Where Can I Donate Things When Downsizing? Your Guide to Giving Belongings a Second Life in DuPage County.
Furniture, clothing, books, plants, antiques, electronics, and more: discover where your unwanted belongings can go when you're downsizing or decluttering in DuPage County, Illinois.
Have you ever looked around your home and wondered, "Where is all of this going to go?"
When you've lived in a home for decades, belongings accumulate. Furniture, clothing, books, family photographs, holiday decorations, craft supplies, tools, and treasured keepsakes can fill closets, basements, attics, and garages.
When it's time to downsize or declutter, throwing everything away may feel wasteful. You might prefer to help a family in need, support a local charity, give a treasured item to someone who will appreciate it, or recycle materials responsibly.
The challenge is knowing where to take everything.
At Heather Rae Transitions, I believe downsizing is about more than deciding what to keep and what to let go. It's also an opportunity to give belongings a new purpose and help families move forward with less stress.
I've put together this guide to help you explore donation, reuse, and recycling options throughout DuPage County and the surrounding western suburbs.
Keep it handy as you work through your home. You may be surprised by how many options are available!
Before You Donate: Three Things to Remember
1. Call before you load the car. Organizations have different acceptance policies, and their needs can change. Always confirm that your items are wanted before making a trip.
2. Donate responsibly. Items intended for resale or reuse should generally be clean, safe, and in usable condition. Charities aren't disposal services, and unwanted or damaged donations can create additional expenses for them.
3. Give yourself time. Finding the right destination for everything can take longer than expected. Start with one category at a time, and don't feel that every decision needs to be made in a single day.
1. Where Can You Donate Furniture in DuPage County?
Furniture is often one of the biggest challenges when downsizing. A dining table, sofa, bedroom set, or dresser may still have years of useful life left, even if it no longer fits your next home.
Before paying for disposal, consider these local options.
Sharing Connections — Downers Grove
Address: 5111 Chase Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515Phone: 630-971-0565Website: https://www.sharingconnections.org/
Sharing Connections is a nonprofit furniture bank that helps furnish homes for individuals and families in need.
It accepts selected furniture and household essentials, including qualifying tables and chairs, sofas, dressers, end tables, bookshelves, lamps, and other approved items.
Furniture pickup is available for qualifying donations in its service area, but not every item is eligible. Contact the organization to confirm current requirements and scheduling.
Best for: Furniture and household essentials that can help someone establish a home.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Website: https://www.restoresales.org/
Habitat ReStores sell donated furniture, home goods, appliances, and building materials to support affordable housing programs.
Contact your nearest ReStore to ask about current acceptance policies, especially for large furniture, cabinets, appliances, and building materials.
Best for: Eligible furniture, home improvement materials, and household items.
Jubilee Furniture
Website: https://www.jubileefurniture.org/
Jubilee Furniture accepts qualifying gently used furniture and household goods, with proceeds supporting community programs.
Contact the organization to confirm its current donation arrangements, pickup options, and accepted items before transporting large belongings.
Best for: Quality furniture and household goods that meet its current guidelines.
Treasure House Resale Shop — Glen Ellyn
Address: 497 Pennsylvania Avenue, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137Phone: 630-469-6907Website: https://www.metrofamily.org/get-involved/volunteer/treasure-house/
Treasure House is a resale shop supporting Metropolitan Family Services DuPage. It offers an outlet for gently used furniture, clothing, and household goods, subject to its current donation policies.
Best for: Furniture, home décor, clothing, and household items accepted by the shop.
Twice Is Nice — Carol Stream
Address: 893 E. Geneva Road, Carol Stream, IL 60188Phone: 630-260-0942Website: https://weareoutreach.org/resale-centers/
Twice Is Nice is a resale shop operated by College Church in Wheaton. It offers another local option for qualifying furniture, clothing, home décor, and other resale items. Its proceeds support Outreach Carol Stream.
Best for: Gently used furniture and household goods accepted under its current guidelines.
Other resale options
You can also contact Ultimate Treasures in Downers Grove at 2133 63rd Street, or explore other local resale shops. Ask about the types of furniture accepted, condition requirements, and whether pickup is available.
A helpful tip: Take clear photographs of large furniture before contacting a charity. Include any damage and the approximate dimensions. This can save time and help the organization decide whether it can accept the item.
2. Where Can You Donate Clothing, Shoes, and Linens?
Clothing is often easier to donate than furniture, but choosing the right destination can make a difference.
