Items We Accept

Please remember that our clients are coming out of very hard times; items with rips, stains, tears, peeling paint, or animal shredding are just not accepted
Items should be currently serviceable
A simple acceptance test: if the item were not “excess”, would you continue to use it yourself?
All appliances should be less than 10 years old
Exceptions should be made when we receive donated Estate Goods that are of value, as we will sell them to raise HGRM operating funds (it cost close to $150K annually to pay the costs of rent, utilities, telephone, computer, supplies, insurance and to keep our trucks on the road).

Item	Acceptable Condition - What to look out for
Air conditioners	110V, window units only Must be less than 10 years old and UL-approved Unit must be in operable condition with attached power cord
Baby items	Please see separate document for acceptable conditions
Baking dishes	Glass should be clear of chips and cracks Baking dishes should have covers
Beds/ Mattresses/ Box springs/Bedframes/Futons (Essential item)	Twin, full, and queen size only (we keep one king size on hand) Day bed frames, trundle beds, and futon frames must be accompanied by their matching mattresses Mattresses must be clean, free of urine, odors, and stains; not sagging. We DO accept boxsprings alone - twin, full or queen (intact - no tears or ripped/damaged frames). Cover material must be intact; free of rips and tears We do not take platform beds. No motorized beds. Bunk beds must be separable into two free-standing beds
Blankets, bedding, linens, and towels	Blankets and bedspreads must be clean and serviceable: free from wear spots, tears, rips, or mildew Please note size of bedding if possible, i.e. twin, full, queen or king size (tape or pin label to item).
Blenders, mixers	Units must have cords, be UL-approved, and be in good operating condition Each unit should have all the mixing bowls or parts for blending No bread machines
Bookcases	Bookcases must be in good, serviceable condition. All shelves must be intact and not bowed
Books	Due to space constraints, we now accept children’s books and workbooks, bibles/religious, and dictionaries, cookbooks only.
Bureaus, dressers, wardrobes (Essential item)	Bureaus, dressers, and wardrobes must be in good, serviceable condition. Normal wear and tear is assumed. All drawers must be included and must work freely Units must not have been exposed to water or moisture damage causing warping of frames or drawers No peeling paint
Cabinets, free-standing (not kitchen cabinets)	Doors must be intact Unit must be in good, serviceable condition. Normal wear and tear is assumed. All shelves must be included
Can openers	Electric or manual can openers are acceptable Electric units must have cords, be UL-approved, and be in good operating condition. The cutting area of both types should be clean
Chairs, dining room and kitchen	Only sets of 2 or more Wooden chairs must be in good condition and not require gluing or repair Upholstered seats on dining room chairs must be in reasonable condition: no rips or tears Chairs should be structurally sound Chairs with torn vinyl or fabric covering are not accepted Chairs with metal frames that are rusted are not accepted
Chairs, upholstered	The outer covering (material) must be clean, free of stains, and without any worn-through spots, rips, or tears No excessive fraying of the outer covering All seat cushions must be included and in good repair Foam stuffing must still be elastic – no powdering or hardening Items should be free of animal or urine odors
Christmas decorations	Christmas decorations can only be accepted from October 1 through December 15 due to storage limitations. Decorations should be in boxes. No loose or broken ornaments. Tinsel must be in unopened packages No artificial trees or tree stands Christmas linens, towels, dishes, etc. are accepted
Clothes dryers, electric (Essential item)	Electric dryers are accepted up to 10 years old Units must be UL-approved and be in good operating condition Power cords must be attached and be in serviceable condition The chassis must be free of large dents or excessive rust; reasonable surface wear is expected Operating manuals are desired if possible
Coffee makers	Electric coffeemakers are desired Units must have cords, be UL-approved, and be in good operating condition. Each unit must have all the parts for making coffee.
