Donating to Homeless Shelters

Donations provide basic resources to those in need. Common donations range from clothing, blankets, food, shoes, and vehicles. 

The first step to donating to a homeless shelter is first finding a facility near you. This Homeless Shelter Locator helps donors, like you, locate open shelters by state, and city. This tool will also help you determine where you can drop off specific items. 

Types of Donations

Car Donations

With more than 30 years of experience, Cars2Charities has the expertise in making vehicle donations easier than ever. Cars2Charities is designed to provide donors with a simple, fast, and secure way to donate their vehicles in city.

In most cases, we accept all makes, models, and types of vehicles. While car and truck donations are our most popular type of donations, we also accept motorcycles, golf carts, and motorhomes.

Step 1: Preparing for the Process

You’ll start the process of donating your car in city by collecting the vehicle's cleared Certificate of Title and Registration.

If you have misplaced your title or registration, don’t worry! We can help. Please find your vehicle's identification number (VIN) and together we can determine which supplementary paperwork you will need to complete at the time of pick up. 

Now, if deciding on just one charity is too hard, we can help. You can just say, “Cars2Charities, you choose for me." Simply let us know.

Step 2: Scheduling Your Pickup 

Give us a call at (855) 520-2100, or complete an online donation request. Our friendly donation coordinators will gather your vehicles information, and together, we will decide the most convenient time, date, and location for the pickup. Then we will send you an email that gives you step by step instructions to prepare you for the pick-up. At this time, you will also choose the charity that will receive the proceeds. We have a list of Homeless Charities to choose from. If you would like to donate to a charity that is not on this list, please let us know

Before arriving, our tow truck driver will call you one hour before to give you time to collect paperwork and prepare the vehicle for towing. At the time of the pick-up, make sure your title is signed and clear of any lien holdings. You will hand over the title and registration to the tow truck driver. 

Step 3: Maximizing the Donation

We take the reins at this point to maximize the donation for both our donors and charities. We do this by assessing the vehicle and adding value to increase the selling price of the car. It’s a situation many people dream about – a successful way to support a cause you care about without the work involved. 

Clothing and Shoes Donations

Charities like: Shoes for the Homeless, The Salvation Army, WISEPlace, Burbank Temporary Aid Center, Los Angeles Mission, Orange County Rescue Mission, Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center accept shoe and clothing donations. When deciding which organization to donate to, be sure to research what they do with the donations. Some companies take these donations and sell them for profits, while others simply give these donations to people who need them. Most charities have drop off locations, be sure to call and ask. 

Charities that are dedicated specifically to housing and assisting women and families rely on clothing, shoe, toiletry, baby formula, and feminine hygiene products.

Food Donations

Programs like: Food for the Hungry, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Meals On Wheels San Diego, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank supply meals and groceries for those who need them. Finding a local food bank is easier than you think. Simply type "Food Banks Near Me". It is always best to call or visit their website to review their process and procedure with donations. Tools like this can also help you find Food Banks near you.