Looking to donate household items safely and eco-friendly on the Peninsula? Find donation centers from Burlingame, San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and more!
Assistance League – Turnstyle Thrift Shop
Cause: Four philanthropic programs: Operation School Bell® provided clothing for over 2900 children with new school clothes, College Scholarships and Assault Survivor Kits. In addition, we do Community Outreach which partners with local agencies to help fill specific unmet needs in our community on a short term basis. The main source of our income for these programs is our thrift shop.
Accepts Donations: “gently used” items to the shop entrance and a volunteer will assist you in dropping off your items.
❌ No Donations:
- Large furniture, mattresses, or large appliances
- TVs, computers, or printers
- Encyclopedias
- Cars or motorcycles
- Large exercise equipment
- Baby furniture, infant car seats
- Toys and stuffed animals
- Sports Equipment
- Address: 60 North B Street, San Mateo, CA 94401
- Contact: 650-342-2367
- Hours & drop-off: TUESDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 10:00am-4:00pm
Plato’s Closet
Cause: Bring in your gently used items and get cash on the spot, or shop around for your favorite brands at affordable prices.
Accepts Donations: buys and sells gently used clothes, shoes and accessories for teens and young adults. We buy styles for all seasons, all day, every day, with no appointment necessary. Each location is individually owned and operated, so it’s easy to support local while shopping sustainably and affordably.
- Address: 156 Eureka Square, Pacifica, CA 94044
- Contact: 650-735-8788
- Hours & drop-off: Call to confirm
- Sunday: 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
- Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Treasure Paws
Cause: To become the largest provider of animal welfare funding in the America, while providing excellent healthcare and livable wages to everyone who joins us in our mission.
Accepts Donations: gently used clothing, housewares, collectibles, records, CDs, art, and jewelry—all in saleable condition
✅ Women’s Clothing
✅ Jewelry & Watches
✅ Antiques & Collectibles
✅ Cameras
✅ Video Games
✅ Records/LPs
✅ Original Artwork
Can’t Accept 🚫
- Furniture
- Broken, stained, torn, or incomplete items
- Heavily worn items
- Seasonal decorations
- Bulk book donations (unless rare or collectible)
Schedule Donation: Fill out Form
- Address: 1127 Chula Vista Avenue in Burlingame, CA
- Contact: https://www.treasurepaws.org/contact
- Hours & drop-off: Monday–Sunday, 10 AM – 1 PM no appointment needed
- Best Time to Donate: If possible, drop off between 10 AM – 11 AM
Peninsula Family Service
Cause: nonprofit organization in San Mateo County dedicated to strengthening children, families, and older adults. Through trusted, community-based programs, PFS delivers San Mateo County nonprofit services that promote stability, wellness, and opportunity at every stage of life.
Accepts Donations: jewelry, clothing, accessories, china, collectibles, and other fine goods
- Address: 1589 Laurel Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
- Contact: 650-769-9977
- Email: familytree@pfso.org
- Hours & drop-off:
- Tuesdays: 10am – 4pm
- Thursdays: 10am – 4pm
- Saturdays: 11am – 2pm
St. Vincent de Paul
Cause: network of charity organizations with programs that provide food, clothing, shelter, rental assistance, medical services, employment, and workforce development
Accepts Donations:
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Wares
- Kitchen goods and housewares
- Linens, towels, curtains
- Typewriters
- TVs, amplifiers (for music)
- Sewing machines, small sporting goods
- Furniture in good (salable) condition
- Tools
- Crafts
❌ No Donations:
- Computers and printers
- Non-working electronics of any kind
- Large desks
- Entertainment centers
- Fiberboard furniture
- Weights and exercise equipment
- Pianos and organs
- Office furniture (desks, credenzas, file cabinets, tables)
- Damaged, stained or pet loved items
- Mattresses and box springs
- Sofa beds, futons, headboards
- Hazardous materials such as: paint, household cleaners, chemicals
- Fluorescent light bulbs
- Appliances
- Outdoor grills
- Carpet remnants
- Encyclopedias
- Tires
- Bathtubs, sinks, toilets or other construction goods
- Cribs, toys, car seats, playpens, strollers, and swing sets, high chairs, booster seats, walkers or jumpies
Menlo Park Clothing Closet:
- Address: 728a Willow Road, Menlo Park CA 94025
- Phone: 650-366-6367
- Donation Hours: Call
San Mateo:
- Address:40 N B St, San Mateo CA 94401
- Phone: 650-347-5101
- Donation Hours: Call
South San Francisco:
- Address:344 Grand AveSouth San Francisco CA 94080
- Phone: 650-589-8445
- Donation Hours: Call
Little Free Pantry
Cause: Let’s serve our neighbors in need by supporting our very own Little Free Pantry. Bring non-perishable food and hygiene donations
Accepts Donations: non-perishable foods, hygiene items
- Canned Proteins
- Boxed/Canned Soups/Stocks/Broths
- Shelf Stable Milk/Beverages
- Grains/Carbs
Accepts Non-food Items
- Dog / cat food
- Socks
- Rain gear
- Baby wipes & diapers
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste & alcohol-free mouthwash
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Sun block & SPF lotions
- Toilet paper
- Feminine hygiene products
- Sanitizer sprays or wipes
- Gloves
- First-Aid supplies
- Cleaning supplies
- Address: 2094 Grant Rd, Mountain View, CA 94040
- Contact: (650) 967-4724
- Email: admin@sttims.org
- Hours & drop-off: check website or call to confirm
Hope Thrift
Cause: Hope Services operates 60 innovative, award-winning programs that provide meaningful employment opportunities and resources that improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism spectrum disorders. We provide in-need Bay Area residents with vital resources such as job training, day programs, staffing, mental health services, community living services and senior services.