People's Resource Center — Wheaton and Westmont
Website: https://www.peoplesrc.org/
People's Resource Center provides services to people experiencing financial hardship in DuPage County, including access to clothing through its Clothes Closet.
Check its current clothing donation guidelines before visiting. It has specific requirements for the clothing it accepts and does not accept furniture or general household goods for its Clothes Closet.
Renew and Rise — Downers Grove
Address: 1552 Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove, ILWebsite: https://www.renewandrise.us/
This nonprofit accepts selected new and gently used clothing and a variety of other items, including home goods, books, toys, and sports equipment, subject to its current policies.
Check its website for the latest accepted items and restrictions.
Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago
Goodwill accepts many types of gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, and household goods. Its retail operations help support employment and training programs.
Find a participating donation center and check its guidelines before dropping off items.
Savers — Carol Stream
Address: 1231 N. Gary Avenue, Carol Stream, IL 60188Website: https://www.savers.com/
Savers is another option for eligible clothing, shoes, books, and household goods. Check current acceptance policies and operating hours before visiting.
What about worn-out clothing and textiles?
Clothing that is too worn for reuse may still have a recycling option.
DuPage County and its partners periodically offer textile collection programs. SCARCE maintains information about local recycling events and participating locations.
SCARCE — Addison
Address: 800 S. Rohlwing Road (Route 53), Unit D, Addison, IL 60101Phone: 630-545-9710Email: info@scarce.orgWebsite: https://www.scarce.org/
Check the current event schedule and accepted materials. Textile programs may accept clean, dry clothing and household fabrics that cannot be donated for reuse.
3. Where Can You Donate Books, School Supplies, and Craft Materials?
Books and supplies can be difficult to sort through, particularly when you've accumulated decades of reading materials or an entire room of hobbies and projects.
SCARCE — Addison
Address: 800 S. Rohlwing Road (Route 53), Unit D, Addison, IL 60101Phone: 630-545-9710Email: info@scarce.orgWebsite: https://www.scarce.org/
SCARCE is a nonprofit environmental education organization that helps keep reusable materials out of landfills by connecting them with schools, educators, nonprofit organizations, and community members.
Depending on current program needs, SCARCE may accept items such as:
Books and educational materials
School and office supplies
Art and craft supplies
Sewing materials, fabric, yarn, and buttons
Crayons and other reusable creative supplies
Other specialty materials that can be reused for educational or environmental purposes
SCARCE is particularly worth contacting when you're downsizing and discover boxes of craft supplies, books, or educational materials that you no longer need but would rather see put to good use.
Contact the organization before bringing large quantities or unusual items to confirm current acceptance guidelines and drop-off arrangements.
Best for: Books, school supplies, sewing materials, craft supplies, and other reusable specialty items.
Friends of Wheaton Public Library
The Friends accept selected gently used books and media for their fundraising activities. Accepted categories and donation periods may vary.
Contact them before bringing large collections, particularly encyclopedias, damaged books, or unusual media formats.
Best for: Eligible books, records, DVDs, CDs, and other accepted media.
Renew and Rise — Downers Grove
Website: https://www.renewandrise.us/
Renew and Rise may be another option for eligible books, toys, games, and certain household or recreational items.
Check its current guidelines before donating.
What about old photographs, letters, and family papers?
Pause before recycling these.
Old family photographs, letters, diaries, military records, yearbooks, and business documents may have personal or historical significance.
Consider sharing them with relatives, scanning important materials, or contacting a historical society if they document a local person, business, or community.
Not every old document belongs in a museum, but some deserve a closer look before being discarded.
4. Where Can You Donate Historical Items, Antiques, and Collectibles?
An old object may have more significance than you realize. Family albums, vintage clothing, local business records, maps, old photographs, and community memorabilia can sometimes help preserve local history.
DuPage County Historical Museum — Wheaton
Address: 102 E. Wesley Street, Wheaton, IL 60187Website: https://dupagemuseum.org/donate-artifacts/
The museum considers artifacts, textiles, archival materials, rare books, artwork, photographs, and other items that document DuPage County history.
Before donating, contact the museum through its website to ask whether the item might be appropriate for its collection.
The museum's Collections Committee reviews proposed donations, and decisions may take time. Items generally need a documented connection to DuPage County or another clear historical purpose.
Best for: Historically significant items connected to DuPage County, including photographs, documents, objects, and local memorabilia.
