Donate Goods

Close-up purple tents grouped together under the trees at night.
Donate Goods



Ames: How to Donate

YSS Business Partner, Overflow Thrift Store gives dignity to YSS clients and participants by providing vouchers for clothing, furniture, and household goods at no cost.

1. Pick your location:
  • Overflow Thrift Store, 202 South Duff Avenue (Soft Goods)
  • Furniture & More, 919 E. Lincoln Way (Hard Goods)
2. Prepare donations
  • Soft Goods can be put in trash bags or boxes
  • Box up hard goods
3. Drop off during donation hours:

Monday – Saturday 10 AM to 5:30 PM

What We Accept

  • Clothing & accessories
  • Hygiene products (Full sized) (shampoo/conditioner, ethnic hair care products, deodorant – no aerosols)
  • Clothing & accessories (Laundered/up-to-date styles that youth would be wearing)
  • Shoes (Dress or Tennis)
  • Media (DVD’s or BlueRay DVD’s ages 14-18- no VHS tapes)
  • Toys (NO stuffed animals/gently used in working condition/no broken or missing parts)
  • Furniture (Gently used but still in good condition)
  • Electronics (Laptops/Computer Monitors/Computer Bags/PS4 games or Xbox360 games for ages 14-18 )
  • Sporting goods (Variety of sports balls/Pickleball items/Frisbees/Fishing Gear or Poles)
  • Kitchen items (Gently used dishware/cookware/silverware/cups/small gadgets, i.e. can openers/spatula’s/dish towels/slotted or larger silicone spoons)
  • Bicycles (Youth or adult sizes/gently used & in working order)
  • Crafting Items (Fuse-bead sets/perler-bead kits/low-heat hot glue guns/embroidery floss/crochet hooks/craft sticks)
  • Nonperishable good items
  • New or like-new building materials

What We Don’t Accept

  • Pianos & organs
  • Car seats & booster seats
  • Pack-n-plays & cribs
  • Outdated workout equipment
  • Outdated or broken appliances
  • Helmets
  • Damaged or unassembled particle board
  • Mattresses & box springs
  • Printers
  • Tube TVs
  • Used windows
  • Broken or damaged building materials
  • Large metal desks
  • Hazardous materials (chemicals, paints, etc.)
  • Textbooks
  • Broken furniture

Drop off donations at YSS Headquarters at 420 Kellog Ave, Ames; Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, or by appointment. Questions? Call 515-233-3141.

Des Moines: Host a Donation Drive

Help us meet the needs of youth (ages 16-24 years-old). Listed below are supplies our youth need at YSS in Des Moines. We appreciate your help in collecting these items for a donation drive.

Drop off donations at our YSS in Des Moines location at 612 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA; Monday to Friday from Noon to 6:00 p.m. or by appointment. Questions? Call 602-625-4851 or email ssavage@yss.org

Amazon wish list

What We Accept

  • New underwear (men’s and women’s)
  • New t-shirts, bras, socks, sweatshirts & sweatpants
  • Full-size shampoo & conditioner, hygiene products, & lotion
  • Backpacks
  • African American hair care products
  • Full-size body wash
  • Menstrual products
  • New or gently used sheets & blankets
  • Towels
  • Diapers
  • Non-perishable food

What We Don’t Accept

  • Old electronics
  • Cribs
  • Medicines
  • Used undergarments
  • Knick Knack items
  • Work out equipment
  • Used toys
  • Office furniture
  • Opened or expired food and hygiene items