donate items

Our mission is to give under-served families a sense of pride and to improve the quality of their lives by providing basic household furnishings. Every year we redistribute thousands of furniture items and household goods to the formerly unhoused, women and children escaping abusive situations, and those living in poverty in St. Louis and St. Louis County. Thank you for giving your furniture another life with a family in our community!

NEED TO REQUEST A PICKUP?

Do you have a larger item to donate? We can schedule a time to come to your home for pieces that may not fit in your vehicle. Please fill out our form below, and our staff will be in touch to schedule a pickup time! Donations moved outdoors are free, and indoor pickups (first floor only) are $35.

If you represent a business or organization hoping to donate items to Home Sweet Home, click here.

HAVE ITEMS TO DROP OFF?

We accept donations of new or gently-used furnishings and household items that can help our clients set up their new living spaces. To make a drop off, stop by our warehouse loading dock located at 10 Sunnen Drive, Suite 100, Maplewood, MO 36143.

  • We are open to receive donations Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
  • NEW! We will also be open the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM to collect donations.
  • Before donating, please review our Accepted Items to Donate list to the right. To view a PDF file of this list, click here.
  • Before donating, please make sure that your items are clean, fully functional, and in good condition.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why do you collect a fee?

In short, we charge a small furniture pickup fee to offset the cost of gas, insurance, and upkeep on our truck and to pay the bills so we can continue to provide donated furniture to marginalized families. 

When you donate furniture and household goods to Home Sweet Home, the pickup fee enables us to:

  • Provide furniture and household goods to marginalized members of our community.
  • Pay rent and utilities on our warehouse where we:
    • Unload donations of gently used furniture.
    • House our furniture showroom, in which Home Sweet Home offers clients the dignity of choosing furnishings suited to their personal style and the space restrictions of their new homes.
    • Maintain the workshop where we salvage and repair slightly damaged furniture and make them available to families instead of sending them to a landfill.
    • Run our modest office, the hub of Home Sweet Home’s operations.
    • Maintain, insure, and operate two 16-foot box trucks to pick up donations every morning and deliver to clients every afternoon. That’s a lot of gas!
    • Significantly subsidize furniture delivery costs for client families whose deliveries are not covered by their referring agency.
    • Actively reduce and reuse your usable, gently used furniture – which means it’s not ending up in landfill.

Do you service pickup requests in Illinois?

Unfortunately, at this time we are only able to service pickup requests in the state of Missouri. We won’t bore you with all the details, but the department of transportation requires special interstate licensing when crossing state lines. We hope to service some Illinois cities very soon!

Why do you not accept everything?

We’ve been accused a time or two of “being very picky.”  And, you know what? We are! Our families come from a variety of difficult situations, and we take pride in ensuring every item they receive from our warehouse is clean, like new, and in good working order. Additionally, our clients often live in smaller apartments or houses, so we may not be able to accept larger furniture pieces.

Can I drop off donations?

You sure can! We are currently accepting drop off donations at the loading docks every Monday-Friday between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Our warehouse is located at 10 Sunnen Drive in Maplewood, MO. We appreciate your willingness to donate!

How long does it take to receive a response / schedule a pickup?

We do our best to respond to every inquiry within one business day. Sometimes, it may take up to three business days. Generally, we are able to schedule pickups with 1-2 weeks, but this varies from day to day.

Can I receive a tax receipt for my donation?

Yes! Whether you drop items off at our warehouse or schedule a pickup, our staff and volunteers can provide a tax receipt.

YES, PLEASE

BEDROOM

  • Bed rails that are metal and collapsible
  • Mattresses (queen, full, and twin)
  • Box springs (queen, full, and twin)
  • NEW pillows
  • Dressers
  • Bedding
  • Nightstands

KITCHEN

  • Kitchen tables / chairs
  • Pots, pans, casserole dishes
  • Small appliances: blenders, microwaves, slow cookers, toasters, toaster ovens, coffee pots, electric kettles
  • Sets of plates and dishes (porcelain or plastic)
  • Sets of juice and drinking glasses
  • Dining utensils
  • Toasters
  • Dish towels, kitchen towels, oven mitts
  • Cooking utensils (spatulas, can openers, etc.)
  • Baking pans, cookie sheets, muffin tins, etc. 
  • Colanders
  • Ice cube trays

BATHROOM

  • Shower curtains, expandable rods, rings
  • NEW shower liners
  • Bath / hand towels and washcloths
  • Bath mats / rugs

LIVING ROOM

  • Couches (8 ft or smaller), love seats, chairs
  • Coffee / side tables
  • Lamps
  • Area rugs (8 ft x 10 ft or smaller)
  • Flat screen televisions
  • Bookshelves (under 6 ft tall)

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Vacuums and brooms
  • Trash cans
  • Laundry baskets / hampers

NO, THANK YOU

BEDROOM

  • Wooden bed frames 
  • Bunk beds
  • Daybeds
  • Four poster beds
  • Headboards / footboards
  • King mattresses, split king box springs, and frames
  • Trundle beds
  • Used pillows

KITCHEN

  • China cabinets / hutches
  • Individual kitchen chairs
  • Large appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.)
  • Alcohol-related items
  • Sideboards / buffets
  • China and non-microwaveable dishes

LIVING ROOM

  • Curio cabinets
  • Credenzas
  • Futons / sleeper sofas
  • Recliner sofas with fixed backs
  • Large TV cabinets / entertainment centers
  • Rocking chairs / gliders
  • Large glass-top furniture
  • Tube / projection televisions

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Outdoor / wicker furniture
  • Electronic furniture
  • Baby / infant furniture (cribs, bassinets, high chairs, etc.)
  • Baby supplies (bottles, car seats, etc.)
  • Children’s toys and books
  • Clothes / shoes
  • Exercise equipment
  • Pet supplies
  • Pianos / instruments
  • Desks / office furniture
  • Candles
  • Books
  • Computers / gaming systems