Glen Ellyn Historical Society
Website: https://www.glenellynhistory.org/
If you have items connected to Glen Ellyn's history, the historical society may be worth contacting. Ask whether the material fits its collection before making arrangements.
Other DuPage County communities also have historical organizations, so consider the town associated with the item when deciding whom to contact.
Should you sell an antique instead?
If you believe an item may have significant monetary value, consider obtaining an independent appraisal before donating it.
Remember that old does not always mean valuable, and an item's personal or historical importance may be different from its resale value.
5. What Can You Do With Houseplants, Garden Supplies, and Planters?
Plants can carry memories, too. A houseplant may have been passed down through generations or cared for in the same home for decades.
Unfortunately, many charities cannot accept live plants because of space, maintenance, and pest concerns.
Here are some alternatives.
Give plants to family and friends
Ask whether relatives, neighbors, or friends would like to adopt a plant. Include its care instructions and any story that makes it special.
Look for plant exchanges and gardening groups
Local gardening clubs, community garden groups, and neighborhood plant swaps may connect your plants with someone who will care for them.
Check the group's current rules before offering plants, especially if they are large or require specialized care.
Rehome pots and gardening supplies
Clean, usable planters, watering cans, hand tools, and other garden supplies may be useful to a neighbor or gardening organization.
For larger planters or specialized equipment, contact the recipient first.
What if a plant cannot be rehomed?
Follow local yard-waste guidance for appropriate plant material. Do not release unwanted plants into natural areas, and avoid distributing invasive species.
I would not promise that a particular charity accepts houseplants without confirming it first.
6. Where Can You Recycle Electronics, Metal, and Other Materials?
Not everything is suitable for donation. Recycling is often the better option for items that cannot be reused.
Electronics: SCARCE and local recycling programs
SCARCE — Addison
Address: 800 S. Rohlwing Road (Route 53), Unit D, Addison, IL 60101Phone: 630-545-9710Email: info@scarce.orgWebsite: https://www.scarce.org/
Old computers, printers, televisions, phones, tablets, cords, and other electronic devices should not automatically go into your regular recycling cart.
SCARCE provides information about electronics recycling sites and community collection events in DuPage County.
Accepted items, fees, and schedules vary by location. Some programs charge for certain televisions and monitors, so check before visiting.
For electronics containing personal information, securely erase your data before donating or recycling the device.
Metal: Check your municipality or a scrap-metal recycler
Metal items require different handling depending on what they are.
Food and beverage cans: Check your local curbside recycling rules.
Scrap metal, pipes, and metal shelving: Contact a scrap-metal recycler to confirm what it accepts.
Large appliances: Ask your waste provider about appliance recycling and special collection requirements.
Do not assume that every type of metal can go into your curbside recycling cart.
Cardboard, glass, and plastic
DuPage County provides a useful recycling guide at https://recyclebin.dupageco.org/.
It explains how to handle many common materials and identifies items that require special drop-off rather than curbside recycling.
Check your municipality's rules, as local collection programs may differ.
Batteries, paint, and household chemicals
Batteries, paint, solvents, cleaning chemicals, and other special waste require careful handling.
Consult your municipal waste provider or county recycling resources for approved collection programs. Never pour chemicals down a drain or place hazardous materials in a recycling bin unless the program specifically permits them.
7. Where Can You Donate Household Goods, Décor, and Smaller Items?
Sometimes the hardest things to place are the smaller belongings: dishes, lamps, artwork, decorative objects, toys, seasonal decorations, and kitchenware.
Several local resale shops may be worth contacting.
Twice Is Nice — Carol Stream
A local option for qualifying home décor, kitchenware, and other household items accepted for resale.
Treasure House Resale Shop — Glen Ellyn
A potential destination for accepted home décor, household goods, and other gently used resale items.
Ultimate Treasures — Downers Grove
Address: 2133 63rd Street, Downers Grove, IL
Contact the shop to confirm current donation policies and whether your particular household items are accepted.
Savers — Carol Stream
Website: https://www.savers.com/
A potential destination for accepted smaller household items, décor, books, and eligible goods.
Renew and Rise — Downers Grove
Website: https://www.renewandrise.us/
Check current guidelines for eligible household goods, toys, games, and other accepted items.
DuPage Care Center Gifts & Thrifts Shop — Wheaton
DuPage Care Center's Gifts & Thrifts Shop has listed needs for clothing, small furniture, dishware, jewelry, toys, wall art, household items, seasonal decorations, and craft materials.
