You've got a couch that still has life in it, a closet full of clothes you haven't worn in years, and a kitchen set from a life stage you've moved past. You want to donate, not dump. But where do you actually take this stuff in Burlington?
The answer is more complicated than it should be. Different organizations accept different items, keep different hours, and have different policies on pickup. Some have closed entirely. This guide breaks down every major donation option in Burlington and Chittenden County so you can make the choice that works for you.
The Quick Comparison
| Organization | Free Pickup? | Drop-Off? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| GiveBetter | Yes | No | Furniture, clothing, household goods, electronics |
| ReSOURCE | Paid | Yes | Furniture, building materials, electronics |
| Habitat ReStore | Yes | Yes | Furniture, appliances, building materials |
| Goodwill | No | Yes | Clothing, small goods, electronics |
| Shalom Shuk | No | Yes | Clothing, jewelry, household goods |
| Replays | No | Yes | Clothing, furniture, antiques (consignment) |
GiveBetter
GiveBetter is Burlington's newest donation service, built to solve the biggest pain point in donating: getting your stuff out the door.
How it works: You submit a donation request online with photos of your items and choose a vetted local nonprofit to receive the proceeds. We schedule a free pickup at your convenience, sell the items, and send the money to the cause you selected.
What we accept: Furniture, clothing, shoes, household goods, small appliances, electronics, books, and toys. Items should be clean and in usable condition.
Pickup: Free, scheduled at your convenience throughout Burlington and Chittenden County.
Where proceeds go: You choose. Our 25+ vetted nonprofit partners include COTS, Feeding Champlain Valley, USCRI Vermont, Spectrum Youth & Family Services, and many more.
Why it's different: Most donation options require you to load your car and drive to a drop-off location during limited hours. GiveBetter comes to you. And unlike other services, you decide exactly which cause benefits from your donation.
ReSOURCE
ReSOURCE (formerly ReCycle North) is a Vermont nonprofit that has been operating since 1991, providing career training for young Vermonters while keeping usable goods in circulation.
Locations:
- Burlington -- 339 Pine Street (Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat: 10 AM - 5 PM)
- Williston -- 329 Harvest Lane, Suite 200 (Mon-Sat: 10 AM - 6 PM, Sun: 10 AM - 5 PM)
What they accept: Furniture in good condition (no particle board), clothing and linens, electronics, building materials, household goods, and small appliances. They charge small fees for large appliance drop-offs ($5 for dishwashers, stoves, and washers/dryers; $20 for refrigerators at Williston only). Note that seasonal restrictions apply -- they won't accept summer clothing in winter, for example.
What they don't accept: Broken or particle board furniture, air conditioners, vacuums, king mattresses, textbooks, or anything with mold or biohazards.
Pickup: Available in Chittenden County for a fee. The fee covers part of the cost to run their truck and pay drivers, with additional charges for multiple flights of stairs. Call (802) 857-4345 for pricing and scheduling.
Where proceeds go: Youth job training programs including YouthBuild, which provides paid 12-month construction training for young adults.
Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Habitat ReStore sells donated furniture, appliances, and building materials to fund affordable housing construction in Northwest Vermont.
Locations:
- Williston -- 528 Essex Road (Tue-Fri: 10 AM - 4 PM, Sat-Sun: 10 AM - 3 PM)
- Milton -- 414 Route 7 (Mon, Wed-Fri: 11 AM - 4 PM, Sat: 10 AM - 3 PM)
What they accept: New and gently used furniture, appliances (stoves, washers, dryers), building materials, cabinets, home goods, clothing, and books.
Pickup: Free donation pickup available. Contact (802) 857-5296 ext. 1 or email restore@vermonthabitat.org.
Where proceeds go: Construction of affordable homes in Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, and Lamoille counties. Habitat has been building in Northwest Vermont since 1984.
Goodwill Northern New England
Goodwill NNE is the most recognized name in donations, but it's important to know what they do and don't offer locally.
Locations:
- South Burlington -- 1080 Shelburne Road (Store: 9 AM - 6 PM daily, Donations: 9 AM - 4:30 PM daily)
- Burlington -- 339 Pine Street (drop-off only, no retail store)
What they accept: Clothing, shoes, accessories, furniture (subject to floor capacity -- call ahead), working flatscreen TVs, computers, phones, small appliances, household goods, books, toys, and sports equipment.