Cooking utensils	Spatulas, spoons, ladles, knives, etc., are accepted All utensils should be clean
Couches, sofas, loveseats, sectionals, sofa beds (Essential item)	The outer covering (material) must be clean, free of stains, and without any worn-through spots No excessive fraying of the outer covering All seat cushions must be included and in good repair Foam stuffing must still be elastic – no powdering or hardening Items should be free of animal or urine odors Sofa beds must include their mattresses; mattresses must be in good condition (see beds/mattresses) See photos of unacceptable items
Curtains and drapes	Must be be clean and serviceable; not heavily faded or stained Writing the curtain’s dimensions on the bag or box is helpful
Decorative items	Must be in excellent condition and of good quality These are intended for clients who have no budget for the “extras” of decorating.
Dishes	Should not have any chips or cracks Sets of 4 or more only Please pack carefully in boxes
Dishwashers, portable	Units must be UL-approved and in good operating condition Cords must be attached; no frayed or exposed wires Please drain all water
Entertainment centers	Small to moderate size entertainment centers only – no larger than 6 feet in any dimension. Must be in good repair
Fans	Must be less than 10 years old, UL-approved and in good operating condition Cords must be attached All controls and knobs must be intact
Freezers, small upright	Must be less than 10 years old, UL-approved and in good operating condition Units must be frost-free; 15 cu. ft. or smaller Units should be clean and free of any offensive odors All shelves must be included No rust or dents Door gaskets must be sound (no leaking air) Temperature controls must work and have all appropriate dials and knobs
Fry pans, electric	Must be UL-approved Must include the cover Cord must be included and be in good condition; no fraying or exposed wires
Futons	futon frames must be accompanied by their matching mattresses Futon mattresses must be clean, free of urine, odors, and stains; not sagging.
Glasses, drinking	Sets of 2 or more only No chips, cracks, or excessive clouding of the glass
Hand tools	Small, basic hand tools such as screwdrivers, hammers, pliers Must be in reasonable condition – no rust
Heaters, electric space	Must be less than 10 years old, UL-approved, and in good operating condition Electric cords must be attached; no fraying or exposed wires.
Hutches	Units must be clean and in good structural condition Items must not show exposure to moisture Reasonable wear on surfaces is expected No partial pieces (e.g., top only)
Irons and ironing boards	Irons must be UL-approved and in good operating condition with all controls and dials intact Electric cords must be attached; no fraying or exposed wires. Ironing boards must be structurally sound with working hinges and latching mechanism Pads must be clean without excessive signs of wear or deterioration
Lamps	Lamps should be operational with an electric cord that is not frayed nor showing any exposed wires Shades should be clean without rips or tears Glass globes should be intact (no chips or cracks)
Lawn chairs, folding	Must be folding type; no molded resin chairs Must be clean and free of rust Webbing must be intact
Linens, table	Tablecloths, placemats, and napkins should be clean, without rips or tears. Placemats/napkins should be sets of 2 or more; no single items
Love seats, stuffed chairs, recliners	The outer covering (material) must be clean, free of stains, and without any worn-through spots, rips, or tears No excessive fraying of the outer covering All seat cushions must be included and in good repair Foam stuffing must still be elastic – no powdering or hardening Items should be free of smoke, animal or urine odors Recliner mechanisms must be in good working order See photos of unacceptable items
Mattresses (Essential item)	Twin, full, and queen size only Mattresses must be clean; free of urine, odors, and stains; not sagging. Cover material must be intact; free of rips and tears
Medical Equipment	LIMITED SPACE - we can only accept if we have space Medical furniture such as commodes and shower chairs Walkers (folding or seated) Wheel chairs, crutches, canes All must be in good condition Hospital beds cannot be accepted
Microwave ovens	Countertop microwaves are accepted. No under-counter units Ovens must be UL-approved, clean, and in good working condition. Power cords must be attached and in good condition. Internal tray must be included Doors must close tightly to avoid any microwave leakage
Mirrors	Framed mirrors only; frame must be intact and tight. No cuts, breaks, scratches, or peeling silver
Pillows	Bed pillows accepted new or like new condition Decorative pillows accepted new or like new condition
