Donations
LET’S MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Give support and help someone in need.
The Jonnycake Center of Westerly gratefully accepts donations of money, food, clothing, furniture and household items. Receipts for donated items are available upon request.
All donations must be made following the process below. Items left on our property when we are not open, or dropped without an appointment, are considered “dumping” and constitute a health hazard for our staff, and these items are often ruined from improper exposure to the elements. Dumped items cost our non-profit organization valuable time and resources to dispose of, so please make all donations by following our procedures.
There are 3 easy ways to donate your goods to Jonnycake, helping us to fundraise for our Social Services & Food Pantry:
- Drive ‘N Drop Open Donations
- Clothing, shoes, linens, and small household goods are accepted without an appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 10am and 2pm.
- Large items or furniture must be donated by appointment only (see below for more).
- Please pre-sort and bag or box your donations by type (clothes, shoes, and linens) or (small household goods) and place them into the labeled bins when you arrive.
- Face masks and social distancing are required while making your donation at Jonnycake.
- Due to space constraints, our staff may occasionally not be able to accept certain items that would normally be considered sellable. We regret any inconvenience caused.
- Appointments for No-Contact Drop-Offs and Furniture Drop-Offs
- If you prefer to make an appointment to donate your item(s), please email ThriftDonations@jonnycake.org.
- Clothes, shoes, linens, and small household goods can be donated via appointment.
- Donations of furniture or large household goods can only be accepted via appointment.
- Appointments are available Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 9am and 3pm.
- On Thursdays, appointments are available from 9am to 4:30pm.
- Please email ThriftDonations@jonnycake.org to request a time.
- When you arrive, please wear a face mask and observe social distancing.
- Furniture Pick-Ups from the Jonnycake Truck
- Limited appointments are available.
- Please send a furniture description and pictures (if possible) to ThriftDonations@jonnycake.org to request a pick-up time.
- Jonnycake staff cannot enter your home. Please make your donated furniture available outside or in a common space.
- Only sellable-condition furniture (without rips, stains, claw marks, etc.) can be picked up via the Jonnycake truck. Please see above for how to donate household goods.
- Please never leave (“dump”) donations on our entryways after-hours. Doing so is a punishable offense due to the hazard it presents our staff and volunteers.
- All proceeds from Thrift sales directly support our Food Pantry and Social Services basic needs efforts.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
General Requirements
- Items must be in clean, salable condition. We do not have the staff to clean or repair broken or dirty merchandise. We reserve the right to refuse items that we cannot sell.
- Sometimes we may have to refuse items because we do not have space available to accept your donation. Additionally, we may close our donation doors earlier than the hours posted. We will always refer you to nearby agencies that would be happy to receive your donation.
- We are unable to accept items that we do not think we can sell. Sometimes we have to decline items that are out of season or unlikely to find a buyer. While we appreciate every donation, we cannot afford to accept items that we will have to throw away. It would in the end, cost us money. We appreciate your understanding.
- We cannot give pre-approval over the phone for donated items. Final decisions will be made by Jonnycake representatives upon physical inspection. This includes items we pick up and items brought to our facility.
We cannot accept the following items:
- Mattresses and Box Springs
- TVs/ Hard Drives
- Large Appliances
- Pianos
- Sofa Beds/ Bunk Beds/ Cribs
- Car Seats/ High Chairs/ Pack N’Plays
- Halogen Lamps
- Electric Blankets
- Bed Pillows
- Construction/Demolition materials
- Particle Board/Press Board furniture
- Entertainment Centers
- Large Exercise Equipment – Treadmills, Stationary Bikes, etc
If you are looking to get rid of a mattress please visit bye bye mattress and learn how you can recycle your mattress for free.
Furniture Donations
Furniture Donations
Furniture donations are sought by the Jonnycake Center of Westerly. If you’d like to donate furniture, please email us at ThriftDonations@jonnycake.org and include a brief description of the item(s). If you are able to attach a photograph with your email, it will help expedite the process. Once you have an appointment time and date confirmed, you can drop off furniture at our facility at 23 Industrial Drive in Westerly, RI. Learn more about our temporary donation procedures.
