Donations Guidelines

Clean, quality items in good, salable condition are always gladly accepted and appreciated! They can be dropped off at our convenient Donation Drive-thru during donation hours. 

​Furniture pick-up and delivery available to the greater Iowa City area with limited hours beginning April 1.​
Please donate your clothes in a separate bag from other items.
  • Antiques & collectibles
  • Bedding & linens
  • Books, CDs & DVDs
  • Clothing & shoes - for women, men & children
  • Fabric, craft & sewing items
  • Furniture
  • Hardware
  • Holiday decor - accepted year round
  • Household goods
  • Jewelry & accessories
  • ​Plants - must be in pots (no bare roots)
  • ​Toys
  • Because we value your donation, please bring them to Crowded Closet only during donation hours. 
  • Donation items must be complete at time of drop off. Items that are missing parts will be turned away.
  • We are unable to fix broken items. 
  • Please remember--the donation of unsaleable items incurs expenses for Crowded Closet and deters us from assisting those in need. Thank you for understanding!
  • Tax receipts for donations are available. ​
Please do not donate broken, torn or dirty items.
Please do not donate hazardous materials (e.g. aerosols, household cleaners, liquids). They are not salable so we must pay to dispose of them, reducing the dollars we can share with our community and aboard.
  • A/C units, humidifiers & dehumidifiers
  • Appliances - large (e.g. dishwashers, stoves)
  • Automobile parts
  • Baby furniture (e.g. cribs, high chairs, strollers)
  • Bicycle  helmets
  • Car seats & booster seats
  • Carpet scraps
  • Cassette tapes & VHS tapes
  • Ceiling fans
  • Computers, monitors & accessories
  • Construction material
  • Encyclopedias
  • Entertainment centers
  • Exercise equipment - large (e.g. treadmills, stair steppers)
  • Flammable products
  • Florescent lights & fixtures
  • Food products
  • Gas-powered items
  • ​Golf clubs
  • Hazardous waste, including paint
  • Headboards & footboards
  • Household cleaning products
  • Humidifiers & dehumidifiers
  • Incomplete games & puzzles
  • Lighting fixtures - hardwired, mountable
  • Liquids of any kind
  • Luggage - without wheels
  • Mattresses & waterbeds
  • Mirrors - unframed and/or oversized
  • Personal care products (e.g. makeup, shampoo)
  • Pianos & organs
  • Recalled & banned items
  • Recyclable items (e.g.  glass jars, plastic & paper bags, plastic cartons, takeout containers, water bottles)​
  • Sewing machines
  • Technology - outdated (e.g. slides & projectors)
  • Televisions
  • Window blinds with cords
  • Wire hangers 
For Income Tax Purposes: The IRS advises that it is the responsibility of the contributor to estimate the fair market value of contributed items. These non-cash items must be in "good" or "workable" condition or better to receive a tax deduction. Check the MCC web site for fair market value on thrift shop items.