Places to Donate in Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley

Whether you are trying to clean out your closet, lend a helping hand, or find a way to put your skills to good use you don’t have to look far. There a many opportunities to donate your time, money, or items you no longer need. Check out this list of places that accept donations in Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley.

Special thanks to our contributor, Wesley of Dots and Daisies, for writing this post! 

1. Vigo County Public Library– Donate books, games, toys, etc. to the Friends of the Library. The proceeds go into programs such as Safe Sitter which is a free class to teach aspiring babysitters ages 11-18 how to provide safe and nurturing child care. Teens and adults can also donate their time. Applications and more information can be found here. Give back to Youth Services by donating kid-friendly items to the “Calm Corner.” This is a new space where your child can go to have some quiet time to calm down or limit over stimulation. Parents can also use this space to nurse or use the changing table. The library is in need of new unopened packages of wipes and diapers, and gallon sized bags to make changing table care packages. Drop off eyeglasses in the baskets around the library. 
2. Helping Hands– Donate gently used clothing and household items to help low income families purchase the items they need. Most items are only a quarter and profits are used to improve the community and stock the food pantry. Read more about why Haute Happenings readers love Helping Hands here. 
3. Marshall Ministerial Alliance- Call them at 217-826-2306 for more information about donating desired items. The money made from selling items is used to feed families in the community.
4. Sisters of Providence. Volunteer your time or even adopt an alpaca!
5. Braves Boutique (located in Terre Haute South HS), Sarah Scott Clothes Closet- Donate your gently used clothing, coats, shoes. These places are also in need of new unopened underwear, socks, bras, and toiletries. Don’t forget to donate your old formal wear, dresses, tuxes, suits, shoes, and handbags for prom. Contact each school for more information. Read more about the Sarah Scott holiday needs here. 
6. Meals on Wheels– Brings meals to the doors of local senior citizens.  They collect clothing, food, toiletries, and monetary donations. People are always needed to help make meals,  deliver meals, or create care packages.
7. 14th and Chestnut– School supplies, clothing, and food supplies are always welcome, but maybe try to jump out of your comfort zone and help in one of these ways: Sponsor a birthday party, help in the kitchen or food pantry, tutor a struggling student or assist with homework help.
8. Catholic Charities– Provides many services to our community check out these links to find out more about how you can help. Ryves Youth Center, Bethany House, Catholic Charities Foodbank, the Christmas Store, and Household Exchange
9. Visit stylist Jackie Farmer for a haircut and she will help you donate your locks while making you look great!
10. Indiana Milk Bank– A mother’s milk is one of the most precious gift a mother can give her child, but sometimes for whatever reason it doesn’t goes as planned. Help mothers who can’t or are struggling with breastfeeding provide their babies with the nourishment of breastmilk. There are also groups form on facebook for informal ways of milk sharing.  Union Hospital NICU uses milk from the milk bank! 
11. Indiana Blood Bank– Save a life by donating blood.
12. Donating Bone Marrow– Add your name to the national registry. Who knows it could be your neighbor needing help one day?
13. Terre Haute Humane Society– Donate your time, money, or check out their wish list here.
14. For Paws Sake– Click the link to learn more about fostering dogs or volunteering.
15. CANDLES– Help Holocaust survivor, Eva Kor, to continue to spread her message of mutual respect, human dignity, healing, forgiveness, and empowerment.
16. Horse Shoe Equine Rescue, Inc.– Volunteer to help this organization rehabilitate abused and neglected horses to learn to trust again and find a loving permanent home.
17. Ouabache Valley Felines and Friends– Connect with them on facebook to see how you can volunteer.
18. Cradles of Clay County– Volunteers are needed to snuggle and rock babies! Sign me up! You can also donate items (toys, books, puzzles, burp cloths, bouncers) or they accept monetary donations.
19. Happiness Bag– They are able to accept monetary donations through their website. You can also sign up to volunteer throughout the year and for Special Olympics. It’s such a rewarding experience to work with all the athletes and see them succeed! They are always in need of craft items, games, puzzles, and consumables such as cups, plates, and napkins.
20. Crisis Pregnancy Center– They are always in need of diapers and wipes. Read their page for more information.
21. Baby & Me Tobacco Free– A few times a year they hold candy drives for suckers, hard candy, gum, etc. to help expecting moms kick their tobacco habit. Because the hand-to-mouth aspect of this addiction is so powerful, they are asking for items to keep moms hands busy. You can donate crossword puzzles, coloring books and colored pencils, sudoku, word finds, cross stitch or needlepoint kids, stress balls, even playdoh.
22. Wabash Senior Citizens INC– Find them on facebook or contact them via phone at (812) 232-3245 for a list of items to donate.  
23. Reach Services– This is a program designed to provide aid to veterans in the Wabash Valley. They are looking for any household items, non perishable food items, and they also accept crockpot freezer meals. Call (812)-232-6305 for more information.
24. Next Step Today– Donate your used clothing, furniture, or household items. Do you have any special skills or talents? Maybe you can help by being a mentor to residents, teaching life skills, or use your trade skills to help maintain properties.
25. CASA– Donate your time and become an advocate for a child who has been neglected or abused. For more information of how you can donate follow this link. You can also ship gifts from this Amazon wish list straight to the CASA office. These gifts are then used to fill the gift closet for birthdays and holidays for kids in foster care. 
26. CODA– What do you do with your old cell phone now? Donate it to CODA to help someone facing domestic violence open the lines of communication.
27. Habitat for Humanity Restore– Donate items for resale to help build homes in your community.
28. Girl Scouts of America– Become a leader for a local troop or ask your local girl scout to purchase cookies to donate for Operation Cookie Drop.. A program that helps send cookies to all active and retired military personnel.
29. Food pantry. Donate food, donate produce from your garden, or donate time.
30. Covered with Love. Have your kids finally left the diaper stage? Donate clean, opened packages to Covered with Love or purchase new items to help families in need.  They accept all sizes of diapers from preemies to pull-ups.  They also accept new, sealed packages of wipes
31. Foster Closets. If you’d like to support kids in foster care, donate your gently-used children’s gear and clothing to a foster care closet!
32. Career Center Clothing Closet on ISU campus. The Career Center is accepting clothing donations for their Clothing Closet. Indiana State University students in need of professional attire are invited to the Career Center and select 4 items of donated clothing to keep. You may drop off your gently used and cleaned professional/interview attire at the Career Center Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. We will also provide you with a donation form for tax purposes if you are interested in claiming your donations.
33. Include the kids! Check out our list of ways to volunteer with kids.
34. Blessing boxes. There are various “boxes” all over town that collect non-perishables and basic supplies for those who need them.
35. Little Free Libraries. If you have an excess of books, share!
36. Clothing swaps. Purge your outgrown kid gear at one of our local clothing swaps. Bring what you can; take what you need. Everything is free!
37. Recycle. If you can’t find a way to reuse, maybe it’s time to recycle. Check out this thread with local recycling options. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rachael (@hautehappenings)

