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 unless there is access to an elevator) are $35.

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A PICKUP

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 – YES

  • Dressers
  • Chests of drawers/armoires (6 ft. by 3 ft. max)
  • Nightstands
  • Mattresses (queen, full, and twin) with no flaws
  • Box springs (queen, full, and twin)
  • Collapsible metal bed rails (no tools required)
  • Bedding (queen, full, and twin)
  • New, unopened bed pillows
  • Lamps

KITCHEN – YES

  • Wooden dining tables
  • Dining chairs, in matching set of two or more
  • Small appliances: blenders, microwaves, toasters, air fryers, coffee makers, etc.
  • Microwave-safe dishes
  • Pots, pans, baking sheets
  • Drinking glasses, tumblers, water bottles
  • Eating and cooking utensils
  • Dish towels, oven mitts, tablecloths

BATHROOM – YES

  • Clean towels, washcloths, bathmats
  • Shower curtains, rods, rings

LIVING ROOM – YES

  • Sofas and loveseats (size restrictions apply)
  • Armchairs
  • Reclining chairs and gliders (non-electric)
  • Coffee tables and end tables
  • Small TV stands
  • Area rugs (8 ft. by 10 ft. max)
  • Flat-screen TVs with stand, remote, & cord
  • Bookshelves (6 ft. by 3 ft. max)
  • Throw pillows

MISCELLANEOUS – YES

  • Vacuums
  • Trash cans
  • Laundry baskets
  • Artwork and decor (as space allows)
  • Mirrors
  • Irons and ironing boards
  • Alarm clocks

NO, THANK YOU

BEDROOM – NO

  • Chests of drawers/armoires larger than 6 ft. by 3 ft.
  • Headboards and footboards
  • Wooden or brass bed frames
  • Captain’s beds, bunk beds, day beds, lofts
  • King-size beds (including split kings)
  • Powered adjustable bed frames or hospital beds
  • Vanities/dressing tables
  • Wardrobe cabinets
  • Clothing, books, media, luggage
  • Used bed pillows

KITCHEN – NO

  • Glass-top dining tables
  • China cabinets
  • Buffets, hutches, sideboards
  • Large appliances (fridges, stoves)
  • Alcohol-related items (wine racks, wine/beer glasses)
  • China and non-microwaveable dishes

LIVING ROOM – NO

  • Futons or sleeper sofas
  • Reclining sofas with permanently attached backs
  • Electric recliners and lift chairs
  • Glass, granite, or concrete-top coffee tables
  • Entertainment centers
  • Credenzas
  • Curio cabinets
  • Wooden rocking chairs

MISCELLANEOUS – NO

  • Home office: Desks, rolling chairs, filing cabinets
  • Bookcases larger than 6 ft. by 3 ft.
  • Cribs, baby items, toys
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Sewing tables
  • Medical, mobility, or exercise equipment
  • Christmas, holiday, or religious art/decor
  • Anything requiring installation (light fixtures, washers/dryers, wall-mounted shelving)
  • Folding tables or chairs
  • Space heaters or electric fireplaces
  • Tools
  • Computers, phones, media players
  • Candles or candlesticks
  • Curtain rods, valences