Material Donations

WAIM gives donated clothing, furniture, appliances, and other household items to people in our community—for free. These donations keep useful items out of landfills and put them into the homes of people who need them.

Important Updates

Seasonal Notice:
WAIM is currently only accepting fall and winter clothing. Spring and summer items will be turned away.

Currently WAIM is not accepting couches, bedframes, mattresses or boxsprings (unless they are new and wrapped in plastic.)
Please stay tuned!

Donations

Drop-Off Hours & Info

Tuesday – Saturday, 9 am – 12 pm
WAIM Loading Dock
Riverside Drive, Willimantic, CT

Please bring items only during drop-off hours.
Do not leave items outside when the dock is closed. This is considered illegal dumping. Items left outside often become damaged and WAIM has to pay to dispose of them.
Items must be clean and in good condition.
Please sort and pack items separately when possible.
The Warehouse Manager must approve large furniture donations by truck or van before drop-off.
Staff and volunteers on the dock may refuse items WAIM cannot use.

Pick-Up Service for Large Items

Furniture and large appliances may qualify for free pick-up—based on approval by the WAIM Driver and team.

Requirements:

Items must be clean, working, and in good condition.
Pick-ups are scheduled at least one week in advance (Tuesday–Saturday, 9 am – 12 pm).
Items must be ready outside or in a garage. Our team cannot enter your home.
Someone must be home to meet the Driver.

You’ll get a confirmation call two days before and the morning of pick-up.
If we can't confirm with you, the pick-up will be rescheduled.
Pick-ups may be delayed due to bad weather, truck issues, or low staffing.
The Driver and volunteers may refuse items WAIM cannot accept.

Donation Guide

Accepted Items

Appliances – large and small (clean and in good working order); radios, TVs, alarm clocks, blenders, hot plates, stoves, refrigerators, etc.
Baby equipment – recently manufactured (due to legal safety requirements), clean, with all parts intact and assembled
Clothing – in all sizes, in season, clean, in-style, in good repair. (Would you wear it?)
Flatware, dishes, mugs, bowls, glasses
Furniture (currently accepted items):
• Chairs, tables, lamps, end tables, beds (excluding mattresses/box springs unless noted below), dressers
• Mattresses, box springs, and bedframes (only accepted if new and wrapped in plastic)
• Couches are not being accepted at this time
Other essential household items
Pots and pans
Sheets and towels – all sizes, clean, in good condition
Toys – must be safe for a household with toddlers under three years of age, very clean, with all parts intact
Disposable diapers
Personal hygiene items – unopened products only
Large trash bags

Items We don't accept

Anything purely decorative, loose parts, and/or not of obvious use
Anything stained, dirty, torn, chipped, broken, rusty, damp, incomplete, obsolete, smelly, or doesn’t work
Bicycle helmets
Books – may be donated to public library’s paper-back book exchange
Building supplies – paint, plaster, cement
Car seats – State law dictates they must be brand-new and in the original box.
Computers – call Neenah on extension 13 for prior approval
Cribs – law requires that slats are no more than two inches apart
Exercise equipment
Food – may be donated to the Covenant Soup Kitchen, 220 Valley Street in Willimantic.
Furniture - bedframes, mattresses or boxsprings (unless they are new and wrapped in plastic.)
Games with missing pieces
Medical items (must be pre-approved)
Office furniture
Puzzles
Yarn and fabric – please donate to the Interfaith Sewing Group - First Congregational Church in Willimantic.

Events

Support engagement with our community partners, schools, churches, and individuals like you.