Donate to Deseret Industries
Donations and the mission of DI
On average, more than 2 million loads of gently used items are donated to Deseret Industries annually between our 46 stores. These donations represent the generosity of countless individuals whose efforts directly support the mission of DI to provide job training to those in the community. Donations also:
- Keep items out of landfills
- Provide low-cost goods to those in the community
- Help in humanitarian efforts worldwide
Your donations fund the DI job training program, which prepares associates like Amjed for future employment.
Items that Deseret Industries does not accept
Although we accept most donations, there are some items that we are unable to take. The following list is not comprehensive but includes many of the items that DI does not accept.
- Clothing
Socks (used)
Underwear (used)
- Weapons
Firearms
Ammunition
- Food and drugs
Drinks
Food
Tobacco and e-cigarettes
OTC and prescription drugs
- Hazardous/toxic items
Chemicals
Flammables
Cleaning products
Paint
- Some electronics
Rear projection TVs
CRT computer monitors
- Beds
Mattresses
Foundations
- Large appliances
Stoves
Refrigerators
Freezers
Dishwashers
Washing machines
Dryers
- Home appliances
Watercoolers
Water heaters
Air conditioners
Trash compactors
Ice machines
For items that we cannot accept, please dispose of or donate responsibly. For example, drop off unused medications at a local pharmacy where possible. There are many online resources that can direct you to safe disposal or donation options for your items.
When donating items to DI, look for a donations sign to direct you; some drive-thru lanes are accessed behind the store.
The donation drive-thru of the Houston location.
The donation process
To donate items to Deseret Industries, no appointment is necessary. Simply pull up to the drive-thru during donation hours, and our employees will be happy to help.
Please consider the following points when donating:
-
Donation hours may fluctuate. Check your store location page for the most current donation hours.
-
Donation centers only have a certain amount of space for items. As such, the donation drive-thru may close early if the center reaches capacity or becomes overwhelmed with donations.
-
To avoid waiting in long donation lines, consider donating at non-peak times, such as mornings or weekdays.
-
To help accelerate the donation process, please organize your donations before arriving at the store.
-
Pack your donations in boxes, bags, or containers that you don’t need returned.
-
Please donate when the donation drive-thru is open. Leaving donations when the drive-thru is closed is not allowed.
When dropping off your donations, an employee should ask if you want a donation receipt. The receipt can be used to report charitable donations on your taxes, if applicable.
How donating makes a difference
While you may not immediately see how your donations matter, donating always has a lasting impact. Here are some of the ways your donations help:
-
Supports the job training program
-
Keeps items out of landfills
-
Provides quality items at a reasonable price
-
Provides items to community partners and charities
-
Provides humanitarian assistance worldwide
-
Provides volunteer opportunities
Associates like Tyler work on the dock, where they help with donations that are being dropped off. These donations ultimately reach the retail floor after being processed.
What happens to donations after drop off
After donations are dropped off at Deseret Industries, items immediately begin a process to prepare them to enter the retail floor. During this process, associates:
-
Sort items into categories like small as-is, electronics, collectibles, and clothing.
-
Evaluate items to ensure they are good enough for sale.
-
Price items accordingly.
-
Tag items with a price.
-
Distribute items to the retail floor.
This process allows associates to apply and develop workplace skills, such as organization, customer service, and teamwork and is why donations are a core element in the success of our job training program.
Due to this process, donations may take a few days to hit the retail floor. Once on the shelves, unsold items may remain there for up to seven weeks.
What happens to donations that aren’t sold
Items that are not sold in the allotted amount of time will be pulled from the retail floor and sent through a recycling process. This also happens with donations that are not able to be sold due to poor quality. In 2022, DI recycled 73,019,376 pounds of goods.
In some cases, excess donations are distributed to other DI stores and partners or will be used for humanitarian purposes.
