Have materials to donate?

​Be a Donation Rock Star!
​
Well-prepared donations have the biggest impact. Make sure that your donation...
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  • ​Only includes items from our "Items We Accept" list below

  • Only includes items that are clean and usable
 
  • Is organized - Bags of mixed, unsorted items may be turned away​
​DONATION GUIDELINES​​
MAKE SURE WE ACCEPT THE ITEMS YOU WANT TO DONATE​​

​We only take items listed under "Items We Accept". If your donation includes items listed under "Items We Do Not Accept", ​those items will be returned to you.
​
Call ahead if you're unsure about an item or have large items such as looms, easels, etc. ​​- 703-861-8705
​
​​​ITEMS WE ACCEPT:
Click on a category to view list items
Art, Craft & Office Supplies
  • Artist canvas (blank and used)
  • Binder clips
  • Bound Paper Items: composition books (unused), unlined drawing/artist pads, paper sample books, watercolor pads, post-it notepads
  • Bulletin/cork boards, white boards, chalkboards
  • Calligraphy supplies
  • Carving tools: crafting knives, lino cutters
  • Chalk
  • Clay (must be unopened)
  • Clipboards
  • Cork sheets
  • Craft foam
  • Crayons 
  • Craft paints: Fabric paint, paint pens, paint pallets and tubes/bottles/cans under 10 oz
  • Crepe paper
  • Doll-making supplies (no finished dolls)
  • Easels – Artist size and tabletop
  • Erasers - pencil, chalkboard, whiteboard
  • Feathers
  • Floral supplies: faux/silk flowers or botanical items, floral foam, wire or foam wreath bases
  • Foam Core
  • Fountain pens and ink
  • Glitter
  • Glue (new or unopened): Glue Sticks, glue guns and sticks, ModgePodge, glue dots
  • Greeting cards
  • Hat-making / Millinery supplies
  • Hole punches
  • Inks and dyes: alcohol ink, tie-dye, fabric dye (small containers)
  • Jewelry - necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, pins, watches, charms, pendants, Mardi gras beads,
  • Jewelry-making supplies: tools, cord, loose stones, settings, blanks, findings, chains, beads (loose or packaged)
  • Loose Paper: construction paper, scrapbook paper, contact paper, tracing paper, watercolor paper (no small scraps please)
  • Markers
  • Mat board: whole sheets and pre-cut
  • Metal brad fasteners
  • Mosaic tiles under 2 inches in size
  • Paint brushes (must be useable and not dried stiff)
  • Paper Mache
  • Paper quilling tools and supplies
  • Paperclips
  • Pastels
  • Pencils: graphite and colored
  • Pens (please test first!)
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Plaster of Paris
  • Pom-poms
  • Print-making materials: Gelli plates, lino blocks, carving tools, inks
  • Resin and epoxy for crafting
  • Rhinestones
  • Rubber bands
  • Rubber stamps and stamp pads
  • Rulers
  • Scissors
  • Scrapbooking supplies: embellishments in packaging, transfer letters, die cuts, stickers
  • Sequins
  • Stained glass supplies
  • Staplers, staples and staple removers
  • Stationery
  • Stencils
  • Stickers and adhesive labels
  • Tape and tape dispensers - scotch tape, washi tape, masking tape, duct tape, double-sided tape
 

Fabric, Fibers, Textiles and Sewing
  • Appliques and Patches: iron-on or sew-on
  • Buttons
  • Cutting mats
  • Crochet hooks and supplies
  • Deco mesh and ribbon
  • Embroidery hoops
  • Embroidery thread and floss
  • Fabric Pieces: at least 1 yard with regular edges, free of smoke and mothball odors and pet hair free
  • Felt
  • Interfacing and stabilizer
  • Knitting needles and supplies
  • Leather scraps and leather tooling supplies
  • Looms (please call ahead if it is larger than handheld)
  • Needlework supplies
  • Paper items: rolls of paper, tissue paper, butcher paper, wax paper, freezer paper, envelopes, wrapping paper
  • Raw wool and roving
  • Rope and cording
  • Safety pins
  • Sewing and crafting machines - TESTED AND IN WORKING ORDER 
  • Sewing machine attachments and needles
  • Sewing needles
  • Sewing patterns: apparel only (no knitting/crochet/quilting patterns)
  • Sewing/cutting tables (must call ahead to see if we have room)
  • Sewing tools: threaders, pattern tracers, tailor’s chalk, fabric scissors, rotary cutters, measuring tape
  • Sewing trim: ribbon, lace, binding, bias tape
  • Thread
  • Velcro
  • Yarn (only full skeins or close to full please)
  • Zippers
  • Wool felting tools and supplies
Salvaged/Reclaimed Household Items
  • Art posters - UNFRAMED 
  • Bottle caps (clean!)
  • Bread bag tabs
  • Cigar boxes and small wooden craft boxes
  • Coffee filters
  • Collage & Ephemera materials: vintage/antique magazines (pre-1970),  vintage/antique photographs, small posters/prints, vintage advertisements
  • Cookie cutters
  • Drapery hooks and rings
  • Eyeglasses
  • Egg cartons
  • Film canisters
  • Furniture hardware: knobs, pulls, hinges
  • Gift/Party supplies: unused latex balloons, gift bags, gift wrap, gift ribbon, gift bows
  • Jar and container lids: plastic and metal
  • Legos
  • Magnifying glasses
  • Maps
  • Marbles 
  • Metal: keys, bottle caps, wire (craft wire, floral wire, coated wire), rare earth magnets
  • Natural materials: Seashells, rocks and stones, fossils, dried flowers/plants (please bag)
  • Paper plates and cups (unused)
  • Photo slides and negatives
  • Plastic produce netting
  • Plastic used gift cards/key cards/ credit cards
  • Playing cards
  • Postage stamps
  • Postcards
  • Refrigerator magnets
  • Rolled window screen (unused and unbent)
  • Sheet music
  • Six pack rings
  • Small game pieces: checkers, dominoes, dice, marbles, poker chips
  • Small plastic figurines and action figures 2" or smaller
  • Soda can tabs
  • Straws (new and unused)
  • Twist ties
  • Theatrical/character face masks
  • Wallpaper
  • Wood: craft sticks, small dowels, tooth picks, unused skewers, clothespins, small craft wood pieces, spools
  • Vinyl records and album covers
Electronics/media/tech
  • Cassette tapes and cases (NO VHS tapes)
  • CDs/DVDs and CD cases (no DVD cases please)
  • Photo slides and negatives

​​ITEMS WE DO NOT ACCEPT:
Click on a category to view list items
Art, Craft & Office Supplies
  • Binders of any kind
  • Paint: House paint - gallon sized, exterior paint, latex or house paint samples, spray paint
  • Photo albums
  • Stretcher bar sets 
TEMPORARILY OVERSTOCKED
Folders – plastic or manila
Fabric, Fibers, Textiles and Sewing
  • Apparel items: clothing, fabric from clothing, scarves, socks, gloves, etc
  • Fabric scraps under a yard
  • Household textiles: bed linens, pillows, placemats, table linens, napkins, clothing, aprons, any type of carpeting or rugs, blankets, shower curtains, window curtains or towels
  • Pillows, pillow covers, pillow fill
  • Travel sewing kits
  • Unfinished sewing/knitted/crocheted/needlework projects
TEMPORARILY OVERSTOCKED
Folders – plastic or manila
Salvaged/Reclaimed Household Items
  • Architectural salvages or furniture parts
  • Award plaques
  • Bags of any kind: Fabric, vinyl, paper, muslin, canvas totes, pencil cases, drawstring pouches (organza favor bags, jewelry holders, etc)
  • Baskets
  • Batteries
  • Bookends
  • Books or pamphlets of any kind
  • Broken glass, dishware and ceramics
  • Bricks or large stones
  • Buckets
  • Cardboard boxes except for small jewelry boxes
  • Cleaning products, pastes or sprays
  • Cookie molds and presses
  • Cookware, pots, pans, crockery, dinnerware, cutting boards, strainers, cooking utensils
  • Craft kits (open and incomplete)
  • Design samples: laminate, flooring, tile, metal, countertop, carpet, fabric, Frame samples
  • Desk and craft supply organizers
  • Face masks
  • Flatware: Plastic and metal
  • Framed artwork/photos, mirrors etc
  • Home goods and decor items - tabletop decor, organizers, clocks, vases, wall decor
  • Glass: containers of any type, jars, vases, light bulbs, thermometers, loose glass planes, candle jars/used candles, vials
  • Kitchen items - no mugs, plates, chargers, cups, flatware, dishtowels, cookware, storage containers
  • Large cardboard tubes
  • Machine and appliance pieces
  • Measuring cups, spoons, beakers, droppers
  • Metal poles rods, or misc metal items
  • Musical instruments
  • Mylar balloons
  • Personal hygiene items
  • Pet care items
  • Photo or collector albums
  • Plant pots and saucers
  • Plastic bags 
  • Plastic food containers (except for clean black plastic takeout containers WITH lids)
  • Plastic packaging and encasements
  • Plastic storage bins of any size
  • Plastic easter "grass"
  • Prescription bottles
  • Print media: Non-vintage Magazines (nothing pre-1970)
  • Product packaging: Plastic packaging and encasements, Styrofoam or foam pieces, Packing peanuts, Bubble Wrap, Packing paper, Cardboard packaging
  • Promotional items – outdated business swag/branded products (bags, signs, letters, stickers, labels, stamps)
  • Sand
  • Sports balls or equipment
  • Stuffed animals
  • Switch plates and kick plates
  • Tools (hammers, screw drivers, wrenches, etc) - nothing that requires batteries
  • Tupperware or other food storage containers
  • Vases, decorative bowls, candlesticks
TEMPORARILY OVERSTOCKED
  • Paper towel & toilet paper rolls
  • Wine corks
  • Pine cones
Electronics/media/tech
  • Cables, extension cords, power cords or chargers
  • Calculators
  • Cameras or camera parts/lenses
  • Cell phones and cell phone accessories
  • Computers & computer parts or accessories
  • DVD cases
  • Medical appliances
  • Printer/ink cartridges
  • Remotes
  • Stereo or speaker parts
  • String lights, light bulbs, light sockets, work lights/lamps, lampshades
  • Thermometers
  • VHS tapes and cases
TEMPORARILY OVERSTOCKED
Folders – plastic or manila
Things we never, ever take!
  • ​​Clothing or apparel items
  • Home decor items
  • Hazmat Liquids: Lacquers, thinners, varnishes, mineral spirits, turpentine, photographic chemicals, stains/finishes, spray paint, unlabeled substances
  • Untested or non-working sewing machines and other craft machines
  • Items containing batteries
  • Household textiles: bed linens, pillow cases, placemats, table linens, napkins, clothing, aprons, any type of carpeting or rugs, blankets, shower curtains, window curtains or towels
  • Stuffed items - pillows, stuffed animals
  • Construction leftovers: tile, glass, large wood cuts, flooring, carpet, bricks, rocks, sand, etc)
  • Broken glass, dishware and ceramics
  • Photo albums
  • 3-ring binders
Check this list of alternative donation options for items we do not accept

PREPARE YOUR DONATION

CLEAN your items - Donations must be unsoiled and free of all residues and odors. 
  • All items must be smoke, mothball, rust, mildew and pet hair free
  • Remove all batteries
  • Ensure all personal information has been removed​
 

ORGANIZE your items - Bags of mixed, unsorted items may be turned away
​
  • No tangled items - please bag or secure items that tangle easily 
  • Group like items together and items that are part of a set
  • Bag small, loose items
  • Pack your items in a container you can leave with us
​
PLEASE NOTE - We accept 3 bags or boxes per appointment

A box = 1 banker's-style box, measuring roughly 12 x 16 x 12
A bag = 1 paper grocery bag, measuring roughly 17 x 12 x 7

​For larger donations, email us at [email protected] to make arrangements


Need to cancel or reschedule?

Please use the "Cancel Appointment" button in your confirmation email and send an email to [email protected]  ​

Please do not leave donations outside of our building. This is considered illegal dumping.
UpCycle Creative Reuse Center | 2397 S Dove St. Alexandria, Virginia  22314 | 703-861-8705
Copyright © 2026