians are participating in a legacy of compassion and community care.

Community and Environmental Impact in Action

When you donate to a non-profit thrift store like The Salvation Army, your items don’t just disappear into a donation bin. They help create real change. When someone donates or shops at The Salvation Army Thrift Store, they’re doing more than just giving away clothes or buying second-hand. They’re helping real people in their own community.

The funds raised through store sales go directly back into Salvation Army programs. These include shelter services, food banks, emergency relief, job training, and more. It’s all part of a bigger mission to meet human needs and make a lasting difference in people’s lives.

Thanks to monetary donations in-store, The Salvation Army Thrift Store raised over $865,000 last year to support important programs across Canada.

This money helped with things like:

• $343,939 for the Kettle Campaign, which helps people who are struggling: This helps pay for food, shelter, and other support.
• $140,980 for emergency relief when something unexpected happens, like fires or floods: It helps families when they lose everything suddenly.
• $191,658 to send kids to summer camp: This gives children a safe and fun place to learn and play.
• $106,455 to fight human trafficking and modern slavery: This helps rescue people who are being forced to work or live in unsafe situations.
• $82,965 to support people’s mental health through the Brighter Days Campaign: This helps people feel better and find hope during tough times.

Learn more in our Impact Report.

What The Salvation Army Does Across Canada

The Salvation Army doesn’t just help in one place—they’re in over 400 Canadian communities, and they’re helping people in 133 countries around the world.

Last year, here’s what we were able to do:

• 2.1 million visits for help with food, clothes, or other needs: That’s like the whole population of a big city getting help.
• 3.2 million meals served: That’s a lot of full stomachs and fewer people going hungry.
• 438,000 people received toys or food for Christmas: Families got help during the holidays.
• 5,500 beds provided at shelters or for addiction recovery: People had a safe place to sleep.
• 3,000 kids and teens went to camp: They had fun and made new friends.
• 98 people were rescued from human trafficking: They were taken out of danger and given safety.
• 69,000+ meals served after disasters: Help arrived when people needed it most.

Donating Helps the Planet, Too

Giving to The Salvation Army Thrift Store isn’t just good for people—it’s good for the Earth.

We work hard to keep clothes and items out of the garbage. Instead of being thrown away, items are reused, resold, or recycled.

• 95% of donated items are used or recycled: That means only 5 out of every 100 items go to the landfill.
• Items are cleaned, sorted, and sent to stores or recycling centres: They try to find a new use for everything they can.
• We also work with ethical recycling partners: These are companies that recycle in a safe, fair, and responsible way.

When someone donates something simple, like a shirt, it’s actually helping people and protecting the environment. Check out some of the things you could find when shopping in our Thrift Stores.

A Greener Way to Clean Out Your Closet

Donating your clothes instead of throwing them away isn’t just helpful—it’s powerful. It keeps items out of landfills and gives them a second life. That’s why The Salvation Army Thrift Store is one of Canada’s top leaders in textile diversion, which simply means finding new uses for clothes instead of sending them to the trash.

Every time someone donates, it helps the planet. When clothes are reused, we use less water, fewer chemicals, and create less pollution.

In fact, research shows that for every 100 items of clothing reused, we could avoid making up to 85 brand new garments. That means fewer factories, less waste, and cleaner air.

A major study even found that donating clothes could cut global warming pollution by 14% and reduce harm to people’s health by 45%, compared to tossing them out.

So next time you clean out your closet and bring a bag to your local Thrift Store, know this: you’re helping someone in your community—and protecting the environment at the same time.

One small donation can make a big difference—for people and for the planet.

What Happens After You Donate?

Donated items are sorted at regional centres or in-store. Quality items go to the sales floor, while others are routed to recycling or other programs. All processing is done with care to ensure maximum use and minimum waste.

The process includes:

• Sorting by condition and category
• Pricing and merchandising in stores
• Recycling or repurposing items that cannot be sold

Everything is handled with the goal of honouring the incredible generosity of our donors.

Thanks to over 13 million guests and donors, The Salvation Army has built a reliable system that makes the most of every donation. This includes 11 distribution and recycling centres across the country and over 1,900 employees working behind the scenes to keep things moving.

Supporting Something Bigger

When you donate to The Salvation Army Thrift Store, you’re not just supporting your local second hand shop. You’re backing a movement that started with founder William Booth’s original “Household Salvage Brigade”—a model for giving items new life while meeting practical human needs.

The store’s core values—hope, service, dignity, and stewardship—guide everything they do. And that means your donated toaster or t-shirt helps more than you might think.

You’re supporting affordable access to everyday items. You’re giving people a dignified shopping experience. And you’re helping fund life-changing programs across Canada. Explore more about the impact of your donations here.

How to Donate in 2025

Donating is simple. Here’s how:

1. Gather your gently used clothing, home goods, and small items.
2. Check the list of accepted items.
3. Visit a Donor Welcome Centre near you.
4. Label any bags containing torn or worn textiles for recycling.
5. Drop them off—and don’t forget your 20% thank-you coupon!

Every Donation Counts—Especially in 2025

According to the Fraser Institute, charitable donations are on the decline. That’s why every single contribution counts more than ever.

Whether it’s a couple of shirts or a box of books, your donation to The Salvation Army Thrift Store fuels real change. It’s a chance to reduce waste, support your neighbours, and keep good things going—just by clearing out a little space in your home.

Ready to Donate?

Here’s how to get started:

1. Sort and clean gently used items.
2. Label any worn textiles for recycling.
3. Drop off donations at your nearest Donor Welcome Centre or Thrift Store.
4. Receive a coupon for 20% off your next thrift purchase.

Want to Learn More?

Visit thriftstore.ca to learn more about the mission, values, and programs you support when you donate. Whether you’re looking to give back, shop second hand, or explore sustainable fashion trends for spring 2025, there’s something meaningful waiting for you.

One Small Act, Big Impact

Choosing where to donate matters. The Salvation Army Thrift Store turns your everyday items into hope, help, and support for millions of Canadians. And the best part? You can be part of that change starting today.

So go ahead—open that closet, check your kitchen drawers, and bring your gently used items to your nearest Donor Welcome Centre. Giving back has never been more important… or more rewarding.

Looking for thrifting inspo?

We’ve got great thriftspiration, including seasonal style ideas, different ways to wear the same item, and home decor trends.

Ready to donate?

Find your local Thrift Store and don’t forget to drop off a donation to get a coupon for 20% off your next purchase.