Donating to Goodwill is a simple way to make a big difference in our community! Here are some Frequently Asked Questions that may come in handy as you get ready to donate!

Where can I donate my no longer needed items?

Please visit our Where to Donate page to find a location nearest you.

Does Goodwill offer a pick-up service for donations?

In order to keep our costs down, we are unable to make house calls to pick up donations, however we offer convenient donation centers located throughout Central Virginia and Hampton Roads. All of our retail stores also accept donated items as well. Our associates will gladly assist you in offloading donations from your vehicle.

New Paid Priority Pickup Service Partnership with College Hunks Hauling Junk

Goodwill will now offer two options for donors:

1. Donation drop off sites located throughout Central Virginia & Hampton Roads, found here
2. 48 Hour, Priority Paid Pick-Up Service with College Hunks Hauling Junk for Donors in Central Virginia

Goodwill now offers a 48 hour priority, fee-based pick up option to Central Virginia residents who wish to have their donated items picked up with College Hunks Hauling Junk.

The priority service does charge a fee but includes additional benefits such as:

• Removal of items from anywhere inside the property
• Removal of junk and items Goodwill cannot accept

Goodwill donors will receive a discount off the regular pricing of College Hunks Hauling. All donations are still tax-deductible when using the new 48-hour priority service option. College Hunks Hauling drivers will provide you with a Goodwill receipt.

This program evolved due to the high volume of requests for pick-up service, which Goodwill has not provided for several years due to excessive transportation costs. The new fee-based service will accept items that may be difficult for donors to transport including furnishings and large amounts of donated items at one time.

Pick Up Booking: Goodwill donors will benefit from a discount and can schedule their no-obligation priority service hauling and donation estimates via the following methods:

Online:

• Visit College Hunks Hauling Junk online by clicking here
• Use their Book Online form.

Phone:

• Call 1-888-461-5241 and speak with a local representative.

• Identify yourself as a Goodwill donation partner with a request for pick-up service.

Why should I donate to Goodwill rather than another organization?

Goodwill puts your donations to work! More than 85 percent of Goodwill Industries' revenue goes directly into employment and training programs for people with disabilities and others with obstacles to employment. Goodwill stores also provide jobs and work experience for individuals in Goodwill's education and training programs.

Unfortunately, some for-profit companies arrange to use a charity's name to collect donations in exchange for a flat fee or percentage of the revenue. Often this is not evident to those donating, and the percentage that is given to the charity may be less than 5 cents for every dollar spent.

Have comfort in knowing that your donations are kept locally, sold locally, and contribute to programs and services in our communities.

What is my donation worth when I claim a tax deduction?

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires donors to value their own donated items. To help guide you, Goodwill Industries International has compiled a list providing price ranges for items commonly sold in Goodwill stores. Assume the items you donate are in good condition, and remember: prices are only estimated values. The listing can be found here.

What happens to donated items that aren't sold in Goodwill stores?

Our goal is to try and generate revenue to fund Goodwill programs for every item that is donated. We recycle many items that are not salable, by reselling them to industrial buyers.

If I shop at a Goodwill store, will I be depriving disadvantaged people of items they need?

No. Goodwill serves disadvantaged individuals through education, training and job placement programs, as well as support services.

Who does Goodwill help?

Goodwill's programs and services are designed to meet the training and placement needs of the local community. Some individuals that use Goodwill's services face a number of obstacles to employment, including a lack of work experience or history, illiteracy, language barriers, or a dependency on public assistance.