Hundreds of people come to FIRST UNITED each day seeking comfort, care and a place to belong. When you donate items, you increase free access to basic personal hygiene and emergency care items and provide vital support to our neighbours in need. During the winter months, cold weather items can literally save lives. We distribute clothing and essential items through our community help desk, shelter, provide items to other service providers and warming centres, and directly distribute items to folks in the Downtown Eastside.
Important information before you donate items:
While we are grateful for people’s excitement to help, note that we can only accept the items listed below. This list is updated regularly to reflect current needs. We do not accept any children’s clothing or items.
Please ensure that your items are clean and in good condition before donating. We do not have the resources to launder, clean, or mend items before distributing them. Items in poor condition or that are dirty are disposed of, creating additional work and cost for us. We strive to always treat members of the community with dignity, which includes providing them with clean clothing that is in good repair. If you would not wear the item because it’s dirty or in poor condition, please do not donate it.
Winter 2026 Update
We’re in need of the following items in new and original packaging, or gently-used (for clothing items):
- Blankets
- Sleeping bags
- T-Shirts (Adult Size)
- Toques
- Winter jackets
- Rain jackets
- Sweatshirts
- Sweatpants
- Umbrellas
- Socks (must be new)
- Underwear (must be new)
- Toothbrushes (must be new in original packaging)
- Tampons & Pads
- Combs/Hairbrushes
- Lotion**
- Bar Soap**
- Towels
- Snacks like granola bars, cookies, wagon wheels (must be in original packaging and not expired)
- McDonald’s and Tim Hortons gift cards in $5 and $10 amounts
- Items that can be used as bingo prizes:
- New board games, card games
- Makeup
- Nail Polish
- Notebooks
- Shower Gel
Items marked with ** are in high demand.
Our Spiritual Care team is also in need of:
- Craft supplies, including:
- Old Magazines (Nature-based like National Geographic is preferred but other subjects are welcome too)
- Watercolor paper
- Canvas boards
- Beads (seed beads to pony beads)
- Cardstock
- Buttons
- Books
- Family board games
- Crayons
- Pencil Crayons
- Markers
Dropping Off your Gifts In-Kind
You can drop off items at our administrative office at 368 Powell Street on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9:30 – 12:00 and 1:00 – 3:30 (closed on statutory holidays). If you need to drop off your items on another day, please notify us in advance so we can ensure a staff member or volunteer is present to help you. You can contact us at [email protected] and 604.336.3047.
Tax Receipts for Gifts In-Kind
In order to receive a charitable tax receipt for your donated gifts of goods please fill out our Gifts In-Kind Donation Form and submit your original receipt for the value of the items. Your Gifts In-Kind Donation Form and receipt can be provided when you drop off your items, or you can scan and email to [email protected]. Unfortunately, we cannot issue charitable tax receipts for items without a receipt.
If you have any questions about donating gifts in-kind please contact our Development team at 604.336.3047 or [email protected].
Other organizations accepting gifts of goods
While we can only accept the above listed items, there are a number of other important organizations accepting in-kind gifts that we encourage you to direct other items to:
