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Donate New & Gently Used Items

Our Donation Policy

 

Due to the generous support of our donors and limited storage space, we only accept in-kind donations that are listed on this page. Please review the information below to learn about our current needs and how to donate items, including clothing, toiletries, baby items, etc.

Thank you for your interest in donating to The Gathering Place. In-kind donations directly support our food pantry, case management program, family area, hygiene bank, clothing boutique, and more. Our highest needs for these programs are hygiene items, seasonal items, baby items, and clothing.

To best serve our members, we do not accept any items that are stained, torn, or in need of cleaning or repair. 

Items We Accept for Donation

Please be advised that while we appreciate every gift, we have limited storage space and staff capacity. We currently accept the items listed below for donation. If you would like to donate an item which is not listed, please email in advance to verify if we can make an exception for you. If you bring an item that we do not accept to our facility without prior communication, we will not accept it. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Toiletries, Hygiene, and Cosmetics

We accept unopened, unexpired toiletries in individual and full-size containers. Consider donating full-size items to support our Family Program.

  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body Wash
  • Lotion
  • Deodorant
  • Razors/Shaving Cream
  • Toothbrushes (individual wrapping preferred)
  • Toothpaste
  • Dental Floss/Flossers
  • Period Products (especially maxi pads!)
  • Q-tips
  • Sunscreen
  • Chapstick
  • Brushes/Combs
  • Product for Black and/or textured hair
  • Full-size makeup products
  • Makeup testers
  • Perfume

Baby Items

We accept any and all (unopened, unexpired) formula. You may drop off formula any time during our business hours. 

All baby items must be unopened and unexpired. Items not listed below may be accepted on a case-by-case basis by contacting our in-kind donations team in advance. Please note that we do not accept toys, clothing, or furniture—please reach out to WeeCycle as an alternative.

  • Baby Formula (the following brands are preferred)
    • Enfamil NeuroPro Infant Formula (Yellow)
    • Enfamil NueroPro Gentlease Infant Formula (Purple)
    • Similac Pro-Sensitive Infant Formula
    • Similac Pro-Total Comfort Infant Formula
    • Similac Pro-Advance Infant Formula
    • Similac NeoSure Infant Formula
  • Diapers (sizes 4-6 especially)
  • Pull-Ups (sizes 2T-5T)
  • Baby Wipes
  • Adult and Children's Toothbrushes (individual wrapping preferred)
  • Adult and Children's Toothpaste
  • Hygiene Items, including shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, razors, deodorant, etc.
  • Baby Shampoo, Lotion, or Powder

Clothing

We accept new and gently used adult clothing that is seasonally appropriate. Because most of our members get jobs in the service and labor industries, we prioritize comfortable casualwear such as jeans, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. Our Clothing Donation Acceptance Day takes place on the first Wednesday of every month from 11AM until 5PM. We can accept up to three garbage bags of clothing per donor. 

Our special clothing needs include:

  • sports bras (any size)
  • bras (cup sizes A, B, C, and D)
  • plus-size clothing of all kinds
  • tennis shoes
  • close-toed shoes

We do NOT accept the following items for donation:

  • used socks
  • used underwear
  • children's clothing
  • business professional clothing
  • clothing that is more than ten years old

Note: Please consider washing all clothing prior to donating to The Gathering Place. Additionally, to avoid mildew, please ensure clothes are fully dry before bagging them. 

Health & Wellness Items

If you have a wellness item not on this list, please reach out to see if it is something we might be interested in accepting. All wellness items donated must be new and unopened. Note: an opened package of individually-wrapped items (for example, an open box of individually-wrapped band-aids) is acceptable for donation.

  • Emergency contraception (Plan B, etc.)
  • Ace bandages (new only!)
  • Protein drinks (such as Boost)
  • Hydration or electrolyte packets

Household Items

Our Case Management program accepts new and gently-used household items to support our members in the rehousing process. Having household items on hand for our members reduces the expensive burden of furnishing a new home and makes the space feel more welcoming and lived-in. Please note that all items must be in working, good condition—we will not accept items that are dirty, torn, or stained. If you would not feel comfortable giving someone your donation as a housewarming gift, it is not a good fit for our program.

