Where to donate your stuff as you spring clean

Makenzie Huber -

Simplified: Moving? Spring cleaning? Kids growing too fast? Whatever the reason, 'tis the season for getting rid of extra stuff. And as they say, one person's trash is another's treasure, so here's a roundup of local organizations who can give your no-longer-needed items a second life.

Why it matters

  • You can donate all of your items at the nearest Goodwill or sell them to a consignment shop, but many local nonprofits give donated items directly to people or families who need them most for free.
  • This list comes from the Helpline Center, a 24-hour phone hotline and online statewide database for information and referrals for community services. That includes volunteer and donation opportunities, support groups, family planning assistance, child care options, and suicide prevention and support.

A note:

  • Some organizations on this list ask that you call before dropping items off, so check with the Helpline Center or call the organizations directly to check.
  • The list does not include items in need that were labeled “new” — except for hygiene items — since this round-up focuses on second-hand donations.
  • Clothes or fabric too worn out to donate? Turn them into shingles at the Union Gospel Mission.

Where to donate adult clothes and shoes:

  • Lifescape
  • The Foster Network
  • Fifteen 5 Ministries
  • Volunteers of America
  • Hurdle Life Coach Foundation
  • Glory House (specifically work boots)
  • Marty’s Closet at The Transformation Project
  • McCrossan Boys Ranch (including cowboy boots)
  • Dress for Success (including snowboots and work boots)
  • Sioux Falls VA healthcare (specifically sweatpants, sweatshirts, t-shirts, shoes)
  • Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety (including backpacks and luggage)
  • Bishop Dudley (specifically underwear, gently used bras, socks, adult backpacks, shoes)

Where to donate infant, youth or teen clothes:

  • Birthright
  • Teddy Bear Den
  • Harbor Families
  • Center for Hope
  • The Foster Network
  • McCrossan Boys Ranch
  • Marty’s Closet at The Transformation Project
  • Sioux Falls School District’s McKinney Homeless Education
  • Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety (including backpacks and luggage)

Where to donate maternity clothes:

  • Dress for Success
  • Embrace Grace
  • Birthright

Where to donate household items:

  • Oxford House
  • Teddy Bear Den
  • Furniture Mission
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • All About U Adoptions
  • LSS Center for New Americans
  • Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare
  • The Foster Network (specifically bunk beds)
  • Volunteers of America (including interior paint)
  • Habitat for Humanity ReStore (home renovation materials)
  • LSS Center for New Americans (specifically kitchen items)
  • Hezekiah House (home appliances, lawn care equipment, snow shovels)
  • McCrossan Boys Ranch (Christmas supplies, DVD players and movies, gardening supplies and tools, furniture, dishes)

Where to donate bedding and blankets:

  • Washed Clean
  • Center for Hope
  • Fifteen 5 Ministries
  • McCrossan Boys Ranch
  • LSS Center for New Americans
  • Sioux Falls Area Humane Society
  • Sioux Falls School District’s McKinney Homeless Education

Where to donate bicycles:

  • Oxford House
  • Center for Hope
  • South Dakota Department of Corrections bicycle (adult and children’s) and wheelchair refurbishing program “Pedal Power from The Pen”

Where to donate pet items:

  • Sioux Falls Area Humane Society (specifically pet food, collars and leashes, toys, kitty litter and boxes, pet carriers and kennels, and food and water bowls)

Where to donate technology:

  • Volunteers of America
  • Hurdle Life Coach Foundation
  • Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety (specifically cell phones)
  • Lifescape (including movies, CDs, computer games and audio cassettes)

Where to donate school supplies:

  • Fifteen 5 Ministries
  • Sioux Falls School District
  • Hurdle Life Coach Foundation
  • Volunteers of America (including calculators)

Where to donate office supplies:

  • Boys and Girls Club
  • St. Francis House
  • Bishop Dudley
  • McCrossan Boys Ranch
  • Sioux Falls Area Humane Society
  • Washed Clean Ministries (including stamps)
  • Compass Center (including stamps)
  • Sioux Falls Area Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program

Where to donate art supplies:

  • EmBe
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Compass Center
  • Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare
  • Volunteers of America

Where to donate toys and games:

  • Harbor Families
  • EmBe (including aquatic)
  • Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare
  • Lifescape (specifically outdoor and recreational toys)
  • McCrossan Boys Ranch (specifically board games, books, gift cards, sporting equipment)

Where to donate children’s books:

  • EmBe
  • Lifescape
  • Volunteers of America
  • Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare
  • Sioux Falls Area Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program

Where to donate baby supplies:

  • Center for Hope
  • Embrace Grace
  • Volunteers of America
  • LSS Center for New Americans
  • Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety
  • Necessities for Neighbors (specifically diapers)
  • Harbor Families (specifically diapers and formula)
  • Boys and Girls Club (specifically diapers and wipes)
  • Teddy Bear Den (including highchairs, strollers, diapers, and formula)
  • Birthright (including formula, bibs, bottles, baby food, and diapers)
  • The Foster Network (including equipment, pack-n-plays, and strollers)
  • Sioux Falls School District’s McKinney Homeless Education (specifically diapers)

Where to donate winter clothing:

  • Glory House
  • Bishop Dudley
  • Center for Hope
  • Fifteen 5 Ministries
  • The Foster Network
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Sioux Falls VA healthcare
  • Teddy Bear Den (newborn - 2T)

Where to donate cleaning supplies and laundry detergent:

  • Bishop Dudley
  • Compass Center
  • St. Francis House
  • McCrossan Boys Ranch
  • Ronald McDonald House
  • Sioux Falls VA healthcare
  • LSS Center for New Americans
  • Sioux Falls Area Humane Society

Where to donate hygiene products (new and unused):

  • Bishop Dudley
  • Glory House
  • Salvation Army
  • Center for Hope
  • Journey of Hope
  • Compass Center
  • St. Francis House
  • Fifteen 5 Ministries
  • The Foster Network
  • Sioux Falls VA healthcare
  • Ronald McDonald House
  • Washed Clean Ministries
  • Charis Ministry Partners
  • Necessities for Neighbors
  • Cougar Cupboard at USF
  • Hurdle Life Coach Foundation
  • LSS Center for New Americans
  • Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare
  • Boys and Girls Club (teen programming)
  • Sioux Falls School District’s McKinney Homeless Education