13 Places to Donate Baby and Children’s Items in L.A.
Drowning under the kid clutter? We’ve got you covered with where to take clothes and toy donations in Los Angeles. It’s a bittersweet life fact—kids grow up, and they grow fast. That cute onesie you bought when you were pregnant, her favorite wooden blocks, and even the book he demanded you read nightly—eventually, your baby will outgrow them all. Solution? Find places to donate them. Donating baby gear and children’s items is an excellent way to extend their lifespan, as well as teaching your kids the importance of charity and giving back.
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Used Clothes and Toy Donations Los Angeles
Giving back is great, but you want to make sure your items get into the right hands so they will actually end up being useful. So, what are some great places to donate your gently used items once you’ve sorted the kids’ closets? If you live in the Los Angeles area, these are some of the best options.
Council Thrift Stores
Created and run by the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), The Council Shop is a non-profit organization that offers useful and near-pristine household items for resale. The Council Shop accepts clothes, toys, books, and furniture donations.
Address: Six locations in Burbank, Canoga Park, Fairfax District, Mar Vista, and West Los Angeles. Check directions here for donation drop-off.
Number: 323-655-3111
Email: info@ncjwla.org
photo: Mike Mozart via Flickr
Goodwill Southern California
Goodwill Southern California has over a century of experience providing for others across Southern California and loves to receive children’s and baby items including clothes, toys, books and household items. They’re always happy to provide a donation receipt for your items upon request.
Address: There are over 80 Goodwill donation centers. Take a look at the Goodwill Locator to find the closest one.
Number: 213-673-4875
Email: info@goodwillsocal.org
Union Rescue Mission
The oldest nonprofit rescue mission in Los Angeles, this inspiring institution focuses on assisting individuals experiencing homelessness. Baby items—mainly furniture donations—are greatly appreciated.
Addresses: First location at 15918 Whittier Blvd, Whittier, CA 90603; second location at 280 E Arrow Hwy, 280 E Arrow Hwy, Covina, CA 91722.
Number: 213-673-4875
Email: ajuanico@urm.org
Los Angeles Mission
Los Angeles Mission is one of California’s most reputable Christian charities collecting donations of clothing, hygiene kits and food to help the homeless. Any children’s clothes donations should be sorted and labeled according to size and gender. You can find all of their donation instructions here.
Address: 303 East 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Number: 213-629-1227
Email: info@lamission.net
photo: Mike Mozart via Flickr
Salvation Army
One of the most well-known places to donate, the Salvation Army is an international organization working towards the wellbeing of the unserved. They are always open to receiving children’s items, like clothing, furniture and household items. The best part is they have dozens of retail stores and drop off locations across Southern California locations making it very easy to donate no matter where you live.
Address: Multiple locations across LA
Number: 1-800-SA-TRUCK / 1-800-728-7825
Email: Depends on the location
Harvest Home LA
Harvest Home is a residential program in Los Angeles built to assist homeless pregnant women and their children. As such, it’s one of the best places to donate maternity clothing, baby items, clothes, and toys. Just keep in mind you need to contact them in advance to arrange the donation pick-up.
Address: Physical location not available online for safety issues.
Number: 310-452-1223
Email: info@harvesthomela.org
San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission
Always in search of gently used items, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission accepts donation pick-ups of mostly all children and baby items, as long as they are in excellent condition, so make sure to check their instructions. You can schedule a time and they will come and pick up from your home for free.
Address: 8756 Canby Avenue, Northridge, CA 91325
Number: 800-417-5678, 818-785-4476
Email: sfvrminfo@erescuemission.org
Los Angeles County DPSS Toy Loan Program
Described as a “library for toys,” the Toy Loan Program allows children to borrow toys to play with and return them as they would a book. It runs on donations, so if you have gently used toys, you can request a free pick-up.
Address: 2615 S. Grand Ave., 2nd Fl. Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90007.
Number: 213-744-4344, 213-765-6794.
St. Francis Center
This nonprofit organization has been supporting low-income and homeless families for decades. They operate as a resource center and food bank for families in need, as well as providing clothing and basic necessities. The St. Francis Center accepts gently used kids clothing and shoes. They also have an urgent need for gently used men’s clothes.
Address: 1835 S. Hope St. Los Angeles, CA 90015
Number: 213-747-5347
Email: info@sfcla.org
Buy Nothing Groups
Local Buy Nothing groups offer a great way to donate toys, clothes, and small household items you no longer need. It can be hard to find organizations that will accept baby furniture like used high chairs and cribs, but if they’re still in good condition you can easily pass them along to someone else. Donating toys, clothes, and books not only helps families in need, but it also helps the environment. Swapping items with other parents is another excellent way to ensure that the things your kids have outgrown find a new home instead of ending up in the waste stream. Check out our Local Anchor Facebook group for opportunities to post items you’re ready to give away.
Donating New Items
Donations aren’t always about clearing the closet. If you want to give back during the holiday season or any time of the year here are some local organizations that are always looking for donations of new clothing, new toys and other in-kind donations to help low-income families in need. Many of these places also offer volunteer opportunities and holiday events like toy drives.
Spark of Love Toy Drive
For the past 30 years the Los Angeles Fire Department has hosted Spark of Love, a holiday drive collecting new toys and sports equipment for kids in need. The 2023 drive begins Nov. 24, 2023.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Part of treating pediatric patients is giving them a comfortable place that feels more like home than a hospital. CHLA accepts donations of new toys, games, and books for kids to help keep them entertained while they are undergoing treatment. Check out their Target and Amazon registry for more info on their current needs. CHLA also accepts vehicle donations.
Baby2Baby
Baby2Baby provides low-income families with diapers, children’s clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves. Items collected are distributed to non-profit partner organizations including homeless and domestic violence shelters, Head Start programs, foster care programs and children’s hospitals. Baby2Baby accepts donations of new diapers, wipes and hygiene items.
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