What they don't accept: Large appliances, mattresses, CRT televisions, hazardous materials, or medical devices.
Pickup: No. Goodwill does not offer home pickups. All donations are drop-off only.
Where proceeds go: Workforce development and disability services across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, supporting over 10,000 people per year.
Shalom Shuk
Shalom Shuk (Marketplace of Peace) is a community thrift store operated by Ohavi Zedek Synagogue that helps new immigrants and community members in need.
Location: 188 North Prospect Street, Burlington (Sun-Fri: 10 AM - 4 PM, closed Saturday)
What they accept: Gently used clothing, jewelry, and household goods.
Pickup: No. Drop-off only.
Replays
Replays is a consignment shop benefiting the UVM Medical Center, staffed primarily by volunteers and operating for over 34 years.
Location: 150 Dorset Street, Suite 265, South Burlington (Mon: 10 AM - 4 PM, Tue-Sat: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM)
What they accept: Clothing, furniture, antiques, and other items on consignment.
Pickup: No. Drop-off only.
Salvation Army -- Currently Closed
Both Salvation Army thrift store locations in the Burlington area -- 358 Dorset Street in South Burlington and 336 N. Winooski Avenue in Burlington -- closed in late 2025. The Salvation Army's main office at 64 Main Street still operates social service programs, but there is currently no local thrift store for donations.
Shelters and Direct-Need Organizations
Several local organizations accept very specific items for people in immediate need. These aren't general donation drop-offs -- check their wishlists before showing up.
COTS (Committee on Temporary Shelter) -- 95 North Avenue, Burlington. Accepts new toiletries and gift cards year-round. In winter: new coats, waterproof gloves, hats, scarves, warm socks, and hand warmers. Does not accept general household goods, furniture, or used clothing. cotsonline.org/wishlist
ANEW Place -- 89 North Street, Burlington. Accepts twin-size comforters and quilts (new or like-new) and specific items from their Amazon Wishlist for guests transitioning to permanent housing. anewplacevt.org
CVOEO (Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity) -- Accepts new or like-new hygiene products, sleeping bags, blankets, and non-perishable food. Call (802) 862-2771 to schedule. cvoeo.org
Electronics Recycling
It is illegal to throw away electronics in Vermont. Here are your options:
Vermont E-Cycles Program -- Free for households and small businesses. Drop off computers, monitors, TVs, printers, and accessories at any CSWD location in Essex, Hinesburg, Milton, South Burlington, or Williston. Up to 1 cubic yard per visit.
ReSOURCE -- Accepts computers, gaming consoles, speakers, and other electronics at their Burlington and Williston locations.
GiveBetter -- We accept working electronics as part of any donation pickup.
The Pickup Problem
Here's the reality of donating large items in Burlington: most places don't come to you.
Goodwill -- the name most people think of first -- is drop-off only. The Salvation Army's local thrift stores have closed. ReSOURCE offers pickup but charges a fee. That leaves Habitat ReStore and GiveBetter as the only organizations offering completely free furniture pickup in Chittenden County.
If you don't have a truck, live in a multi-story building, or simply can't lift a sofa into your car, pickup isn't a convenience -- it's the difference between donating and throwing away. Americans discard 12.1 million tons of furniture every year, and over 80% of it ends up in landfills.
Why Donating Matters
The environmental case is stark. Clothing is now worn only 7 to 10 times before being discarded -- a decline of more than 35% in just 15 years. It takes 2,700 litres of water to produce a single cotton shirt. Furniture waste has increased 450% since 1960.
Vermont's Universal Recycling Law has helped, but the state's diversion rate is still just 34%. Every item that gets donated instead of trashed helps close that gap. Capturing just 50% of the recyclable and reusable goods currently going to Vermont landfills could eliminate 85,000 metric tons of CO2 per year -- the equivalent of taking 55,500 cars off the road.
Donation is not disposal. It's participation in a local economy where your unwanted items become someone else's resource, and the proceeds fund the causes that make this community work.
Ready to Donate?
If you're in Burlington or Chittenden County and want the easiest path from "I don't need this anymore" to "this is making a difference," schedule a free pickup with GiveBetter. Pick your cause, set your items out, and we'll handle the rest.