Best Donation Centers in San Diego for Used Furniture and Household Goods
Decluttering your home, preparing for a renovation, or managing an estate cleanout? Before calling for junk removal, consider donating items that still have life left in them. San Diego has an excellent network of charities, thrift stores, and nonprofit organizations that accept furniture, appliances, clothing, and household goods. Donating keeps usable items out of landfills, supports local families in need, and may qualify you for a tax deduction. This guide from Demo Diego highlights the best places to donate in the San Diego area.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is one of the best donation options in San Diego, especially if you have building materials, home improvement items, appliances, or furniture to donate. ReStore operates multiple locations in San Diego County and accepts a wide range of items that many other charities do not take, including doors, windows, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, countertops, flooring, and hardware. This makes it an ideal destination for items salvaged before a demolition or renovation project.
ReStore offers free pickup for large donations, which is incredibly convenient for homeowners managing a major cleanout. Proceeds from ReStore sales fund Habitat for Humanity's mission to build affordable housing in San Diego. Your donated cabinets, sink, or light fixtures directly support local families working toward homeownership.
What they accept: Furniture, appliances (working), building materials, doors, windows, cabinets, countertops, hardware, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, flooring, paint (unopened), and tools. Items must be in usable condition. They do not accept mattresses, clothing, electronics, or hazardous materials.
Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Goodwill is the most recognized donation center in San Diego and operates over 30 retail stores and donation centers throughout the county. They accept a broad range of items including clothing, shoes, accessories, small furniture, books, housewares, small appliances, electronics, and sporting goods. Goodwill's extensive network of locations makes it the most convenient option for most San Diego residents, with drop-off points in virtually every neighborhood.
Goodwill San Diego uses proceeds from sales to fund job training, employment programs, and community services. In 2025, Goodwill San Diego served tens of thousands of individuals through their workforce development programs. When you donate to Goodwill, you are supporting economic opportunity for San Diego residents who face barriers to employment.
What they accept: Clothing, shoes, accessories, housewares, books, small furniture, small appliances (working), electronics, toys, sporting goods, and media. They do not accept large furniture, mattresses, large appliances, building materials, or hazardous items. Items must be clean and in sellable condition.
The Salvation Army San Diego
The Salvation Army operates thrift stores and donation centers across San Diego and is one of the few organizations that offers free furniture pickup from your home. This makes it an excellent option for large items like couches, dining sets, dressers, and desks that are difficult to transport yourself. Their pickup service covers most of San Diego County, though scheduling can take one to two weeks depending on demand and your location.
Donations to the Salvation Army support their Adult Rehabilitation Centers, which provide housing, counseling, and job training for individuals recovering from addiction and homelessness in San Diego. The organization has a deep presence in the community and has served the San Diego area for over a century.
What they accept: Furniture (all sizes), clothing, household goods, small and large appliances (working), electronics, and vehicles. They do not accept mattresses in most cases, building materials, or items in poor condition. Call ahead for large item pickup scheduling.
Father Joe's Villages
Father Joe's Villages is a beloved San Diego institution dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness. Their thrift stores, located in multiple San Diego neighborhoods, accept donated household items, furniture, clothing, and more. Like the Salvation Army, they offer donation pickup for larger items, making it convenient for homeowners and renters who cannot transport bulky furniture themselves.
Revenue from their thrift stores directly funds programs that provide meals, housing, healthcare, and employment services to San Diego's homeless population. Father Joe's Villages serves over 2,500 people each day through their network of programs, making them one of the most impactful organizations you can support through donations.
What they accept: Furniture, clothing, household goods, kitchenware, small appliances, books, toys, and linens. Items should be clean and in functional condition. Contact them directly for large item pickup availability.
Other Donation Options in San Diego
Vietnam Veterans of America
VVA offers free home pickup of clothing, household goods, and small items throughout San Diego County. Schedule a pickup online or by phone. This is a convenient option if you have bags and boxes of items to donate but no way to transport them. Donations support veterans programs and services.
San Diego Rescue Mission
The Rescue Mission operates thrift stores and accepts donations of clothing, household items, furniture, and appliances. Their programs focus on homelessness prevention, recovery services, and workforce training. Drop off at their thrift store locations or inquire about pickup for large items.
Furnishing Hope
This San Diego nonprofit furnishes apartments for formerly homeless individuals and families, domestic violence survivors, veterans, and aging adults. They accept gently used furniture, bedding, kitchenware, and household essentials. Your donation literally helps someone set up their new home. They pick up large items in the San Diego area.
Local Buy Nothing Groups
San Diego has active Buy Nothing groups on Facebook for virtually every neighborhood. These hyperlocal groups connect neighbors who want to give away items with neighbors who need them. It is the most direct form of reuse and keeps items within the community. Search for "Buy Nothing [your neighborhood]" on Facebook to find your local group.
Tips for Donating in San Diego
- 1.Call ahead or check websites before loading up. Donation centers have varying acceptance policies that change seasonally. What one location accepts another may not. A quick call saves you a wasted trip.
- 2.Clean items before donating. Wiping down furniture, washing clothing, and cleaning appliances increases the chance they will be accepted and makes them more appealing to recipients.
- 3.Get a receipt for tax purposes. Most charitable organizations in San Diego provide a donation receipt. Keep these for your tax records. For items valued over $500, you may need a written appraisal. Consult a tax professional for specifics.
- 4.Consider the condition honestly. Donation centers are not dumping grounds. If an item is broken, heavily stained, or not functional, it belongs in junk removal, not donations. Charities spend money to dispose of unusable items, which takes away from their mission.
- 5.Schedule pickup services early. Free pickup from organizations like the Salvation Army and Habitat ReStore can take one to three weeks to schedule, especially during busy seasons. If you are on a renovation timeline, plan ahead.
- 6.Combine donation with junk removal. When hiring Demo Diego for junk removal, let us know which items you would like donated. We sort and deliver donatable items to local charities as part of our service, saving you the time and effort of managing separate donation drop-offs.
What About Items That Cannot Be Donated?
Not everything can or should be donated. Items that are broken, heavily worn, water-damaged, or otherwise not usable need proper disposal. For mattresses, broken furniture, old electronics, yard waste, and general household junk, Demo Diego offers affordable junk removal services throughout San Diego County. We prioritize recycling and responsible disposal for everything we haul away. For a complete list of what we take, read our guide on what items junk removal companies can take.
For hazardous materials like paint, chemicals, batteries, and electronics containing hazardous components, the City of San Diego operates the Miramar Household Hazardous Waste Facility, which accepts these items from San Diego residents for free. The facility is open Thursday through Saturday and handles everything from old paint cans to motor oil to expired medications.
The most eco-friendly approach to any cleanout is a three-step process: donate what is usable, recycle what can be recycled, and responsibly dispose of the rest. Demo Diego can help with all three steps, making your cleanout as green as possible. To understand the costs involved, check our junk removal pricing guide for San Diego.
Need Help With Your Cleanout?
Demo Diego handles donation sorting, recycling, and junk removal all in one visit. Call us for a free estimate and let us take the work out of your cleanout. We serve all of San Diego County.
Call 760-860-8080View our Junk Removal Services or contact us online. Back to the Demo Diego Blog.