Here are some other ideas of places that accept donations in Terre Haute and our surrounding community:

Local Churches- Many local churches have ongoing ministries to help throughout the community. For example, at my church we create food baskets several times throughout the year. Our congregation brings in items or leaves a monetary donation and the church fills in the gaps. We have also volunteered at the 14th and Chestnut Center. One fun activity was planning a birthday party for all the children born in that particular month.

Local preschools or daycares- Each month the preschool my son attends sends a wish list home. Common things that appear on the wish list are baby wipes, baggies, small cups, plates, crayons, glue, etc. Some other items they or a daycare might desire are gently used toys, babydolls, ride on toys. Recently, I cleaned out all of our coloring books some completely blank and many others with several blank pages to take into my sons class. They were a very welcome donation.

Local Nursing homes- In my mom’s group we have made several trips to the local nursing homes to visit on Halloween or sing Christmas carols, but what they really need are people to come to visit and stay a while. Bring a craft to make with a resident or maybe a book to read.

Local schools- Start with your child’s classroom teacher. Ask if they have a “wish list” of items you could send to help. A extra package of glue sticks,  crayons, or even a box of tissues. One friend had the idea of buying and donating those clearanced boxed valentines so a child in need wouldn’t feel left out. Volunteer your time to read a story, help with recess duty, or stuff folders to go home. Get involved in the PTO! They will know what it is need or maybe they even have a service learning project in the works.

Author/Contributor Bio: My name is Wesley Thomson. I am a stay-at-home mama to an adventurous four year old and a spunky two year old. I am a former special education teacher and have a passion for learning. I love cooking, crafting, reading (in my extra time) and hanging out with my family.  I am a born and raised Hautian. I lived in the same house until I was 22 and married my high school sweetheart. We now live on land gifted to us by his grandma just a few hundred feet from his childhood home. We are both such family centered people and I have a heart for nostalgia. Terre Haute is and will forever be our home. I am very excited for the opportunity to dive more into my community and write about it to you! Connect with me online and see my custom decals and creations at Dots and Daisies!