What Can I Donate? A Complete Guide for Missouri Donors

If you're standing in front of a closet or garage wondering "is this worth donating?" — the answer is almost always yes. Most gently used household items have a second life waiting at Red Racks. Here's a straightforward guide to what we accept, what we can't take, and how to get your donation to us.

What We Gladly Accept

If you're wondering what to donate to a thrift store, this list covers the essentials:

Clothing — Men's, women's, and children's. All seasons, all sizes. Casual, workwear, formal.
Shoes — Sneakers, boots, heels, sandals. Pairs only, please.
Accessories — Handbags, belts, scarves, hats, jewelry, sunglasses.
Furniture — Couches, tables, chairs, dressers, bookshelves, desks. If it's in usable condition, we want it.
Housewares — Dishes, glassware, pots and pans, small kitchen appliances, lamps, picture frames, vases.
Books — Hardcover, paperback, children's books, cookbooks, textbooks.
Linens — Towels, sheets, blankets, comforters, curtains, tablecloths.
Toys & games — Board games (with all pieces), stuffed animals, action figures, puzzles.
Electronics — Small working electronics like radios, DVD players, speakers, and video game consoles.
Seasonal & holiday items — Decorations, costumes, themed dishware.

The simple test: would someone be happy to buy this at a fair price? If yes, bring it in.

What We Can't Accept

This isn't about judgment — it's about safety and resale. Some items we're unable to put on the floor:

Mattresses and box springs (except at select locations with mattress sales)
Broken or non-functional items — furniture with structural damage, shattered glass, appliances that don't work
Soiled or heavily stained clothing and linens
Recalled products — car seats, cribs, or items on current recall lists
Hazardous materials — paint, chemicals, propane tanks, automotive fluids
Large appliances — refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, ovens
Building materials — lumber, windows, doors, plumbing fixtures

If you're unsure about a specific item, call your nearest store and ask. We'd rather help you figure it out than have you make an unnecessary trip.

How to Prepare Your Donation

You don't need to iron, fold, or dry-clean anything. Here's all we ask:

Bag or box it. Trash bags work great. Boxes are fine for housewares and books. This keeps items clean during transport.
Check pockets and drawers. We find phones, wallets, and keys more often than you'd think.
Keep it dry. If items have been stored in a damp basement or garage, air them out first if possible.

That's it. You don't need to sort by category or size — our team handles that. Just bag it, bring it, and we'll take care of the rest.

What Happens After Drop-Off

Once your donation arrives at a Red Racks store, our team sorts every item by category and condition. Items are priced and placed on the sales floor, usually within a day or two. Customers shop, and the revenue from every sale goes directly to the Disabled American Veterans to fund veteran employment services, healthcare advocacy, housing support, and transportation in Missouri.

Your old couch doesn't just find a new living room — it helps a veteran find stable footing.

What About Items That Don't Sell?

Not everything finds a buyer, and that's okay. Items that don't sell after a set period are responsibly managed. Textiles are routed to recycling partners wherever possible, keeping them out of landfills. Other materials are disposed of responsibly. Nothing donated to Red Racks goes to waste without reason.

Ready to Donate?

Now that you know what we accept, getting your items to us is easy. You can drop off at any Red Racks store — most have a drive-thru donation lane. For larger loads or furniture, call (816) 960-4621 to schedule a free pickup. And if you're in the Kansas City metro, check our 24/7 donation bins for after-hours drop-off.

Every item you donate supports Missouri veterans. That's a good reason to clean out that closet today.