# 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/](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/](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/](http://householdgoods.org/) - Chelmsford: The Wish Project – 166 Middlesex St. North – 866-947-4360 [http://thewishproject.org/](http://thewishproject.org/) - Walpole: New Life Furniture Bank – 102 Elm St – 774-316-NEWL [https://www.newlifefb.org/](https://www.newlifefb.org/) ### Futons, Sleeper Sofas - Acton: Household Goods 530 Main St. (978) 635-1710 [http://householdgoods.org/](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/**](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](http://freecycle.org/) - [craigslist.org](http://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](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.**