Please be diligent about contacting our in-kind donations team in advance. Our facility has limited storage space and our case managers are often personally responsible for delivering furniture and home goods to their clients. Emailing us with information about your item's weight and dimensions will help ensure that we have the space to accept your donation and that our case managers will be able to transport the items. A photo is always helpful as well!

  • Kitchen | pots and pans, silverware sets, dish sets, dish towels, crock pots and pressure cookers, glasses and mugs (*we cannot accept wine glasses, beer steins, shot glasses, etc.)
  • Bathroom | bath and hand towels, bath mat (new only), shower curtains (new only), toilet paper, hand soap, toilet brush (new only)
  • Bedroom | mattresses, bed frames, dressers, sheet sets (new only), comforters and duvets, pillows (new only)
  • Living Room | televisions and video game consoles, lightweight art or decorative pieces, lamps (*please remove lightbulb)
  • Furniture | coffee tables, bedside tables, chairs, bookshelves

Please note that all donations are drop-off only. We are unable to make any exceptions for a donation pickup. 

Non-Perishable Food

All items must be unopened and unexpired. Please keep in mind that many of our members may only have a microwave or no kitchen equipment at all. We have the greatest need for food that can be made without a stovetop or oven. Pop-top cans and items that can be opened with scissors are highly preferred! 

Note: For safety reasons, we do not distribute food items in glass jars. Please donate food stored in non-glass containers!

  • Canned Soup
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Canned Fruit
  • Canned Meat
  • Tuna/Chicken Pouches
  • Meal-Maker Kits (i.e. hamburger helper, mac n' cheese, etc.)
  • Granola or Protein Bars
  • Oatmeal Packets
  • Ready-Made Noodles (i.e. ramen, cup-o-noodles, rice-a-roni, etc.) 

Miscellaneous Items

The following items are distributed through our Resource Desk, and are used to meet emergency needs of our members.

  • New Sports Bras
  • New Underwear (sizes 6-12)
  • Reusable Shopping Bags
  • Sleeping Bags
  • Blankets
  • New or Gently Used Backpacks or Duffels
  • Seasonal Items
    • Handwarmers
    • Scarves
    • Gloves

Host a Donation Drive

Thank you for your interest in hosting a donation drive to help the members of The Gathering Place! Before you get started, please contact our in-kind donations team at (303) 996-9076 or inkinddonations@tgpdenver.org. We'd love to discuss our current needs with you!

Unacceptable Items

Though we appreciate every inquiry about our needs, please note that we cannot accept the following items:

  • Items that are stained, torn, or in need of repair
  • Used or expired cosmetic or hygiene items
  • Diva cups and other reusable period products
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Fresh produce, refrigerated food, or prepared meals
  • Used socks and/or underwear
  • Business/professional attire
  • Children's clothing, toys, or stuffed animals
  • Paraphernalia suited for alcohol, marijuana, etc.
  • Any item that names or depicts a brand of alcohol, marijuana, etc. 
  • Couches or loveseats
  • Furniture that is covered in pet hair
  • Furniture with glass in it
  • Outdoor furniture and equipment
  • Wrap-around desks
  • Exercise equipment
  • Large appliances

The following organizations serve similar populations to The Gathering Place but are able to accept and distribute some items that are not within our capacity. (The items listed by each organization do not represent their complete needs, but rather the particularly relevant donations.)

ARC Thrift Stores—accepts children's clothing, books, toys, household items, and furniture

Dress for Success Denver—accepts business professional clothing, shoes, and accessories

Habitat for Humanity ReStore—accepts large furniture, household items, appliances, and tools

A Precious Child—accepts children's clothing, toys, children's books, strollers, and bikes

WeeCycle—accepts cribs, strollers, baby clothing, and toys

Drop Off a Donation

Our donation drop-off times are Monday-Friday from 9am-4:30pm, with the exception of Tuesdays when we close at 1:30pm. We are located at 1535 High Street, which is on the corner of High and Colfax. There is a carport on High Street on the same side (and right next to) the Sinclair gas station. Feel free to pull into the carport along the curb parallel to the building, which is our loading zone. You can bring your donation to the Welcome Desk, or someone at the desk can bring out a cart.

Please do not park in our handicapped parking space when you are making a donation.

Many Thanks to the Kind Generosity of The Gathering Place Donors