Donate, recycle, and benefit others.
To maximize your home’s resale value, you’ll want to declutter as much as possible in order to show off the space to potential buyers. Plus, moving to a new home provides an opportunity to simplify and benefit others at the same time, as we all have things that we no longer need and it’s gratifying (and inspiring) to be able to put them to better use through selling or donating.
We are very experienced when it comes to decluttering and maximizing your home’s space and value for a potential sale, and we’ve done some homework to get your started—see below for a list of charitable donation centers, consignment shops, and places to recycle clothing and textiles. We also have contacts for both junk haulers and other resources that will pay you for your valuable items!
Contact us for information on other available resources or if you have any questions.
Charitable Donation Centers
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By donating new and used books to Books4Cause, donors have the opportunity to help people in need. Book donations to Books4Cause have helped create over 118 libraries in Africa, recirculated hundreds of thousands of books, and saved even more from landfills. Campus book drives have sent textbooks to developing libraries and education programs in Africa and donated kids and adult books have been distributed to people in need across Chicago and the world.
Address
Drop off:• 3415 Madison St., Skokie, 60076 – Open 24/7
• 2931 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, 60618 – Mon-Sun 12pm-5pm
Pickup: pickups must be at least 100 books and within a 20-mile radius of Skokie
What to donateBooks of every kind including children, adult, textbooks, coffee table books, comic books, CDs and DVDs.
Contact
800.570.3698
https://www.books4cause.com -
The Cancer Federation’s mission is to raise funds to help scientists in the fields of research and immunology, as well as provide funds to Universities for Scholarships so they can apply those funds to students involved in the research for cancer cure. They convert your donation of used clothing and household discards to cash proceeds that are utilized to fund its programs.
Address
Drop-off:
• 3440 Grand Ave, Gurnee, IL 600319:00AM-5:00PM Monday-Saturday, 10:00AM-7:00PM Sunday
• 900 E Main Street, East Dundee, IL, 9:00AM-5:00PM Monday-Saturday, 10:00AM-7:00PM Sunday
Pick-up: Suburbs: Chicago and Suburbs; depends on Zip Code
What to donate
Household items, clothing, toys, books, instruments (no pianos or organs).No computers, humidifiers, mattresses or box springs. Check website for most up-to-date list.
Contact
888.875.4066
https://cancerfed.org -
Community Threads is a one-of-a-kind thrift store. We strive daily to provide the highest-quality clothing, furniture, housewares, books, games, and just about anything else you could think of at the lowest possible price. We are also a registered 501 (c)3 non-profit which means all net profits made from the sales at our thrift store go back to your local community!
Address
250 W. Rand Rd., Arlington HeightsWhat to donate
Baby to adult clothing; shoes; home goods; books; furniture; toys.Furniture $10 pick up: 1st floor only with no more than 7 steps up or down.
Contact
847.818.1630
communitythreads.org -
The Habitat for Humanity ReStores accept donations of new and gently used goods from retailers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and homeowners. The items are then sold for a fraction of the price to the general public at ReStore. Through the help of our amazing volunteers, both individuals and groups, ReStore generates funds that directly assist the Habitat for Humanity of partner families.
Address
955 E. Rand Rd., Arlington HeightsMultiple locations also include: Addison, Aurora, Elgin, Joliet, Oak Forest, Chicago, Gurnee, McHenry, and Woodstock.
What to donate
Furniture, unused construction materials (flooring, backsplash tiles, lighting, etc.), and appliances.Furniture $0 cost pick up outside the home but must send photo and have enough to qualify.
Contact
Arlington Heights: 847.742.9905 Check website for the phone numbers of additional locations.
habitatnfv.org -
Home of the Sparrow operates seven total thrift stores across Northern Illinois; six under the banner of Sparrow’s Nest Thrift Store and Donation Centers, and one under Community Threads Upscale Resale Store.
The purpose of Home of the Sparrow’s thrift stores are to support the mission of Home of the Sparrow. Net proceeds from the seven thrift stores go back into Home of the Sparrow’s programs and services that help women and children as they journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
Home of the Sparrow’s Thrift Stores are also a zero cost provider of clothing, furniture and housewares to Home of the Sparrow clients and clients of other partnering agencies in Northern Illinois. With an exception to mattresses and box springs, everything sold in the thrift stores are new and/or gently used donations from members of the community.
Address
Multiple locations; click here for the donation center near you.What to donate
Furniture $10 pick up: gently used bedroom, living room, and dining room pieces; office furniture such as desks, file cabinets and chairs.Contact
815.271.5444
hosparrow.org -
POC provides support, resources, education and healthcare services to thousands of area residents per year. The need for expanded programs and services cannot happen without your support. Your generous donations will allow POC to serve more people and make it possible to help people help themselves.
Address
1585 N. Rand Rd., Palatine, IL 60074What to donate
Gently used and new baby to adult clothing; unused craft supplies; gently used dance wearables.Contact
847.776.9500
path-palatine.org/PATH/community-closet/ -
WINGS services for families fleeing domestic violence are funded, in part, by proceeds from our three resale stores. These stores are known for their selection of high-quality, donated merchandise which includes clothing for women, children, and men, as well as an excellent array of housewares, accessories, and furniture.
Address
1302 N Rand Rd., Arlington Heights300 W. Golf Rd., Schaumburg
8349 W. Golf Rd., Niles, IL
What to donate
Baby to adult clothing; shoes; home goods; books; furniture; toys.Contact
Arlington Heights: 847.963.0861Schaumburg: 847.884.7411
Niles: 847.965.1454
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Their mission is to create a dynamic community that supports all families navigating the needs of their child in therapy, regardless of diagnosis.