Pots and pans	Handles must be attached and intact Pots and pans must be free of rust and should not be excessively dented Non-stick surfaces must be smooth and free of scratches. Lids are desirable we also accept woks, steamers, rice cookers
Recliners	Electric recliners must work Non-electric recliner mechanisms must move freely Upholstery condition same as any other chair or sofa
Refrigerators (Essential item)	Top or bottom freezers only; no side-by-side Must be less than 10 years old Units must be UL-approved and in good operating condition Units must be clean and free of any offensive odors All shelves must be included. Units must be frost-free. Units should not have any rust or major dents Door gaskets must be in good condition; no air leaks Temperature controls must work and have all appropriate dials and knobs
Rocking chairs	Wooden chairs must be in good condition and not require gluing or repair Upholstered seats must be in reasonable condition: no rips or tears Chairs should be structurally sound Chairs with torn vinyl or fabric covering are not accepted Chairs with metal frames that are rusted are not accepted
Rugs	Scatter rugs and bound, room-size rugs are desired; we do not accept wall-to-wall carpeting. Rugs must be clean and in good condition without obvious wear spots, stains, or odors Rugs must be free of pet odors and mildew
Sewing Machines	We do accept sewing machines that are in good working order as we are not able to do repairs. We prefer portable sewing machines. No sewing tables accepted without working sewing machine.
Silverware (flatware)	All silverware is desirable. Grouping knives, forks, and spoons in sets of 4 or 6 is very helpful. We accept all types of service utensils and carving knives Please pack silverware in plastic zipper bags or small boxes; please pack knives safely.
Sheets	Sheets must be clean and without rips, tears, or holes. Please pack sets together if possible Please label with size of sheets if possible
Sofas, loveseats, sectionals, sofa beds, and futons (Essential item)	Important: any slipcover must be removed and the original furniture checked for all the following: The outer covering (material) must be clean, free of stains, and without any worn-through spots No excessive fraying of the outer covering All seat cushions must be included and in good repair Foam stuffing must still be elastic – no powdering or hardening Items should be free of animal or urine odors Sofa beds must include the mattress. The mattress must be in good condition (see beds/mattresses) See photos of unacceptable items
Stereos and radios	We accept small radios and stereo systems in good operating condition. We do not accept large speakers or individual stereo components.
Tables (Essential item)	We accept tables of all kinds and sizes, including dining room tables, kitchen tables, end tables, side tables, coffee tables. Tables should have all their legs; surfaces can be used but not be severely damaged. Reasonable wear is expected. Metal tables must not have rust. Wooden tables must not show any separation or delaminating from exposure to moisture. NO large glass tables please (i.e. no dining room size glass tables)
Toasters and toaster ovens	Units must be UL-approved. Units must be clean, crumbs removed, no rust Heating elements must be operational. All structural elements must be intact, especially oven doors. Electric cords must be attached; no fraying or exposed wire.
Tools	We do accept small hand tools such as screwdriver, socket set, small hammer, etc. that can be given to clients in a small bag or container for use in their apartment.
Towels	Towels must be clean, without rips, tears, or holes. Reasonable wear is expected.
Toys (NO TOYS ACCEPTED)	As of 9/7/07, we will no longer be accepting toys due to recent recall and safety issues, as well as space needs. We will still accept children's books.
Televisions	TVs must be color, in good operating condition, and have cable capability. We do not accept large screen TV's,console TVs or any black/white TVs Power cords must be attached; no fraying or exposed wire. The remote control and operating instructions are highly desirable; please tape or attach to TV if possible.
Vacuum cleaners	Vacuum cleaners must be in good operating condition and include all attachments. Unit must be capable of a strong vacuum; the hose must be intact with tight connections. The power cord must be attached and in operable condition, including the rewind feature if applicable.
Washers and dryers (Essential item)	Electric washers and dryers must be less than 10 years old, UL-approved, and in good operating condition. Power cords must be attached and be in serviceable condition; no fraying or exposed wires. The chassis should be free of large dents or excessive rust; reasonable wear on surfaces is expected. Operating manuals are desired, if possible. Please drain all water. We try to keep one gas dryer on hand.