Donations
Inspecting Donations
Guidelines for Inspecting Furniture
Look for the following:
- Rips or tears in the fabric, even if they are on the underside of the cushion or back of a couch that are large.
- Leather or paint that is peeling/chipping off - hazardous to kids
- Poorly refinished/painted pieces of furniture
- Broken zippers on cushions so that foam is sticking out
- Stained or dirty - no stains on cushions that are noticeable
- If the cushion can flipped over to a side with no stains, we may accept it
- Not covered in pet hair
- Claw marks from pets – should be nothing noticeable
- Must function as designed
- Missing pieces
- Mold, strong, musty smell/cigarette smoke or water damage
- The item should be sturdy and not fall apart when trying to move it
- No items that need more than 2 men to lift
- No excessively tall items
- Veneer is missing – use your judgment
- Inspect for bed bugs
- Lift up all cushions
- Open drawers to look for visible evidence of bugs or rodents. If you see any evidence, turn it down immediately.
- If the furniture is large or oversized and won't fit in a truck easily, please turn it down. Most of our clients live in small apartments, and/or items have to go up staircases.
*** If your first reaction when you see the furniture is not good, go with your gut as it is what most others will think too.***
Saturday Donations Process Flow
TRAFFIC COP
Prepare clip board with tax receipt, tally by town form, client names
Greeting of arriving vehicle
- Thank you for coming.
- What town are you from?
- Have you been here before?
- Do you need a tax receipt?
- Drive to the right, someone will wave you to the unloading point.
For early arrival of clients
- Welcome, your name and appt. time?
- Direct them to park, let them know you’ll let inside know you’re here
- Go inside to tell check-in person
GREET & INSPECT DONATIONS
Review Donation Take and Don’t Take sheets
Greeting of arriving vehicle
- Thank you for coming! Have you been here before?
- What do you have for us today?
- Please turn off your car.
- We’ll inspect it and then unload
Inspect: **does it pass the “I’d give this to my family”.
- Condition – tears, stains, very worn, very faded,
- Smells – mold, cigarettes, pet “friendly”
Further Inspect items:
- Read the What We Take/Don't Take on the FSFB website
- Housewares – scan box for scratched, worn pots, pans, plastic dishes & containers,
- Linens – “have they recently been cleaned?”
- Rugs – many/large stains on top & bottom (usually by pet), smells
- Upholstered chairs – worn arms, cushions, back; stains; tears(if small, may have the time to fix).
- Mattresses – where has this been used? (guest room is usually acceptable, need 8” thickness
- Box Springs – we’ll take them!...unless large tear that can’t be taped
If items don’t meet FSFB standards, thank them, explain
- We don’t accept these items. Did you see our website?
- These items don’t move.
- These items are better for Savers.
- We’re unable to take this item as it won’t fit/work for our clients small space
- Linens can go in our Fiber Recycling bin
DONATIONS MOVERS
- Setup outside - cones, carts, small, carts, linen bins, mattress tarp
- Spray mattresses, box springs
- Apply same color dots to table & chair sets, and bedroom sets
- Unload inside - linens, appliances, furniture in back
- Wrap table legs and bed frames….recheck for same color dots!
Other places to donate:
- Savers – Marlborough, Framingham
- Ashland Worcester - ReStore – light fixtures, paint
- Sudbury - Goodwill truck
- Buynothingsellnothing.com
- Maynard – dump 1 item
- Sudbury – Facebook “Sudbury Curb Alert”
Additional Resources for Donors
Clothing
- Berlin: Many Hands Thrift Shoppe – 24 Central St. (Rte. 62) (508) 838-2575
- Marlborough: Our Lady Thrift Shop – 197 Pleasant St. (508) 481-1284
- Savers – 222a East Main St. ( 508) 485-5191 https://www.savers.com/
- Marlborough Food Pantry – 255 Main St. (508) 481-4080
- Framingham: Savers – 500 Cochituate Rd. (508) 875-0225 https://www.savers.com/
- Hopkinton: Project Just Because- 109 South St. (508) 435-6511
- Worcester: Savers- 490 Lincoln St. (508) 853-3653
Mattresses
- Acton: Household Goods 530 Main St - 978-635-1710 http://householdgoods.org/
- Chelmsford: The Wish Project – 166 Middlesex St. North – 866-947-4360 http://thewishproject.org/
- Walpole: New Life Furniture Bank – 102 Elm St – 774-316-NEWL https://www.newlifefb.org/
Futons, Sleeper Sofas
- Acton: Household Goods 530 Main St. (978) 635-1710 http://householdgoods.org/
Baby Furniture, Car Seats, and Strollers
- Acton: Household Goods– 530 Main St. (978) 635-1710
- Chelmsford: The Wish Project – 166 Middlesex St., North (866) 947-4360Building Supplies & Appliances
Cabinets, sinks, fixtures, hardwired lights, etc.
- Habitat for Humanity Restore Donation Centers: http://www.habitat.org/restores/
- Ashland- 310 Pond St. (508) 799-9259 x-204
- Leominster- 637 Lancaster St. (978) 227-5556
- Worcester- 640 Lincoln St., Suite 100 (779) 236-6283
On-Line
- freecycle.org
- craigslist.org has a free section.
- nextdoor.com
- Facebook Marketplace both have free sections.
Other
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Schedule a free pick up: https://www.bbbsfoundation.org
- They will pick up clothing, most children’s/ baby items, sewing machines, etc.
The above information came from these group’s websites, so call ahead to double-check what they take.