FAQ

How do I find a donation center near me?

To find your nearest location, please go to our Find a Donation Center Map or download our Goodwill Houston App.

Why should I donate to my local Goodwill rather than somewhere else?
When you shop at Goodwill, you’re not just saving a bundle – you’re helping to create jobs that give invaluable tools to those who would otherwise struggle to find employment. Our employment of over 1700 individuals in the Houston area is a testament to our commitment to putting the money from your purchases where it belongs: into employment and job creation for those who need it in our community. 95% of our budget goes directly to employment programs and services. Other stores like Goodwill claim to donate part of their proceeds to charity, but often only 5 cents on the dollar is being donated to a worthy cause. At Goodwill, you can rest assured that your purchases are going directly toward our cause.
What items do you accept for donation?

See our Donation Guidelines for a list of acceptable and unacceptable donation items.

Do you accept financial donations?
Yes we do, and you can make a financial donation online today using our electronic donation form. In addition to cash gifts, we welcome investments in the form of bequests or memorials, life insurance, trust agreements, stocks and other securities. For details, please email sthomas@goodwillhouston.org or call the development department at (713) 699-6383. You can also mail a check to 1140 West Loop North, Houston, TX 77055 ATTN: Development Department. Goodwill Houston is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by federal and state law.
What should I do with my cell phone before I donate or recycle it?
Prior to donating or recycling your cell phone, there are three things you need to do:

  • Terminate your service.
  • If your phone has an SD card, remove it.
  • Clear the phone’s memory of contacts and other stored information from the device.
  • Follow instructions from your wireless carrier or the product manual on how to conduct a factory hard reset; Use data erasing tools that are available on the web.
  • Remove your SIM card and dispose of it. If you are not sure if your phone uses a SIM card or if you need assistance removing your SIM card, contact your service provider or manufacturer.
Does Goodwill accept computers?
Goodwill Houston and Dell have partnered to provide RECONNECT, a free program for consumers to reuse and responsibly recycle unwanted computers. Donate your old computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, speakers, etc. for free at any Goodwill Houston store or attended donation center. Any brand computer is eligible for donation. RECONNECT will refurbish or recycle the equipment. When you buy an affordable system that’s great for home or school use, you benefit the community and help put people to work.
What are the hours for your donation sites?

Please check our donation location map for the hours of each of our sites.

I have large items that I can’t bring to a donation site and don’t fit the requirements for pick up. What other options do you offer?

Goodwill Houston no longer provides home pick-ups, but we have over 100 donation centers conveniently located throughout Houston and surrounding areas.

I lost my donation receipt. Will Goodwill send another as a replacement?

Goodwill does not keep records of donors and donations. However, our online system www.mygoodwillreceipt.org can be used to register and evaluate your donation and it will be kept safe, online, for your future use – no longer do you need to worry about losing a receipt, if you use the online registration.

I inadvertently donated an item. Who do I contact?

Please call the Goodwill Houston Corporate office at 713-692-6221 as soon as possible. While we cannot guarantee the return of a mistakenly donated item, we are happy to do what we can to help.

When I dropped off my donations recently, I saw an item that had been donated and asked the attendant if I could purchase the item and he said no. Why can’t I buy the item from the truck?
Donated items must reach our stores and be processed before they can be purchased, so you won’t be able to buy anything straight off the truck. That being said, head into your favorite Goodwill stores often to check in on our always-growing and changing merchandise!

Community Impact

Faq 1

10,818

People Served by Workforce Development

Faq 2

2,564

Volunteers

Faq 3

30,486

Lives Touched

Faq 4

2,192

People hired by Goodwill Houston

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