It’s spring, so we’ve all finished our spring cleaning, right? What, you haven’t? That’s ok. The Northwest Center Donation truck can help. They won’t clean your house, but they will take some of those gently used, no longer needed, items off your hands.
The Northwest Center is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the disabled since the sixties. And they have a drop off truck right here in Wallingford at 1550 N 34th Street, next to Essential Baking. Conveniently also next to the dump transfer station for items that can’t be donated. Win-win!
Northwest Center believes in the power of employment and helping people with developmental disabilities become gainfully employed. They believe that all kids, disabled or not, should have the opportunity to grow and learn, play and grow together (see Northwest Center Kids for more info). And they provide valuable services directly to the disabled.
Donations allow the center to continue to offer their outstanding programs. Donations are subject to the truck driver’s discretion, seasonality, and the need for the items. Here’s what they can generally accept:
- Clothing
- Clothing accessories
- Backpacks, camping gear, tents
- Bedding, linens, curtains (no drapery hardware)
- Books (no textbooks, owner manuals, encyclopedias or periodicals)
- Cameras, projectors
- CDs, DVDs, tapes, videos, video players, radios
- Fabric, patterns, arts, crafts, yarn
- Working household items such as small appliances, blenders, toasters, dishes, glassware, utensils
- Jewelry, eyeglasses
- Paintings, wall hangings
- Toys, skates, games, bikes, trikes
- School supplies, stationery, photo albums
- Small furniture: chairs, nightstands, end table, small bookshelves (furniture must be under 50 lbs and in good shape)
- Vehicles, boats, RVs whether they run or not. Call 800-992-2060 for pickup.
Wow, that’s a lot of stuff they can take off your hands. But there are some things they can’t take for various reasons. Here’s part of that list. Things they are UNABLE to accept include:
- Appliances: washers, dryers, fridges, stoves
- Automotive parts
- Baby equipment like baby gates, car seats (due to recalls and liability issues)
- Non-working, broken, damaged, or stained items
- Construction material
- Electronic Equipment (no computers or tvs, etc)
- Exercise equipment, including weights
- Flammables, batters, grills, gas lawn mowers, etc.
- Food (but you can call Northwest Harvest at 800-722-6924)
- Bed, mattresses, futons, box springs, coil springs, bed frames
- Paper products (ADG, a division of Northwest Center has a shredding service you can use 206-285-5955)
- Pets or pet related items: cat condos, dog houses, pet food
Pets. Really? People might try to donate their pets? Oh let’s hope not!
A few weeks ago, I met a gentleman named Ian who works in the truck, taking donations. He says he loves the job, but really hates telling people he can’t accept something they want to donate. He can recommend some other programs, though. Try Statewide and County Recycle or “Take it Back” or “Too Good to Toss.”
Learn more about the Northwest Center here. The truck operates 7 days a week, 9am – 5pm. And please tell Ian that Wallyhood says hi!
It’s an obscure one, but they also don’t take filing cabinets. The Salvation Army will pick them up, however. (We did an office makeover a few years ago.)
If you have shoes of any kind that are in good usable condition, you can drop them off at John Stanford Int’l School (collection barrel is just inside the entrance through the staff parking lot on NE 42nd between 4th and 5th NE). The shoes will be donated to Redeeming Soles, which collects shoes and distributes them to our homeless neighbors. http://www.redeemingsoles.org for more info.
Excellent tips. Thank you, both.
What are the hours during which the Northwest Center truck on 34th accepts donations?
Every day, 9-5. But I didn’t see the truck at 10am on Memorial Day, so they must have some holiday hours too.