When your children outgrow their toys, books, and gear, these items still have plenty of life left in them. Rather than letting them gather dust in the garage or sending them to a landfill, Austin offers numerous nonprofits eager to give these items a second chance with families who need them. But here's what matters most: not all organizations accept used items, and their specific requirements vary widely. Here's a list of organizations that accept used items.
Organizations That Accept Used Toys
1. Toybrary Austin
Location: 2001 Justin Lane, Austin, TX 78757
Contact: (512) 434-3927
Toybrary Austin operates as a toy lending library where families with memberships can "check out" toys, making it an ideal destination for toys that still have play value. They accept both new and gently used toys that are complete and in good condition.
What they accept:
- Complete children's toys, games, and dolls
- Educational toys and games
- Board games and puzzles
What they DON'T accept:
- Broken, damaged, or incomplete toys
- Stuffed animals
- Any type of toy guns (realistic or fantasy)
- Princess costumes or toys
The toy library model makes this organization particularly sustainable—your donated toys will be used by multiple families over time rather than sitting unused in a single home.
2. Austin Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Locations:
- South Austin: 500 W Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
- Northwest Austin: 13804 N US-183, Austin, TX 78750
- San Marcos: 2521 S Interstate 35, San Marcos, TX 78666
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-8pm, Sunday 11am-6pm (donation doors close one hour before store closing)
ReStore accepts a broader variety of items than many nonprofits, including toys, books, movies, music, and board games—as long as they're in good condition.
Requirements:
- Items must be in good, sellable condition
- No items with missing pieces
- No broken items
- Books cannot be in poor condition
ReStore operates as a nonprofit thrift store where proceeds support Habitat for Humanity's home-building programs. They also offer free donation pickup service for larger donations, which you can arrange through their website.
3. Austin Creative Reuse
Location: 2005 Wheless Lane, Austin, TX 78723
Donation Hours: By appointment only (appointments released two weeks in advance)
This creative reuse center accepts craft supplies, art materials, and certain toys that can be repurposed for creative projects. They're particularly interested in educational materials and creative play items.
What they accept:
- Board games and puzzles
- Small toys suitable for creative reuse
- Art and craft books
- Educational materials
Important notes:
- All donations require an appointment (no walk-ins)
- They ask donors to organize items before bringing them in
- They maintain a 97% diversion rate from landfills
- Do NOT leave donations outside when they're closed
Their website has detailed lists of accepted and non-accepted items, and they're very specific about condition requirements. Check their site before scheduling your appointment.
4. The Salvation Army Family Thrift Stores
Location: 10711 Burnet Road, Ste. #231, Austin, TX 78758
Free pickup service available: Call (512) 416-0607 or schedule online
The Salvation Army makes donating straightforward—they accept almost any type of gently used item, including toys, books, furniture, clothing, and household items. They're one of the few organizations offering free pickup service for larger donations.
What they accept:
- Toys (in good condition)
- Books
- Children's clothing
- Household items
- Furniture
Important limitation: Due to safety regulations, they cannot accept certain items like car seats and high chairs. However, baby clothes are accepted and greatly needed. Call ahead if you're unsure about specific items.
Organizations That Accept Used Books
5. Inside Books Project
Drop-off locations:
- Main location: 3106 East 14 1/2 Street, Austin, TX 78702 (white drop box on Airport Blvd side)
- Bouldin Creek Café: 1900 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
- Monkeywrench Books: 110 N Loop Blvd E, Austin, TX 78751
Volunteer sessions: Thursday and Sunday, 6pm-10pm (for large donations or if you need assistance)
Inside Books Project is the only books-to-prisoners program in Texas, sending over 35,000 free books annually to incarcerated individuals. They accept a wide variety of gently used books with specific restrictions.
What they accept:
- Fiction and non-fiction books
- Graphic novels, manga, comics (no nudity; Marvel and DC are in high demand)
- Spanish-language books
- Dictionaries and thesauruses
- Self-help books
- How-to books
- Puzzle books
- Magazines (handyman/how-to, Spanish, men's health, National Geographic, cars/trucks, fashion)
What they DON'T accept:
- Books in poor condition (water damaged, ripped, missing covers)
- Hardcover books
- Spiral-bound books
- Encyclopedias
- Certain topics that are banned in Texas prisons
Check their website for the current banned books list before donating, as prison regulations affect what they can send.
6. BookSpring
Location: 1807 W. Slaughter Lane, Building #1, Austin, TX 78748
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm
After-hours donations: 24-hour donation bin available
BookSpring focuses on building home libraries for children in low-income families and has distributed books to over 80,000 children in the region. They're selective about what they accept because these books go directly into children's homes.
What they accept:
- Children's books in good condition (less than 30 years old)
- Board books and picture books
- Elementary chapter books
- Teen and adult fiction published in the last 10 years
- Bilingual/Spanish picture books
- Books in less-common languages
- Braille books
What they DON'T accept:
- Dirty, dusty, wet, chewed, ripped, bent, folded, highlighted, doodled, or mildewed books
- Textbooks
- Curriculum and teaching materials
- Dictionaries/encyclopedias
- Used activity/coloring books
- Non-book media
Quality matters here because these books become permanent additions to children's home libraries. If your books are a bit too worn, consider donating them to Inside Books Project or Recycled Reads instead.
