Donating With Purpose
by Emma Dixon
A bag of clothes you no longer wear. A chair that’s been replaced. Extra dishes gathering dust in the cupboard. The items taking up space in your home could be exactly what someone who is struggling needs to get back on their feet.
Across Seminole County, numerous nonprofit organizations rely on donated goods to supplement vital programs or provide essential items directly to families experiencing hardship. Giving locally means your generosity stays right here in our community, whether your donation helps furnish a domestic violence survivor’s first apartment, stocks a food pantry, or provides necessities for vulnerable children and seniors. Not only that, donating belongings you no longer need gives them renewed use and keeps them out of landfills.
With that in mind, we’d like to introduce you to several local nonprofits that make it easy to donate with purpose. Every contribution, no matter the size, has the power to change a life close to home.
The Sharing Center
600 North U.S. Highway 17-92, Suite 130 | Longwood, Florida, 32750 | 407-260-9155 | TheSharingCenter.org
Donation hours: Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Serving Seminole County since 1986, The Sharing Center provides food, clothing, financial assistance, and other support to help individuals and families facing poverty or homelessness regain stability with dignity. Every donation received is processed to sell in one of The Sharing Center’s stores, salvaged with partner organizations such as bookstores, metal scrapping centers, and electronics refurbishers, or offered directly to families in need.
Accepted: Clean, gently used clothing, shoes, furniture, household goods, books, décor, toys, and working electronics.
Not accepted: Mattresses, box springs, king-size beds, weapons, hazardous materials, medicines, gas-powered equipment, tube televisions, children’s car seats, or broken items.
Mercy Road
530 Dog Track Road, Longwood, Florida, 32750 407-937-1750 | MercyRd.org
Donation hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Mercy Road, a ministry of Northland Church in Longwood, serves the Seminole County community. Donations received through its Beyond Thrift program help fund services that provide education, life skills, childcare, mentoring, and community support to seniors, single mothers, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and others facing difficult circumstances. Every donated item helps generate funding that enables the organization to strengthen families and create lasting, positive change throughout the community.
Accepted: Clean, gently used clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, accessories, household items, small working electronics, and clothing hangers.
Not accepted: Furniture, food, mattresses, hazardous materials, hardware, toilets, broken items, or anything excessively stained, damaged, or in poor condition.
HOPE Helps
812 Eyrie Drive, Oviedo, Florida, 32765 | 407-366-3422 | HOPEHelps.org
Donation hours: Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - noon
HOPE Helps has served Central Florida for more than 35 years, working to prevent and reduce hunger and homelessness by helping individuals and families achieve long-term self-sufficiency. Donations support programs including housing stabilization, a food pantry, and The HOPE Chest thrift store. Every donated item helps provide critical services and resources that empower local families to overcome crises, regain stability, and build brighter futures within the Seminole County community.
Accepted: Clean, gently used clothing, shoes, furniture, household goods, working appliances, food pantry items, and hygiene products.
Not accepted: Dirty or broken items, mattresses, cribs, bed frames, armoires, entertainment centers, or non-working appliances.
Annabel’s Closet
2200 Winter Springs Boulevard, Suite 106-323, Oviedo, Florida, 32765 407-580-8568 | AnnabelsCloset.org
Furniture donations by appointment
Annabel’s Closet assists families who are escaping domestic violence and seeking to restart their lives. The organization does this by providing furniture and household essentials at no cost to the survivors. Working with local shelters and community partners, Annabel’s Closet gives the mothers and children the practical items they need to begin again with dignity, comfort, and hope as they rebuild their lives with confidence and independence.
Accepted: Gently used furniture, household items, kitchenware, small working appliances, linens, lamps, home décor, children’s books, toys, puzzles, and board games.
Not accepted: King-size mattresses or bed frames or broken, damaged, or heavily worn items.
The Salvation Army of Seminole County
700 West 24th Street, Sanford, Florida, 32771 | 407-322-2642 | Sanford.SalvationArmyFlorida.org
Donation hours vary; call for current schedule.
The Salvation Army has served Seminole County for decades, providing emergency assistance, food, shelter, disaster relief, and other programs that help individuals and families overcome hardships. Proceeds from donated goods sold through Salvation Army Family Stores help fund local services to provide food, emergency financial assistance, youth programs, and support for those facing difficult circumstances.
Accepted: Clean, gently used clothing, shoes, furniture, household goods, kitchenware, books, toys, working appliances, and home décor.
Not accepted: Broken or heavily damaged items, hazardous materials, chemicals, paint, tires, recalled products, or upholstered furniture and mattresses that are stained, unsafe, or unsanitary.
SuperThrift Sanford
4540 State Road 46, Sanford, Florida, 32771 | 407-732-4106 | SuperThriftSanford.com
Donation hours: Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Furniture donations may require advance approval.
SuperThrift Sanford is a thrift store whose proceeds support Teen Challenge Southeast, a nonprofit organization helping teenagers and adults overcome addiction and other life-controlling challenges. Every donated item or purchase helps fund residential recovery programs, vocational training, and life-skills development, while providing affordable clothing, furniture, and household goods to the local community.
Accepted: Clean, gently used clothing, shoes, furniture, household items, home furnishings, books, toys, jewelry, accessories, tools, sporting goods, baby clothing, maternity wear, and working electronics.
Not accepted: Broken, unsafe, or heavily damaged items, hazardous materials, or donations that are dirty, stained, or unsuitable for resale.
E.S.T.H.E.R. Single Mothers Outreach
735 West State Road 434, Suite A, Longwood, Florida, 32750 | 407-331-6436 | EstherSMO.com
Contact the organization for current donation hours.
E.S.T.H.E.R. supports single mothers and their children throughout Central Florida by providing practical resources, encouragement, and a caring community. Through its food pantry, clothing boutique, household goods program, life-skills workshops, and mentoring opportunities, the organization helps families move toward greater stability and independence. Every donation directly benefits local single mothers, creating brighter futures for parents and children across the community.
Accepted: Nonperishable food, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, baby items, gently used clothing, shoes, towels, sheet sets, kitchen utensils, and other household essentials.
Not accepted: Undergarments, bathing suits, or donations left outside after business hours.
Harvest Time International
225 Harvest Time Drive, Sanford, Florida, 32771 | 407-328-9900 | HarvestTime.org
Donation hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Harvest Time International provides food, clothing, household goods, and disaster relief to individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations in need throughout Central Florida and around the world. Through its Hope Centers and thrift store, donated items are sorted, distributed, and repurposed to bring practical assistance and hope to communities facing hardship. Every donation helps support humanitarian outreach, disaster response, and programs that strengthen local families while extending aid to people affected by poverty and crisis.
Accepted: Food and beverages, clothing, shoes, household goods, hygiene products, toys, furniture, medical supplies, and other usable items in good condition.
Not accepted: Broken, heavily damaged, or unsafe items, hazardous materials, or donations that are unusable or unsanitary.
Goodwill Industries of Central Florida
Multiple Seminole County locations | 407-235-1541 | GoodwillCFL.org
Donation hours: Visit the website for locations and hours.
Goodwill Industries of Central Florida transforms donated goods into opportunities by funding job training, employment placement, and career development programs for people facing barriers to employment. Revenue from items sold in Goodwill retail stores helps provide career coaching, skills training, and support services that empower individuals to achieve greater independence and long-term success.
Accepted: Clean, gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, books, toys, furniture, household goods, home décor, computers, electronics, and small working appliances.
Not accepted: Mattresses, hazardous materials, chemicals, paint, tires, broken or heavily damaged goods, tube televisions, or appliances not in working condition.