Where to donate your clothes in Toronto

BABY, it’s so cold outside, and while a lot of us have layers for all temps and coats for every occasion, there are folks out here in need of winter weather items to help get them through the blustery season. As the weather dips below zero and blows and is just nasty, we encourage you all to take a look through your closets and drawers and collect any gently worn items that you can spare and donate to any of the organizations we’ve listed here.

While this list is not solely queer serving, this is our comprehensive list of places to donate clothing that aren't for-profit, corporate or tied to a religious organization. No shade if you donate or shop at Value Village, they're just a for-profit corporate machine, and that's why they're not listed here.

We've included a few tips in case you’re wondering what items are and aren't being accepted, where and when donations can be dropped off, and some of the urgent needs within the communities.  

Without getting too preach-y, we also just want to encourage you to be mindful when donating and putting these items together for donation. The folks who have to sift through these things are often over run and work very hard behind the scenes, so no holes, no big stains and no underwear!

Check the list (in alphabetical order) below, and let us know if we’ve missed one you like. 

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Covenant House

Drop Off Address: 21 McGill St, Toronto, ON M5B 1H3

Drop Off Hours: Monday- Friday between 9am – 3pm

Who they support: Young people who have experienced homelessness and sex trafficking

Urgent Needs: Gift Cards in $5, $10, $20, and $25 denominations. Pre-Paid Presto Cards

Overview:

Since 1982, we've provided care for young people who have experienced homelessness and sex trafficking. And we're still fighting to make sure others do not experience the same challenges.

As a national leader, they combine front-line experience with research to ensure the solutions they offer have impact.

Fun Fact:

Donate a Car Canada accepts vehicle donations for Covenant House and provides them with the money collected from the sale. Free towing is provided in most areas across Canada, or you can drop off your vehicle to maximize your donation.

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Double Take

Double Take is not currently accepting donations because they currently have too much to sort through, but check back with them later this winter

Drop Off Address: 310 Gerrard St E Toronto, ON M5A 2G7

Drop Off Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm (ring the doorbell, hold for 3+ seconds!)

Who they support: Yonge Street Mission

Urgent Needs: Winter jackets (for adults and kids), Clothing (for adults and kids), Running shoes and winter boots (adults and kids), Winter accessories (scarves, gloves, hats, etc.), New Socks and 

Undergarments

Overview:

YSM's Double Take Thrift Store is a social enterprise of the Yonge Street Mission located in Regent Park, Toronto.

Fun Fact:

Double Take has an Upcycling Studio that turns donated fabrics and damaged textiles into meaningful one-of-a-kind pieces that are released in curated batches or sold at local pop-up markets. 

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Fred Victor Community Services

Drop Details: They have 25 different locations. To arrange your donation drop-off, email donations@fredvictor.org detailing what items you would like to donate and what area of Toronto you’re located in. This helps expedite their response and ensure the drop-off location is as convenient as possible.

What they accept: Donate items to homeless 

Who they support: People who are experiencing homelessness.  

Urgent Needs: Winter jackets (for adults and kids), Men’s and boys’ clothing, Running shoes and winter boots (adults and kids), Winter accessories (scarves, gloves, hats, etc.), New Socks and 

Undergarments

Overview:

Fred Victor is a social service charitable organization that fosters long-lasting and positive change in the lives of homeless and low-income people living across Toronto.

Fun Fact:

They provide and manage affordable housing, transitional housing and emergency shelter in Toronto.

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Holy Trinity Church

Drop Off Address: 10 Trinity Sq, Toronto, ON, M5G 1B1

Drop Off Hours: Monday - Wednesday 10 - 4 pm

What they accept: Support Holy Trinity's Community Hub - Suggested Donations

Who they support: Diverse people from across the GTA; centering houseless, BIPOC, queer and substance using people

Urgent Needs: Winter jackets (for adults and kids), Adult clothing (the bigger the better), Running shoes and winter boots (adults), Winter accessories (scarves, gloves, hats, etc.), Sleeping bags and pads, and Adult boxers, briefs and panties (new). 

Overview:

HTC is a community that express faith through lives of integrity, justice and compassion. They celebrate the arts, foster lay leadership, include the doubter and marginalized, and challenge oppression wherever it may be found.

Fun Fact:

Church of the Holy Trinity supports their community building and well-being work through rentals of our spaces and has been known to open their doors to all sorts of parties and events. 

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LOFT Community Services

Drop Off Details: To speak with someone directly about Donating Items, contact Jessica Ponce, Development Officer, Annual Giving at jponce@loftcs.org

What they accept: Gently used entertainment items such as CD/DVD players, sports equipment, and books that are in good condition.

Who they support: People facing a combination of mental and physical health challenges, addiction issues, poverty, and/or homelessness.

Urgent Needs: Bedding, personal care items, new clothing, and food.