Its posted guidelines exclude electrical items, large furniture, pianos, and organs. Confirm the current needs and drop-off instructions before visiting.
8. What About Specialty Items Such as Sewing Supplies, Tools, and Office Materials?
Before throwing away hobby or work supplies, consider whether another person could use them.
SCARCE — Addison
Website: https://www.scarce.org/
SCARCE has programs for eligible school and office supplies, art materials, sewing supplies, fabric, yarn, and certain specialty items.
Contact the organization before bringing supplies, especially large quantities or bulky equipment.
Local schools, community groups, and hobby organizations
Some schools, nonprofit programs, theaters, community groups, and hobby clubs may welcome particular materials. However, needs vary widely.
Ask before donating, and make sure the recipient genuinely wants the items.
Examples worth asking about include:
Sewing machines and fabric
Art supplies and craft materials
Tools and workshop supplies
Musical instruments
Office supplies
Educational materials
Don't assume that a school or nonprofit can accept every item. A quick phone call can prevent an unwanted donation.
9. Want to Make a Little Money? Consider Selling to Local Vintage Shops
Not everything you no longer need has to be donated. Some of the items tucked away in closets, cabinets, and storage boxes may be exactly what a vintage shop is looking for!
If you have vintage clothing, costume jewelry, older glassware, collectibles, or unique decorative pieces, consider contacting small, locally owned vintage shops. Some shops purchase selected items they believe will appeal to their customers, giving your belongings a second life while putting a little money back in your pocket.
Here are two local shops worth exploring:
Old Globe — Villa Park
338 S. Ardmore Avenue, Villa Park, IL 60181
Phone: 773-551-3877
Consider bringing photos or asking about vintage clothing, costume jewelry, older glassware, and other interesting vintage finds. Contact the shop first to find out what it's currently looking for and whether it is buying items.
JL's Vintage Shop — Lombard 8 S. Park Avenue, Lombard, IL 60148
Phone: 630-638-9358 www.jlvintage.com
Another local option to explore for vintage clothing, costume jewelry, glassware, and distinctive older pieces. Reach out before visiting to confirm what the shop is currently interested in purchasing.
A little tip: Vintage shops are selective, and not every old item will have resale value. Before loading up your car, send a few photos or call to ask what the shop is buying. Items that are clean, in good condition, and easy to identify are a great place to start.
You can also search for vintage stores, antique shops, consignment stores, and secondhand dealers in your own town. Supporting small local businesses is another wonderful way to keep useful and interesting belongings circulating in the community.
Sometimes, downsizing can even put a little extra cash in your pocket!
10. What If You Cannot Find a Home for Everything?
Even after donating, recycling, and rehoming, you may still have belongings that no one can accept.
That doesn't mean you've failed.
Try this order of steps:
Offer usable items to family, friends, or neighbors.
Contact an appropriate charity or resale organization.
Investigate specialty reuse or recycling options.
Check local rules for items that require special disposal.
Make a reasonable final decision about what cannot be reused.
Be mindful of the time and effort involved. It is wonderful to find a second home for belongings, but you don't need to spend hours searching for a destination for every small object.
The goal is to make thoughtful choices without letting the process become overwhelming.
A Final Thought: Giving Belongings a Second Life
Downsizing is not just about emptying a house. It is about making decisions that support the next chapter of life.
A sofa may help furnish a family's home. Books can support a library fundraiser. Craft materials may inspire a new project. Historical photographs may preserve a community's story. A plant may continue growing in a new home.
You don't need to find a perfect destination for every item. Start with what you have, work one category at a time, and remember that letting go can be a positive step forward.
Need Help Downsizing in DuPage County?
At Heather Rae Transitions, I help older adults and their families navigate downsizing, decluttering, home organization, and senior moves with compassion and practical support.
I can help you sort belongings, identify potential donation and recycling destinations, coordinate next steps, and prepare for a move without feeling that you have to manage everything alone.
Whether you're helping a parent move to a retirement community, preparing a home for sale, or simply trying to make your current space more manageable, you don't have to do it all by yourself.
Contact Heather Rae Transitions to schedule a complimentary consultation. Together, we can create a plan that fits your needs, respects your priorities, and helps you move forward with greater peace of mind.
Heather Rae Transitions serves older adults and families throughout DuPage County, Illinois.
Please confirm current donation policies, addresses, hours, pickup availability, and accepted items with each organization before making arrangements. Programs and requirements may change.
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