Thrift Donation FAQs
How do I donate?
Are donations tax deductible?
What may I donate?
How many items may I donate?
When can I drop off donations?
Are there any items you do NOT accept?
What happens to my items once I drop them off?
What is the money generated from the sale of my donated items used for?
What else do I need to know?
Still have questions or want to know more?
Interested in volunteering and joining WSL?
- Stop by our shop at 114 Elmer Street, 1st Floor, to drop off donations.
Are donations tax deductible?
- Yes. Please request a receipt from a staff member.
What may I donate?
- Clothing - women's, men's, teen's, children of all ages
- Shoes & accessories, including handbags, hats and jewelry
- Bedding & Curtains - must be clean and free of stains
- Books
- Home decor
- Housewares — small appliances, dishes, china, glassware, pots and pans, cooking utensils, etc.
- Small furniture — side tables, dining chairs (We have limited storage, so please keep size in mind when considering donations)
- Sporting goods
How many items may I donate?
- Currently, there is no limit on donations.
When can I drop off donations?
- We accept donations September through June, as we follow the Westfield Schools calendar. Donations may be dropped off during our shop hours:
- Tuesday - Friday 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
- Saturday - 10 am to 3 pm
Are there any items you do NOT accept?
- Yes! So glad you asked! We do not accept just one shoe. We need both. Same goes for earrings. No holey tees. No shirts with underarm stains. No moth-eaten sweaters. No books with broken spines. No broken toys; we are not Santa's elves. Not that we have anything against elves we just don't have a repair workshop. You'd be surprised what shows up in our shop or on the front porch. (All of the aforementioned and thensome.) We could go on but it's best to stop here. Use your best judgment. If it's not something you'd buy, chances are others won't either. Just please don't bring us damaged goods. We beg of you. Here's more of what we do not accept...
- No electronic devices.
- Large furniture
- Magazines
What happens to my items once I drop them off?
- Volunteers sort through and price items. If they are in season, they are put out on the floor for sale. If they are out of season, they are stored in our limited storage area until a later date.
- Some items that may not sell in our shop may be donated to other charity organizations. Damaged goods usually end up in the garbage. (See note above.)
- Towels go to animal rescue groups.
What is the money generated from the sale of my donated items used for?
- Net sales proceeds from sales of the Thrift Shop and Consignment Shop benefit other nonprofit and service organizations in Westfield and Union County. Thanks to you, we've been able do donate more than $2.8 million since 1941. That's a lot of used clothing, toys and other stuff! Read more about this year's donations here.
- A small portion helps pay for a mostly part-time staff, who work alongside dozens of volunteers.
What else do I need to know?
- Our dressing room is closed at this time.
- We reserve the right to close due to inclement weather. We don't want to get out of bed on cold, wet snowy days and we're pretty sure you don't either, so that's why we close when the weather is bad. Also, to help keep our employees safe. To check if we are closed due to bad weather, visit our website, Instagram feed or Facebook page. Or you can call. If no one answers, that's your answer.
Still have questions or want to know more?
- Sign up for our weekly newsletter on our website (Home or Thrift Shop pages) or in person at the shops to get the latest Weekly News.
- Call us at 908-233-2530
Interested in volunteering and joining WSL?
- Request information via wslbymail@gmail.com