Overview:

LOFT is one of the largest community service providers in Ontario, supporting people facing a combination of mental and physical health challenges, addiction issues, poverty, and/or homelessness. They build customized supports that specifically address a person’s needs and offer them for as long as they’re needed.

Fun Fact:

They support over 20,000 individuals per year in Toronto, York Region, and Simcoe.

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New Circles

Drop Off Address: 44 Mobile Dr, Toronto, ON M4A 2P2

Drop off Hours: Monday-Friday 9am to 4:45pm

What they accept: Clothing, shoes, general accessories for the entire family, as well as reusable shopping bags and suitcases with wheels.

Who they support:

Urgent needs: Winter jackets (for adults and kids), Men’s and boys’ clothing, Running shoes and winter boots (adults and kids), Winter accessories (scarves, gloves, hats, etc.), New Socks and 

Undergarments

Overview: 

New Circles offers a free service that provides new or gently used, quality clothing to individuals and families in need who are living on a limited income. Their clothing program simulates a retail experience, offering a comfortable and welcoming environment. They stock most items as well as specialty items such as maternity wear, and plus-size clothing.

Fun Fact:

You can help support them by organizing a clothing drive. Rally your friends and community to collect gently-worn, quality clothing – it’s fun and easy and they can assist.

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People With AIDS Foundation PWA

Drop Off Address: 163 Queen Street East, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON M5A 1S1

Drop off Hours: Monday-Friday starting at 10am until 6pm Monday and Tuesday, 7pm Wednesday and Thursday and 5pm on Friday. But email them at ntom@pwatoronto.org if you have a lot of stuff.

What they accept: Clothing, furniture, household appliances, computers and technology devices, children’s toys, and food items... as well as food items! If you're dropping off a lot of things, please email ntom@pwatoronto.org to make arrangements.

Who they support: Your donations directly support people live with HIV/AIDS here in Toronto.

Urgent needs: We're going to out on a limb here and and say that food items are in urgent need at all times. But in terms of clothing; winter coats, sweaters, scarves... all the things to keep people warm right now.

Overview: Since 1987, the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation has been helping men, women, trans men, trans women, and children live with HIV/AIDS. How do this continue to engage? Through bettering their health and well-being through practical and therapeutic support services. "By choosing to support PWA, you are making a positive difference and an investment in ensuring people living with HIV/AIDS have access to food, financial assistance, therapies, training, and more."

Fun Fact:

PWA runs an active food bank all year long, as well as the legendary Friends of Life Bike Rally every August!

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Suits Me Fine 

Drop Off Address: 1051 Queen Street West

Drop off Hours: Monday-Thursday between 11am and 2pm 

What they accept: how to donate to suits me fine

Who they support: Provides free clothing, accessories and toiletries to all CAMH clients

Urgent needs: Seasonal clothing and easy to maintain clothing like denim and cotton

Overview:

Suits Me Fine is a clothing store but in reality is so much more. Volunteers assist approximately 20-50 clients a day, providing glimpses of hope and a welcoming place for clients to socialize with friends and meet new acquaintances. The new clothes and these positive social interactions build confidence and self-esteem in our clients and assist them in reintegrating into society for a complete recovery.

Fun Fact:

Suits Me Fine holds a fashion show in the spring each year. CAMH clients select their outfits from the SMF shop and model them on the runway.

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Other places... with caveats

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The 519 

Not accepting donations but they’re looking to connect with folks who would like to do a Winter Essentials drive on their behalf during December.They’re looking for folks to donate new gloves, winter hats, and hygiene supplies that will help community members throughout the winter months.

Clothing Pick Up For Cerebral Palsy (CP4CP)

While they are a nonprofit, these clothing donation boxes scattered around the city are basically collection boxes for Value Village. VV pays them approximately four cents per pound of clothing. They also have an exclusive arrangement with 13 VV stores, where CP4CP is a direct benificiary of these stores.

What they accept: Gently used clothing, housewares, and small electronics (working or not)

What they don’t accept: Baby Car Seats, Cribs and Strollers, Air Conditioners, Large Appliances (Fridges/Stoves Etc.), Lawnmowers, BBQ's, Anything with a Gas Tank, Doors, Windows or any Construction Material

Diabetes Canada

With more than 5,000 donation bins and an active home pick-up service in communities across Canada (excluding Quebec), Diabetes Canada is the largest charitable clothing, small household goods collection service and the social enterprise in the country. 

Donors often assume their items are sold directly by the charity, but they are instead sold in bulk to the for-profit retailer Value Village for a flat fee per pound.

Friends of Ruby 

Currently, we are not accepting clothing donations due to limited storage capacity.

Sistering

All in-kind donations must be pre-approved and dropped off by appointment only. They’re unable to accept donations at the door without prior approval.

Value Village

VV boutique a for-profit company and purchasing clothes from them does not support nonprofit organizations. Though they do accept donations from nonprofits, and they "pay" their nonprofit "partners"... they have a CEO, a CFO, a president and COO as well as a chief people services officer, and we have questions.

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