Important: Physical donations are only accepted in the Madison WI area.
Current Donation Needs
Sorry, we are not able to accept any household items or furniture at the moment.
Due to the drastic slowdown in refugee resettlement, Open Doors is also providing this furniture to the Immigrant community through its partnership with Centro and the African Center for Community Development.
We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media for further updates.
Want to donate? Just 1-2-3!
- Check below for a full list of items we can and cannot accept. We ask that any items you donate be new or gently used, clean, and in good condition.
- Email a description of your item(s) to [email protected]. For furniture, please include its dimensions and a photo.
- Wait to hear back from us for confirmation! We will let you know whether we are able to take your items and will either schedule a pick up or give you a drop-off location convenient for you.
Questions? Email [email protected]. Thank you for your generosity!
Donating Furniture and Household Items
Open Doors collects and stores furniture, appliances, and household items generously given to us by the Madison community, and uses these items to furnish apartments for new refugee families. This is a crucial and initial part of helping welcome them into a safe, warm, and inviting home as they start new lives here in Madison.
Giving refugee families a furnished home would be impossible without your generosity. Thank you for your interest in our work and your willingness to give.
Items Collected by Open Doors
This is a comprehensive list of the items we collect and use to stock apartments for new arrivals, but our needs vary depending on what we have in storage. For our most current list of needed items, please see our Facebook page. We ask that donated items be clean and either new or gently used and in good condition. Thank you for your generosity!
Kitchenware
- Dorm-sized microwaves
- Microwave-safe dish sets
- Drinking glasses (no stemware)
- Pots and pans with lids (no non-stick)
- Skillets with lids (no non-stick)
- Mixing bowls
- Serving bowls and platters
- Colanders and sieves
- Platters
- Baking pans
- Cookie sheets
- Flatware
- Cutlery organizers
- Teapots and kettles
- Water pitchers
- Kitchen utensils
- Can openers
- Knives
- Cutting boards
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Graters
- Dish drainers
- Food storage containers
- Potholders
- Hot pads
- Dish towels
- Dish cloths
- Placemats and napkins
- Paper towels and holders
- Aluminum foil
- Zippered bags in all sizes
- Tall kitchen trash cans (13-gallon)
- Trash can liners
Furniture
- Sofas and loveseats in good condition (no sleeper sofas)
- Easy chairs in good condition (no recliners)
- Dining tables (to seat 4-6)
- Dining chairs
- Coffee tables
- End tables
- TV stands
- Dressers
- Night stands
- Cribs (up-to-code)
Cleaning Supplies
- Dish detergent and dishwasher detergent
- All-purpose cleaners like PineSol
- New brooms and dustpans
- New toilet brushes and cleaners
- Laundry detergent
- Bathroom plungers (unused)
Bathroom Supplies
- Shower curtains and liners
- Bath towels, hand towels, washcloths
- Bath mats
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo, deodorant, razors, shave cream
- Lotions
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Bath soap
- Soap dishes and toothbrush holders
- Feminine hygiene (pads only)
Bedroom Supplies
- Laundry baskets
- Mattress pads, twin & queen (not waterproof)
- Sheets and pillow cases, twin & queen
- Pillows (must be new)
- Blankets
- Clean quilts and comforters, twin & queen
Miscellaneous Items
- Vacuum cleaners in good working order, extra bags
- Smaller flat-screen TVs
- TV remotes and indoor antennas
- Floor and table lamps
- Doormats and boot trays
- Clothes hangers
- Flashlights and batteries
- First-aid kits
- New small fire extinguishers
- Sewing machines (new or need fixing)
- Sewing supplies (accessories, fabric, shears)
- Box fans
Items We Cannot Accept
Kitchenware
- Non-stick cookware
- Coffee makers and other small kitchen appliances.
- Wine glasses
Furniture
- Sleeper sofas
- Recliners and gliders
- Bookshelves
- Hutches
Bedroom Supplies
- Bed frames
- Box springs
- Mattresses
- Mattress protectors
- Waterproof mattress pads
- King sheet sets
- Used pillows
Miscellaneous Items
- Clothes (other than outer winter wear)
- Luggage
- Strollers
- High chairs
- Child car seats