The Jonnycake delivery truck is available on a very limited basis to pick up furniture, but Jonnycake staff are unable to enter private residences at this time. Furniture for the Jonnycake truck must be made available for pickup outside your home. For pickup availability, please email ThriftDonations@jonnycake.org and use the subject line “Furniture pickup.” All furniture must be donated by appointment only – dumping furniture on Jonnycake property is never allowed. Due to local generosity and interest, most pickups are scheduled 1-2 weeks in advance. We inspect all furniture donations to confirm that items are in sellable condition. We cannot accept furniture that is broken, ripped, stained, torn, mildewed, or malodorous because we have no way to repair it.
We cannot accept Mattresses and Box Springs, Entertainment Centers, Pianos, Sofa Beds, Bunk Beds, Cribs or Large Appliances. If you are looking to get rid of a mattress please visit bye bye mattress for more information on recycling your mattress for free.
MONETARY DONATIONS
Monetary Donations
Financial Contributions may be sent to:
The Jonnycake Center of Westerly
PO Box 273
Westerly, RI 02891
Because the store pays our overhead expenses, we are able to devote more donations to our programs, services, and food purchases. If you wish to specify that your donation be used for any of the following program areas, please note it on the memo section of your check, or in a cover letter to us:
Greatest Need
- Heating Fund
- Housing/Utilities Fund
- Education Fund
- Food Pantry
PLANNED GIVING
For more information on Planned Giving, please click here.
THANKSGIVING DINNER
Thanksgiving Dinner
Current clients can sign up for a Thanksgiving meal basket which includes a turkey and all the trimmings for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The baskets are distributed on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Donations can be made specifically to the Thanksgiving Fund by notation on your check or by letter.
CHRISTMAS DINNER
Christmas Dinner
Current clients can sign up for a Christmas meal basket which includes a turkey or ham and all the trimmings for a traditional Christmas dinner. Distribution of the meal baskets begins in mid-December. Donations can be made specifically to the Christmas Dinner Fund by notation on your check or by letter.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR KIDS
Christmas presents for children
The Adopt-a-Family Program provides Christmas presents for children who otherwise might not have a present to open on Christmas morning. Existing clients may sign up for the program in the fall and will be matched with a donor “adopting” their family for the holidays. The client is assigned a number which will identify the household. Neither the adopter nor the adopted will know the names of each other. Traditionally this program provides Christmas presents for over 350 local children in need of holiday cheer. Please contact the Social Services Department at 401.377.8069 ext 101.
SPLASH DONATIONS
SPLASH Program
The Summer Program Looking to Alleviate Student Hunger (S.P.L.A.S.H.) The SPLASH Program runs during the summer months and over school vacations in order to ensure that students who receive free or reduced breakfast and lunch at school do not miss those meals when they are home. Eligible families living in Westerly, Hopkinton, Charlestown or Richmond are encouraged to sign up through the Jonnycake Center Social Services Department. Groceries are available for pick-up the week prior to vacations, or weekly during the summer. Please contact the Social Services Department at 401.377.8069 ext 101.
Donations of the following items would be very appreciated:
Peanut butter, tuna, juice boxes, chicken soup, canned fruit, cereal, peanut butter crackers, snack bars, mac and cheese, juice boxes, hot dogs, jello, milk and yogurt
TOP 5 PANTRY NEEDS
Top 5 Pantry Needs
The Pantry can always use food donations to help us meet the needs of local families. Below is a list of our most needed items. Thank you so much for your generosity!!
- Bread
- Cereal
- Peanut Butter & Jelly
- Soups (low-salt whenever possible)
- Disposable Diapers (all sizes) & Wipes
Bonus Needs: Coffee, Condiments
USED VEHICLE DONATIONS
Used Vehicle Donations
There are two ways you can donate your used vehicle to us.
- Call DonationLine at 1 (877) 227-7487 ext. 1108 and tell them that you have an auto that you wish to donate to the Jonnycake Center of Westerly. A date and time will be set up for the removal of your auto.
OR
- Donate online. Just click the link below to connect to the web page and fill out the form.