7. Recycled Reads (Austin Public Library)
Location: 5335 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756
Hours: Thursday noon-7:30pm, Friday-Sunday noon-5:30pm
Operated by volunteers for the Austin Public Library, Recycled Reads accepts almost any book in good condition and uses proceeds to benefit the library system.
What they accept:
- Nearly all printed materials in good condition
- Books of all genres and ages
- Media materials
What they DON'T accept:
- Magazines
- Materials that are moldy or infested with insects
For donations of more than 20 boxes, call ahead at (512) 974-7460. District branches of the Austin Public Library also accept donations for the Recycled Reads program.
Organizations That Accept Multiple Children's Items
8. The Kids Bookshop
Location: 11880 Hero Way W, Suite 702H, Leander, TX 78641
Hours: Monday Closed, Tuesday & Wednesday 10am to 3:30pm & 4:30-5:30pm, Thursday 11:30 to 3:30 & 4:30-5:30pm, Friday & Saturday 10am to 5:30, Sundays by appointment
Accepts gently used children's books from toddlers to teens.
What they accept:
- Children's books of all genres and ages
- Gently used stuffed animals and plushies
What they DON'T accept:
- Magazines
- Materials that are moldy or infested with insects
9. Casa Marianella - Posada Esperanza
Contact: posadaesperanza@casamarianella.org (email before donating)
Casa Marianella is Austin's only homeless shelter dedicated solely to immigrants. Their family shelter, Posada Esperanza, houses immigrant mothers and children fleeing domestic violence and currently serves about 14 mothers and 30 children in East Austin.
What they accept (new or gently used):
- Spanish and English children's books (first readers through middle school level)
- Board games
- Puzzles
- Children's clothing
- Household items
Important donation protocol: When you arrive, leave your donations in your car and go into the office to ask a staff person for help. This policy helps maintain healthy boundaries with the children receiving services. Always email first to arrange a drop-off time and confirm current needs.
9. Any Baby Can
Location: 6207 Sheridan Avenue, Austin, TX 78723
Contact: (512) 454-3743 or donors@abcaus.org
Any Baby Can provides therapy, medical case management, and family support services to children and families in need. They have multiple drop-off locations to make donating convenient.
Drop-off locations: Dripping Springs, Round Rock, and North Austin (fill out their online form to arrange the best location)
What they accept (new or gently used):
- Children's toys and games
- Children's books
- Children's clothing
- Baby gear (note: they cannot accept used car seats or stuffed animals)
- Office supplies
Fill out their online donation form to specify what you have, and they'll help arrange the best drop-off location for you.
10. Flo's Comfort House
Location: 515 Kemp Street, Austin, TX 78745
Contact: flocomforthouse@yahoo.com
This small nonprofit operates out of the Montopolis neighborhood and focuses on meeting basic needs for local children, including food, clothing, school supplies, and providing a safe space to study and play.
What they accept (new or gently used):
- Children's clothing
- School supplies
- Toys
- Books
- Other items that support children's basic needs
The organization is open to discussing other items you may want to donate. Email them to discuss specific items and arrange a drop-off time.
11. Foster Village Austin
Contact: Fill out their online donation form
Drop-off locations: Dripping Springs, Round Rock, and North Austin
Foster Village Austin supports children and families in the Austin-area welfare system through programs that meet basic needs and provide therapeutic support.
What they accept:
- Children's clothing in "new" or "like new" condition (similar to what you'd see in a children's consignment store)
- Baby gear (sizes 0-18)
- Other children's items in excellent condition
Important note: They're more particular about condition than some organizations, accepting items only in "new" or "like new" condition. This is similar to consignment store standards.
Tips for Successful Donations
1. Check condition requirements carefully
"Gently used" means different things to different organizations. Example: BookSpring needs books that could go directly into a child's home library, while Inside Books Project will accept books with more wear as long as they're readable.
2. Call or email ahead
Storage space is limited at many nonprofits. Confirm they're currently accepting donations and arrange a drop-off time, especially for large donations.
3. Keep sets together
If donating puzzles, games, or toy sets with multiple pieces, keep everything together in plastic bags or tape boxes shut so pieces don't get lost.
4. Don't donate broken items
Even charitable organizations have to pay to dispose of items they can't use. If it's broken or missing pieces, recycle or trash it rather than passing the problem to a nonprofit.
5. Get a receipt for your taxes
Most organizations provide donation receipts. Keep these for your tax records—charitable donations may be tax-deductible.
6. Consider the organization's mission
Match your donation to organizations whose work resonates with you.
The Bottom Line
Austin offers numerous options for donating used children's items, but success requires doing your homework. Not every organization accepts every item, and condition requirements vary significantly. The organizations listed here have been verified to accept gently used items based on information from their own websites.
Before loading up your car, take time to visit the organization's website, review their specific requirements, and make contact to confirm they're currently accepting donations. This small investment of time ensures your donations will be welcomed and put to good use—helping Austin families while keeping usable items out of landfills.
Your children's outgrown items can bring joy to other families, support important community missions, and contribute to a more sustainable city. Choose the organization that aligns with your values, follow their guidelines, and feel good knowing your donations are making a real difference in Austin.
Know of more organizations that accept used items? Let us know!
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