301-926-2256 [email protected]

 

Donating Clothing, Household Items and Food to Nearby Charities and Thrift Stores

On this page, you will find:

Donating Clothing and Household Items

Donations Only (Restrictions on Who May Shop)

  • Interfaith Works (IW):
    • Location: 751 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville. The facility is housed in the former Broome Middle School; the entrance is poorly marked on the south corner of the building (right side, as you view the building from the street).
    • What they accept: Many household and clothing items (PDF).
    • Hours: Tuesdays through Fridays, 8:30 am – 4 pm, and Saturdays, 8:30 am – 1 pm (note they are closed Sundays and Mondays).
    • Purpose: IW is not a thrift store; recipients of IW donations must demonstrate that they participate in Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, and/or FARMS programs before they can shop at the center.  Everything they take home is free.

Thrift Stores (Donate and/or Shop)

  • HumaneTogether Thrift & Gift (Wagging Tails):
    • Location: 1328 East Gude Drive, Rockville (on the left, just past the intersection with Southlawn)
    • What they accept: These items but not these items.
    • Hours: Their donation hours are Sundays and Wednesdays ONLY, 9 am – 3 pm (follow the signs to the rear of the building); their shopping hours are Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 am – 5 pm (so, closed Mondays).
    • Purpose:  All sales benefit the Montgomery County Humane Society.
  • Habitat for Humanity ReStore:
    • Location: 1029 East Gude Drive, Rockville
    • What they accept: These items but not these items.
    • Hours: Their donation hours are Tuesdays through Sundays, 12 pm – 3 pm; their shopping hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 am – 5 pm and Sundays 11 am – 5 pm (so, closed Mondays).
    • Purpose:  ReStore specializes in the resale of quality new and gently used furniture, antiques, appliances and building supplies. All proceeds are used to fund the building of affordable housing in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. If ReStore is unable to accept your item(s), or if you need immediate service, you can contact their hauling alternative, Eco City Junk, which can remove items ReStore cannot accept. Mention ReStore and get a discount. Also, ReStore is apparently now collecting donations of clothing and shoes!
  • Goodwill of Greater Washington:
    • Location: 619 S. Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg
    • What they accept:  These items but not these items.
    • Hours: Mondays through Saturdays, 10 am – 8 pm and Sundays, 10 am – 6 pm.
    • Purpose:  Your donations help Goodwill fulfill its mission by providing free job training, education, and employment services to people with disabilities or other barriers to employment.
  • Unique Wheaton:
    • Location: 12211 Veirs Mill Road, Silver Spring
    • What they accept:  View what they do and don’t accept here.
    • Hours: Mondays through Saturdays, 9 am – 9 pm and Sundays, 10 am – 7 pm.
    • Purpose:  Unique is part of Savers, a for-profit company that champions reuse.  Shopping in their stores doesn’t directly support any nonprofit, but donating your reusable goods does; Savers pays nonprofits for your stuff, helping them benefit programs in local communities.  In Maryland, donations benefit Lupus America Communities, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity.

Above, the location of Interfaith Works.

Donating Potluck Leftovers to the Nearby Women’s Shelter

Been to a Town potluck and got food that you can’t finish yourself?  You can leave it at the women’s shelter near the Crabbs Branch Giant.  The shelter is managed by Interfaith Works.  Below is information about what they will and won’t take, and how to drop it off.

Food

  • All packaged foods (bags of chips, jars of pickles, etc.) should be unexpired and unopened.  If you have crackers that are two packs to a package, they will take the unopened pack even if you’ve opened the other pack.
  • Cooked food is fine, but should be no more than two days old (to ensure safety).  Please attach the recipe if possible, so that ladies with allergies to specific ingredients can avoid them.  Please also bring enough food for a large group; 16 drumsticks would be fine but four drumsticks, not so fine.
  • Fresh fruit is fine but not uncooked meat or vegetables; the shelter only has a warming oven.
  • Food with allergens, for example peanuts, is fine, but please make note of the ingredientss if possible.
  • Baking ingredients: sugar is fine, because they will use it to sweeten their coffee/tea.  But other ingredients, like flour and baking soda, will not be used since they don’t have a full kitchen.

 

Dropping Off the Food

  • You do not need to call in advance, but if you do, the number is 301-978-7041.
  • Both men and women are welcome to drop off donations.
  • The address is 16911 Crabbs Branch Way, Derwood.
  • It’s best to go to the side door on the left, at the back, which leads directly to the kitchen.  If you use the front entrance, note the buzzer on the right side of the door.  You must be buzzed in.

Note that there is a second women’s shelter at 2 Taft Court, off of Gude Drive.

Questions?  Contact Interfaith Works’ volunteer coordinator Michelle Harris at [email protected] or 301-525-1999.

This document that explains the shelters’ complete food guidelines (PDF), but note that these guidelines are geared towards organizations that regularly prepare full meals for all residents.