Thank you for your interest in supporting the work of the IRC in San Jose! In-kind donations provide a warm welcome to refugees upon their arrival in the U.S. Please keep reading to learn about our in-kind donations program and what items are desired to help us meet the material needs of our newest community members.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, donations can be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. We provide a donation receipt for all donations given to the IRC in San Jose, including in-kind donations; however, we cannot place a value on the items you donate. Please keep your purchase receipt if you purchase any new items for donation that you wish to deduct. We suggest you consult your tax professional for more information about charitable deductions if you need it.
Policies and Procedures:
- Please review the entirety of this page to learn about the different items we accept, any restrictions we have on the condition or size of particular items, and what we most need at this time.
- All donation drop-offs require an appointment as our storage facilities are off-site, and our team is often delivering items to our clients across the South Bay. Please note that we have limited capacity to pick up donations, so priority for pick-ups is given to large furniture donations.
- If donating furniture, we kindly ask that the items are NOTdisassembled. If necessary, our team will disassemble the piece as needed. This helps us ensure all pieces are picked up and allows us to see how the piece should be re-assembled.
- At your appointment, your items will be assessed to ensure they meet our standards and our current demands. While we appreciate all offers of donations, we reserve the right to reject any donations that do not meet our standards or our current demands. This includes items that are not in usable condition due to being unclean, broken, or missing pieces. Additionally, we cannot accept items for which health and safety regulations prohibit us from accepting them.
- When you are ready, please contact us at [email protected] to coordinate your donation. Please allow 24-72 business hours for a response as our team is often out on the road completing pickups or deliveries.
- If you are interested in coordinating a donation drive or other community service project with us, please scroll to the bottom of this page for instructions. We thank you for your generosity!
Desired items:
Appliances
- Blenders
- Electric Kettles
- Microwaves
- Pressure Cookers
- Rice Cookers
- Vacuum Cleaners
Baby & Children's Items
- *New* Baby & Toddler Hygiene Items: Shampoo/Wash, Lotion, Towels, Washcloths, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Baby Grooming Starter Sets
- Baby/Toddler Bath Tubs
- Baby/Toddler Carriers
- Crib/Toddler Bed Frames (we cannot accept used mattresses)
- *New* Car Seats & Booster Seats (High Need)
- *New* Diapers, Training Pants, and Wipes
- Small Child Dinnerware (High Need)
- Strollers (High Need)
- Other baby essentials, if storage space allows
Cleaning
- *New* All-Purpose Cleaners (32oz Bottles Preferred) (High Need)
- *New* Broom w/ Dustpan (High Need)
- *New* Dish Soap & Sponges (56oz Bottles Preferred) (High Need: Dish Soap)
- *New* Laundry Detergent (50-load Bottles Preferred)
- *New* Mop w/ Mop Bucket (High Need)
- *New* Paper Towel Rolls (High Need)
- *New* Trash Bins w/ Trash Bags (40-Bag Sets Preferred) (High Need)
Furniture
- Bed Frames (Twin, Queen, and Crib/Toddler Bed Sizes Only)
- Coffee Tables
- Dining Tables & Chairs (High Need)
- Dressers (High Need)
- End Tables
- *New* Mattresses (Twin, Queen, and Crib/Toddler Bed Sizes Only) (High Need)
- Nightstands
- Sofas (High Need)
- TV Stands
Gift Cards: The Gift of Choice
VISA or Mastercard gift cards and gift cards to businesses such as Costco, Lyft, Safeway, Target, Walmart, Uber, and more are highly appreciated because they allow our clients to obtain what they most need while bestowing upon them the gift of choice. Increments of $25 are encouraged.
Home Goods
- *New* Bedding: Comforters, Sheet Sets, Pillows, Winter Blankets (Twin, Queen, and Crib/Toddler Bed Sizes Only) (High Need: Winter Blankets and Twin Bedding)
- Bakeware and Cookware (Pots, Pans, Kitchen Utensils, Mixing Bowls, etc.) (High Need)
- Dinnerware (Plates, Bowls, Glasses, Mugs, and Flatware) (High Need)
- Small Child Dinnerware (High Need)
Major Impact Items
These items provide a major impact in a refugee's journey to self-sufficiency.
- Adult Bicycles
- Bicycle Safety Kits: *New* Helmets, U-Locks, and Light Sets (Baskets are also highly desired)
- Laptops
- Unlocked Cell Phones
Personal Hygiene
- *New* Bath Towels, Hand Towels, and Washcloths (High Need)
- *New* Body Soap & Lotion (Standard Size)
- *New* Deodorant (Standard Size)
- *New* Face Wash (Standard Size)
- *New* Feminine Hygiene Pads (Standard Size) (High Need)
- *New* Hair Brushes & Combs (High Need: Hairbrushes)
- *New* Hand Soap (Standard Size)
- *New* Nail Clippers (Standard Size)
- *New* Razors & Shaving Cream (Standard Size)
- *New* Shampoo & Conditioner (Standard Size)
- *New* Toilet Paper (High Need)
- *New* Toothbrushes & Toothpaste (Standard Sizes)
Donation Drives and Community Service Projects
We kindly ask that interested community members and groups contact us to discuss potential donation drives to ensure our collective efforts are most impactful.
Please email our Community Engagement Manager ([email protected]) to begin this conversation. We thank you for your generosity.
Wish Lists