Put Your Unwanted Furniture and Household Items to Good Use

Have you just finished spring cleaning? Do you have a lot of items to unload? Or maybe you are afraid to start spring cleaning because you don't know who will take your child's outgrown stroller or your slightly stained couch? Don't worry: There are plenty of good causes that will send your less-than-perfect furniture and household items to families that can put them to good use. Some of the recommended organizations will sell your donated items at thrift shops and use the money to run a variety of worthwhile programs.

All of the organizations below can schedule a pickup or will provide you with information about dropping off your donations.

National Children's Center. Call 301-595-3840 to schedule a pickup or go to NCC's household donations page.

A Wider Circle. The organization picks up and provide a tax receipt.  Call 301-608-3504 or go to the donations page of the website.

Hope and a Home. This organization finds and furnishes housing for homeless families. Call 202-387-7091 extension 208 or use the web form -- - scroll down to the bottom of the form for donations of furniture and other items.

Goodwill. Call  202-636-4225 or search for your pickup location on the donations web page.

Vietnam Veterans of America. Call 800-459-8387. VVA will also schedule a pickup if you fill out this online form.

Lutheran Social Services. Will pick up gently used household items and furniture to give directly to people in need. Donors report that members of the pickup team may be those who will actually receive the donated items.  In two cases, recent refugees came with the program officer to pick up the items.  The list of needed items is at http://www.lssnca.org/lss/give_gifts.  Call 703-698-5026 ext. 113 to schedule a drop off or pick up. Furniture pick-ups by appointment only each Friday.  Drop off times are Mon - Fri, 9 am to 5 pm at 7401 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church VA 22043.

BabyLove DC. BabyLove does not pick up but you can click here to find out about the next collection drive or how to drop off at its storefront.