Basic Needs Ministry
Clothing and Household Donation Guidelines

Out of respect for current laws and guidelines, our communities' children, and our distribution of assistance through churches, schools, service groups, and agencies, Basic Needs adopted these donation guidelines. We cannot wash, test, or repair donated items. If an item is not worth your time or money to fix or repair, it is unlikely we will be able to sell it or give it away.

When to donate goods:

Donations can be made either Monday 6-9 p.m. or Saturday 9-6. Donors should protect their donations by coming on a dry day during receiving hours. Basic Needs Ministry will accept donations until it reaches fire code limitations.

Where to donate goods:

Please be sure to leave your donation with a staff member of Basic Needs Ministry at 5533 NC HWY 42 W Units D-96-100, Garner, to ensure that it is properly handled.

What TO donate:

  • Books, hard or soft covers, without torn pages, water damage, mold or mildew. Textbooks must be under 10 years old.
  • CDs, records, and DVDs - music, movies, and computer software.
  • Clothing, new or lightly used, with all of the buttons attached, working zippers, and without mold, mildew, stains, tears, or spots.
  • Cosmetics and toiletries that are new and sealed.
  • Electrical appliances no larger than microwaves, coffee makers, or fryers, which are clean, have all parts, and area in good working order-must be without cracks, broken wires/switches, or other safety concerns.
  • Food will be accepted for Cleveland Township Emergency Food Pantry. Must be comercially prepared and sealed and reasonably within date code. Must not be on recall list.
  • Encyclopedia sets must be complete and less than five years old or have annual supplements. Prefer complete CD versions.
  • Household items that are clean, intact, with no rust, tears, stains, or chips.
What NOT to donate:
  • Any items that have been recalled, are under safey investigation, or sanitation restrictions - child seats, flotation devices, cribs, torchierre lamps, mattresses, major appliances, furniture, etc.
  • Any item that is decorated with the brand name of an alcoholic beverage, tobacco product, or promotes hatred, sex, or violence.
  • Any item which contains mercury or radioactive material - televisions, computer monitors, switches, CO2 and smoke detectors over 10 years old, or mecury thermometers/thermostats, fluorescent lamps.
  • Any item which has ever held gasoline, flammable, or explosive material.
  • Building materials - light fixtures, medicine cabintes, doors, windows, and toilets.
  • Car parts, including batteries and tires .
  • Chemical containers - pesticides, herbicides, poisons, and paint.
  • Computers, monitors, printers, accessories - ask first - if you have the time to prove a complete set all works and meets minimum specs, we can arrange to donate it to a local family. In 2007, we can only accept Pentium 3 and newer machines with at least 512 MB RAM memory. In 2008, Pentium 4 and newer with 1 GB RAM memory.
  • Furniture and bedding: mattresses, box springs, frames, including crib mattresses, sofa-beds, stuffed chairs, or futons.
  • Life jackets or any other flotation devices, including air mattresses and inflatable boats.
  • Obscene items which most people would consider offensive due to sexual content or foul language.
  • Weapons (real or toy), including guns, bows and arrows, or slingshots.