DONATION GUIDELINES

The ministries of the Christian Service Center for Central Florida, Inc. are dependant upon the generosity of its neighbors’ donations.  In-kind donations take a variety of forms.  The purpose of these guidelines is to give guidance and instruction to volunteers and staff as to what donations can be accepted, to inform donors how their donations will be treated, and to give donors a list of items we need.

In general, donated items are made available to clients and customers of our Thrift Stores through several means.

• The Center distributes all donated canned and non-perishable foods through our Food Pantries at no cost to the recipients.
  • Anyone wishing to receive food must be interviewed by one of our trained Case Workers who will help determine the exact needs and will package the food for the client.
  • Some canned foods are used to prepare the soup in our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, which is a free meal to any who attends.
• Donated clean clothes and small household items are placed in one of our two Thrift Stores at our Downtown Campus. (Similar procedures are followed at our West Orange/Ocoee site.)
  • Clothes and items are sorted by staff and volunteers to go to either the Bargain Shop (upstairs) or the Unique Boutique (ground floor, rear).
  • The Unique Boutique offers nice second-hand dress clothes and shoes at very affordable prices.  Many customers find real bargains of suits, tuxedos, dinner dresses, slacks, blouses, shirts and shoes.
  • The Bargain Shop provides good used clothing, shoes, and undergarments for men, women and children as donations come in.  We guarantee no sizes or styles.  We rely totally on donations to stock our racks.  Customers are free to choose from the items in the store.  All items are priced extremely economically so that anyone would be able to purchase plenty of items they need for very little money.  For clients who need clothes, but are unable to pay, they need to see a Case Worker in Family & Emergency Services who will issue a Voucher for the specific items needed if they qualify.
  • Other household items, books, knickknacks, etc. are placed in the Bargain Shop and made available to customers, as well.

DONATION RECEIPT GUIDELINES

ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED

• Computers, peripherals, typewriters, office machines
• Furniture of any kind
• Televisions, VCR’s, stereos, radios
• Household items larger than a small microwave (acceptable items: toaster oven microwave, blender, food processor, coffee maker, any "tabletop kitchen appliance")
• Major Appliances such washers, dryers, ovens, refrigerators
• Out-of-date foods

• NEW Underwear—ALL sizes, styles, gender
• Women’s Plus sizes
• Men’s shoes-dress, casual and work
• Men’s work clothes
• Socks
• Men’s and Women’s Black slacks / skirts & white shirts (for restaurant work)

Revised:  January 18, 2008