They have a physical location within the community, a recycled toy shop (selling gently-used toys and specialty therapeutic items) that helps them generate revenue to stay in business, plus, where they:Host in-person interactive child/caregiver classes
Provide “social hour” classes for school-aged kids
Gather for parent-only meet-ups and classes
Invite the general community to volunteer, understand, and interact with our community increasing everyone’s capacity to be compassionate, inclusive, and welcoming.
GENERO-C.I.T.Y. Toy Shop
91 W. Rand Road in Arlington Heights (Near Trader Joe’s)
Consignment Shops
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Anne’s Unique Boutique is a family owned and operated business—since 1976—one of the northwest suburb’s longest running consignment boutique and rated one of the top consignment boutique in the Northwest Suburbs.
The boutique carries ladies, men’s and children’s upscale clothing and accessories. Featuring new and gently used upscale designer clothing, handbags, shoes, jewelry, china, crystal and collectibles. With a consignment base of more than 10,000 customers you’re sure to find a hidden gem/treasure.
Address
16 S. Bothwell St., PalatineWhat to donate
New items are accepted and featured on a daily basis. The boutique accepts seasonal items only.Contact
847.991.1976
Facebook page -
Lucille is a nonprofit (501c3) resale store that carries furniture, adult clothing, jewelry, accessories, housewares, and home décor. All profits from Lucille support youth leadership development on Chicago's West Side through education, youth programming, and anti violence efforts.
Address
1101 E. Rand Rd., Arlington HeightsWhat to donate
Adult clothing; jewelry & accessories; home decor; table top (dishes, glassware, china, silver) kitchen tools (cookware, bakeware, mixers); books (classics and best sellers).For furniture donation, email photos & details to donate@hfm.org.
Contact
847.749.2928
Facebook page -
Here at Thrill Vintage, we provide those one-of-a-kind items for which you've been searching for years, items that thrill. We travel all over Europe and here in the Midwest for the most unique treasures, and sell them to you at an incredibly affordable price. Stop by our store in cozy, beautiful Downtown Arlington Heights and find the next, best item for your house. Tell a new story; add a little vintage to your home.
Address
11 E. Campbell St., Arlington HeightsWhat to donate
Furniture; jewelry; and other vintage items. Emailing a list or photos first is best: thrillvintageinc@gmail.com.Contact
847.346.6743
thrillvintage.com -
Robyn’s Nest is simply about making a difference in the lives of children here in our own back yard. Offering a collaboration of treasured and gathered items, vintage, donated, and new— merchandised together to create one eclectic cohesive boutique.
By definition, a Nest is a place of nurturing, a safe place, and a place to grow. Unfortunately that is not the case for far too many children. With a background in the non-profit sector, as well as fashion and retail management, these skills were meshed to develop a place where the community can come together and offer a helping hand. Either by consigning unwanted items or by purchasing your next great outfit, proceeds and goods are donated to help nurture these children. But that is not all; we become better stewards of our environment.
Address
14 S. Evergreen Avenue, Arlington HeightsWhat to donate
Accessories, dresses, shoes, and tops.Contact
224.735.7400
robyns-nest7.com
Recycling Centers
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Simple Recycling is a clothing and textile collection program that diverts clothing and textile items from landfills, assists the local community, and supports the environment and planet. It is a way for residents to recycle used clothing items instead of throwing them away.
This free program accepts new, gently used, or unwanted/worn, women’s, men’s and children’s clothing and textiles. All fabrics are accepted. Even clothes or textiles with stains or holes, along with those notorious single socks, are accepted. This is a full-circle program. Your donations of new and gently used clothing and textiles will be recycled into usable new products.
Request a front door pickup via Simple Recycling’s website or phone number (866.835.5068). Recyclables should be placed in a bag or box outside the resident’s front door at the designated reservation time.
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Chicago Textile Recycling provides textile recycling outlets and fundraising opportunities for area organizations, businesses and municipalities. By collecting used clothing, shoes, and household items for reuse and recycling, Chicago Textile Recycling diverts over 2.5 million pounds of waste from area landfills annually.
For more information:
chicagotextilerecycling.com -
The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) is an intergovernmental agency that was established in 1988 to facilitate the delivery of effective, competitive, and environmentally sound collection, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment, storage, disposal, recovery, and reuse of municipal waste for its members.
SWANCC serves 23 member communities with a focus on reducing the volume and toxicity of solid waste through responsible waste reduction solutions and providing environmentally sound transfer and disposal of waste that is not diverted from disposal.
SWANCC meets these objectives by sponsoring collections for special materials that cannot go into the curbside recycling cart and should not go into the garbage due to toxicity or recoverability, such as electronics, sharps and medications, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, and mercury-containing devices.
SWANCC also supports document destruction events hosted by member communities for secure shredding and recycling of sensitive documents.
For more information:
swancc.org -
Their mission is to create a more sustainable and connected community by providing affordable secondhand art, craft, and educational supplies, engaging workshops, and support for schools and nonprofits.
Every month tons of usable materials, donated by individuals and businesses, are diverted from landfills, repurposed and made available to the community at low or no cost through creative reuse organizations.
Their Creative Reuse Shop, Greener Good, is located at
843 N Wilke Rd, Arlington Heights
(847) 250-7185
Please note: It's important to discard items in an environmentally-conscious way. Check out online resources like swancc.org and swalco.org for details about where to recycle electronics, dispose of paint and chemicals, or shred documents.