Where to donate your used stuff in Champaign-Urbana

There are many non-profit organizations in the Champaign-Urbana area that accept donations all year. If there are any I missed, let me know in the comments. This list was last updated July 27, 2022.

The City of Champaign and Champaign County Environmental Stewards both include organizations that accept donations of specific items.

Non-profit organizations

Champaign County Humane Society
Accepts a variety of items for donation, including cleaning and office supplies. Check their wish list for specifics.

Champaign-Urbana Theater Company (CUTC)
Accepts limited donations of clothing and other items for use as costumes and props. Accepts latex paint if the can is at least 1/2 full. They will also accept lumber and other set construction materials if they are whole and in good condition (no scraps). Contact the costume manager (costumes@cutc.org) for clothing donations and the company’s executive director (manager@cutc.org) for all other items.

Crisis Nursery
Crisis Nursery works to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing 24-hour emergency care for children and support to strengthen families in crisis. See Items can be dropped off M-F 8-5. Check their wish list for current needs.. Contact: 217-337-2731

Empty Tomb

Empty Tomb will accept up to three bags or boxes of in-season clothes. Household items are also welcome. They will also pickup used furniture donations.

If you live in Champaign, Urbana, or Savoy, email info@emptytomb.org to make arrangements to pick up the following furniture items that are in good condition:

• Queen Bed (Mattress, Box Spring & Frame; or just mattress)
• Full Bed ((Mattress, Box Spring & Frame; or just mattress)
• Twin Bed (Mattress, Box Spring & Frame; or just mattress)
• Sofa/Couch
• Kitchen Table & Chairs
• Dresser/Chest of Drawers

Contact: info@emptytomb.org or (217) 356-2262 and leave a message.

Goodwill/Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries, Inc.
Goodwill has locations in Champaign, Savoy (where the old Pages for All Ages book store used to be in the Savoy Plaza) and the LaBelle Boutique in Urbana. Donations are accepted Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to store closing and on Sunday from noon to store closing. Donations are tax-deductible. Before you go, check their list of acceptable and unacceptable donations.

Goodwill participates in Dell’s Reconnect electronics recycling program. Acceptable computer equipment includes:

• desktop and laptop computers,
• monitors (only flatscreen monitors and TVs in working condition — NO CRTs),
• printers,
• ink and toner cartridges,
• keyboards,
• mice,
• speakers,
• external hard drives,
• power cords,
• USB drives,
• servers
• computer software CDs.

The Recycle / Reuse Unwanted Electronics E-guide for Residents of Champaign County, Illinois has a list of other local businesses that accept unwanted electronics for reuse and recycling. Illinois banned the disposal of electronic items from landfills in 2012.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore
The main store address is 119 East University Avenue, Champaign. See their website for a list of acceptable items. Donations are accepted at the store Monday – Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-4pm. To arrange a pick up for donations call (217) 355-6460. The ReStore is open Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-4pm. Note that there may be a fee for pick up or delivery of items. Contact: 217-359-0507; restore@cuhabitat.org

The Idea Store
The Idea Store is a materials-for-the-arts and educational reuse store where you can donate a variety of items that would otherwise go to the landfill. Donations are tax deductible. Their donation list includes almost anything that might be used for craft projects and office/school supplies. Read more about the Idea Store here or watch ISTC’s Fall 2020 sustainability seminar with co-founder Carol Jo Morgan.

Teachers, keep the Idea Store in mind if you need supplies for class projects or extra school supplies. You can often get a lot of material for a small price. Items are often sold by the pound. In the fall, they highlight items that appear on school supply lists. If you’re looking for a particular type of material, you can let them know and they’ll contact you if they receive anything that fits your needs. Contact: 217-352-7878; info@the-idea-store.org

Immigrant Services of Champaign-Urbana

Immigrant Services of Champaign-Urbana’s purpose is to extend a welcoming hand to immigrant families who are new to the community. They accept new or clean/laundered, gently-used household goods as well as baby and toddler items. Visit their website for more details. Contact: iscu2day@gmail.com; 217-800-5725.

Lions Club

The Champaign Lions Clubs collects used eyeglasses, sunglasses and hearing aids for the Lions International Program, which recycles glasses at 17 centers worldwide. Also accepted are cell phones, empty ink cartridges (not toner), and keys. Check their website for collection locations. Contact: 309-863-5335​

Local libraries

Most area libraries (including the University of Illinois) accept used books, CDs & DVDs. If you don’t see your library on the list below, contact them directly to inquire about making a donation.

• Allerton Public Library District (Monticello) Donation Policy (on p. 24 of Library Policy Manual)
• Champaign Public Library Donation Policy
• Mahomet Public Library Donation Policy
• Tolono Public Library Donation Guidelines
• Urbana Free Library Donation Policy
• University of Illinois Library Donation Policy

Park district camps and preschools

Contact the Champaign or Urbana Park Districts to donate gently used books, educational items, school supplies, or craft supplies.

• Champaign Park District Summer Youth Program, Springer Cultural Center: Melanie Kahler, 217-819-3919; melanie.kahler@cparkdistrict.com. See the Champaign Park District for specific contacts for programs at other Champaign Park District locations.
• Anita Purves Nature Center: 217-384-4062; David Subers is the educational services contact. See the Urbana Park District website for specific contact info for the various Urbana Park District camps.

Preservation and Conservation Association (PACA)
PACA accepts architectural pieces (doors, windows, fixtures, etc.), furniture, storage items like filing cabinets, and even small home décor items. View their donation guidelines. The warehouse is at 44 E Washington St, Champaign, IL. Warehouse hours are Tuesday 10-4, Wed. 10-7, Th & F 10-4 & Sat. 9-12. Contact: 217-359-7222; pacaexdir@gmail.com.

Salt & Light Ministries
Salt & Light accepts clothing, furniture (subject to approval), appliances, household items, shoes, children’s toys, linens (sheets, blankets, towels), books, electronics, DVDs, CDs, and jewelry. Donations are accepted at any time of day in their donation bins. You can also drop off Monday through Saturday, 9am-8pm. Contact: 217-355-5654

University YMCA Dump and Run
Each year as students leave campus in droves, lots of useful materials end up headed to the landfill. The University YMCA Dump & Run collects some of this material and then sells it a large community garage sale in the fall—just in time for students to move back into the campus area and need items for their dorm rooms or apartments.

They accept: furniture, dishes, glassware, pots & pans, small household appliances, computers, electronics, bicycles, office & school supplies, nearly-new clothing, books, toiletries, lawn & garden, artwork, vinyl & cds, musical instruments, sporting equipment & other household goods.

They DO NOT collect televisions, paint, child/infant car seats, stoves, washers, dryers, non-working electronics & computer parts, sleeper sofas, mattresses, televisions, or large exercise equipment.