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 can be made during store hours at our Donation Door in the back of our building. We are heavily staffed by volunteers to keep our overhead low and at times we not have the “muscle” to help unload large or heavy items. If you need help unloading your furniture, please call the store at 401.377.8069 option 2 ahead of your arrival to confirm that we have staff available to help you.

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.

Donations of large furniture items can be picked up by our truck. Please call our Scheduler at 401.377.8069 ext. 103 to schedule a pick up. Due to local generosity, we often have to schedule pick-ups 1-2 weeks in advance. Furniture pick-ups will be inspected to determine that they are sellable at the time of pick up. Unfortunately we have to refuse items that do not meet our donation requirements. Any loose household items to be donated must be packed in a box ready to go at the time of furniture pick up.

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

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

For more information on Planned Giving, please click here.

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

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 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 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

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!!

1. Bread
2. Cereal
3. Peanut Butter & Jelly
4. Soups (low-salt whenever possible)
5. Disposable Diapers (all sizes) & Wipes

Bonus Needs: Coffee, Condiments

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.

Visit the Donation Line website