Accepts Items: Clothing, select Baby items, Household, Small Appliances, Kitchen equipment, Media, Electronics, Sports, Tools, Outdoor equipment
Mountain View Drop Off Location
- Address: 460 E. Middlefield Road, Mountain View CA 94043
- Phone: 650-861-3040
- Donation Drop-Off Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-3pm
The Shop Menlo Park
Cause: improving the wellbeing of its community through programs and community partnerships that address the impacts of systemic poverty on the physical and mental health of individuals and families, including the lack of sufficient housing, food, and provisions.
Accepts Donations: gently-worn, quality clothing, shoes, accessories and other merchandise in “like new” condition
- Antiques and collectibles
- Framed art
- Bric-a-brac
- Nice baskets
- Costumes
- Cookbooks, current fiction and children’s books
- Music CDs and DVDs
- Clothing for men, women and children
- Sets of china
- Crystal
- Flower vases
- Furniture*
- Sets of glasses and stemware
- Garden accessories – clean!
- Gift items
- Handbags and purses
- Hats
- Home decor
- Lamps with shades
- Decorative pillows
- Seasonal decorations
- Shoes and boots (gently worn or new)
- Toys and games
- Vintage jewelry
- *Donations of furniture need approval from the Store Manager.
❌ No Donations
- Dated, stained clothing
- Dated, scuffed shoes and handbags
- Used lingerie, underwear, swimwear and socks
- Vacuum cleaners
- Ski equipment
- Infant cribs and equipment
- TVs, computers, printers, stereos, electronics
- Miscellaneous broken/damaged junk
- Office or plastic furniture
- Incomplete or broken games / toys
- Food or other perishable items
- Address: 725 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025
- Contact: 650.328.7467
- Hours & drop-off: Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
St. Francis
Cause: Since 1986, we have been guided by our motto: “compassion, not judgment.” We partner with individuals and families in North Fair Oaks and surrounding communities to provide education, essential services, youth & community programs, and housing to create community connections so that every person can thrive.
Accepts Donations:
- Clothing for individuals of all ages, shapes, and sizes
- Gently used or new clothing for babies, toddlers, and children of all sizes.
- New underwear and socks for all ages and sizes.
- Adult clothing for both men and women in a range of sizes.
- Address: St. Francis Center, 151 Buckingham Ave, Redwood City
- Contact: (650) 365-7829
- Hours & drop-off: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM
American Cancer Society Discovery Shop
Cause: help support the fight against cancer through the sale of high quality, gently used, donated merchandise
Accepts Donations: clothing, accessories, jewelry, furniture, artwork, antiques, collectibles, and other household items.
Special Discounts:
- Military Discount: Receive 10% off your purchase everyday! (ID required)
- Seniors 55+: Save 10% on your purchase on Tuesdays!
Menlo Park
- Address: 748 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025
- Hours: Mon–Sat 10am – 6 pm, Sunday 10am – 5pm
- Phone: 650-325-8939
Los Altos
- Address: 243 Main Street, Los Altos, CA 94022
- Hours: Mon–Sat 10am – 6 pm, Sunday 10am – 5pm
- Phone: 650-949-0505
Public Library
Cause: generous donations of money, books and media allow our organization to fund programs and materials at the Library
Accepts Donations: books, DVDs, magazines, CDs, audiobooks, electronic resources, and other items for all age ranges
San Mateo County Library List
Mountain View
- Address: 585 Franklin Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
- Hours & drop-off:
- Monday: 10am – 12pm
- Wednesday: 11:30am – 1:30pm
- Friday: 1pm – 3pm
- 1st three Saturdays of the month: 10am – 11:30am
- Accepts Donations:
- Materials We Accept
- Paperback and hardback fiction and non-fiction books
- Console video games for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch
- Books and music on CD
- Software
- DVDs and Blu-ray disks
- Computer manuals published in the last four years
- Spanish language materials
- ❌ No Donations
- Damaged, dirty, broken, or damp materials
- Newspapers
- Magazines of any kind including National Geographic magazines
- Catalogs, cards or other miscellaneous items
- Cassettes or VHS tapes
- Encyclopedias
- Foreign language (other than Spanish) materials
Palo Alto
- Address: 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA
- Hours & drop-off: Monday – Friday 3-5PM, Saturday 1-5PM
- Donation Limit: 12 bags/boxes
- Schedule Pick Up: Fill out form
- Accepts Donations:
- Books
- Comic Books
- Graphic Novels
- Textbooks
- Computer Books
- CDs
- DVDs, Blu-ray, 4K
- Records/Vinyl (45s, 78s, LPs)
- Software & Manuals
- Puzzles
- Games
- Toys
- Cameras
- Typewriters
- Tools: hand and power tools – must be in working condition, small enough for one person to easily carry (i.e. no table saws)
- Ephemera
- Tarot Decks
- Postcards (unused or mailed)
- Greeting Cards (blank)
- Vintage Black & White Photos
- Maps
- Sheet Music
- Magazines
- Globes (Earth, Middle Earth, Moon, Mars, Constellation, Barsoom, etc.)
- Small collectibles (figurines, bookends, souvenirs, clocks, watches, etc.) – These must be unbroken and in working condition
donations east bay
We include donation take-away in all services!
