What Goodwill Can and Can't Accept: A Simple Guide to Giving

Donating your gently used items to Goodwill Acadiana is one of the easiest ways to give back to your community. But when you’re cleaning out closets or clearing clutter, it’s not always obvious what to keep and what to toss.

To help you give with confidence, here’s a quick guide on what to donate!

✅ Great Items to Donate

We accept items that are clean, gently used, and safe. If someone else could use it today, it’s probably a great fit for Goodwill Acadiana!

Clothing & Accessories

• Adult and children’s clothing

• Shoes, belts, and purses

• Hats, scarves, and jewelry

• New socks (in original packaging)

Home Goods & Small Appliances

• Dishes, pots, pans, and kitchen tools

• Lamps, clocks, and picture frames

• Small appliances (blenders, toasters, etc.) in working order

• Baskets, vases, storage bins

Books, Media & Toys

• Novels, children’s books, cookbooks

• Board games and puzzles (with all pieces)

• DVDs, CDs, and vinyl records

• Clean stuffed animals and toys

Furniture & Décor

• Chairs, tables, shelves, and small dressers

• Rugs, curtains, blankets, and comforters

• Holiday decorations and wall art

Other Accepted Items

• Office supplies, craft materials

• Luggage and backpacks

🚫 Items We Kindly Ask You to Toss or Recycle

Damaged or Dirty Items

• Torn, stained, or moldy clothing

• Broken electronics or furniture

• Items with strong odors (smoke, mildew, pets)

Recalled or Hazardous Items

• Cribs, car seats, or baby items that don’t meet safety standards

• Items with missing safety parts (like helmets)

• Paint, chemicals, or hazardous waste

Large Appliances & Electronics

• Refrigerators, washers, dryers, and stoves

• Old tube TVs and CRT monitors

Miscellaneous

• Mattresses and box springs

• Opened cosmetics or personal hygiene products

• Food or perishable items

🧠 The Golden Rule

When in doubt, ask yourself:

“Would I give this to a friend?”

If the answer is no, it might be best to toss, recycle, or repurpose it instead.

♻️ What to Do With Items We Can’t Accept

Many local recycling centers and specialty donation groups (like other local nonprofits, shelters, or e-waste facilities) will gladly take items we can’t. Visit Earth911.com to find recycling options near you.

Your thoughtful donations help us provide education, job training, and crisis assistance to people across Acadiana. When you give intentionally, you make our mission stronger and help turn clutter into opportunity.

Thank you for supporting Goodwill Acadiana's mission to reduce poverty, restore independence, and transform lives 🫶