Announcement
Starting over in a new country isn’t easy, but material donations from people and partners like you provide a warm welcome to newly arrived families.
Rally your friends, family, and community or faith group to collect donations for newcomers in your community!
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all donations are tax-deductible. We can provide a donations receipt upon request; however, we cannot place a dollar value on the items. If you purchase new items that you intend to deduct, make sure you keep your purchase receipt.
How to Help
The IRC accepts a variety of donations for families in our community. Check out our most pressing needs below, as well as the items we accept on a rolling basis.
Urgent Needs
Gifts Cards: the gift of choice
Gift cards are extremely valuable because they allow our clients to obtain what they need most while bestowing upon them the gift of choice and greater independence. For gift cards, we recommend increments of $25 to Walmart, Target or Amazon. .
Laptops and Smartphones:
Technology donations of laptops and unlocked smartphones make a major impact because they are essential to accessing language classes, job applications, schoolwork, and virtual services — critical tools for building independence and integration. Donate your used laptop or unlocked smartphone today!
Welcome Kits: These essentials make a house a home! Families receive one of each kit at move in. 50 of each kit needed. See below for more details.
Welcome Kits for a Family of 4
Hygiene Kit: Please package each kit in a reusable grocery bag or laundry hamper labeled "Hygiene Kits."
- Oral: 2 adult + 2 children full-size toothpaste + 5 toothbrushes
- Shower: 2 bottles each (350ML+) of shampoo and conditioner, 1 large bottle of lotion, 5 bars of soap or 1 bottle of bodywash
- Bath: 5 full-size bath towels, 5 washcloths, 2 full-size bottles of hand soap
- Personal Hygiene: 2 men's and 2 women's deodorant sticks, 2 combs or brushes, 2 packs of sanitary pads, 12+ rolls of toilet paper, 1 large bottle of hand sanitizer, 2 rolls of paper towel
Kitchen Kit: Please package in a reusable grocery bag or laundry hamper labeled "Kitchen Kit."
- Cookware: Large Pot (5-8 qt), Sauce Pan (2-4 qt), Frying Pan (10-12 in) with lids for each
- Baking: 1 baking dish (9x13 in), 1 serving bowl (3-5 qt), 1 cutting board (at least 12x16 in), 3 mixing bowls (small 1-2 cups, medium 3-4 cups, large 5-7 cups),
- Utensils: Kitchen knives (chef's knife 8-10 in, paring knife 3-4 in, serrated knife 8-10 in, and 1 spatula, whisk, tongs (9-12 in) and serving spoon.
- Tableware: Silverware setting for 5 or more, dining set for 5+ (including plates, bowls, mugs, and drinking glasses), 5 kitchen towels
Cleaning Kit: Please package each kit in a reusable grocery bag or laundry hamper labeled "Cleaning Kit." Items should be new and full size.
- Products: 1 bottle of dish soap (approximately 16–25 oz), 1 bottle of multipurpose cleaner (approximately 16–32 oz), laundry detergent (approximately 50–75 oz or equivalent pods), hand soap (8–16 oz)
- Tools: 2 waste baskets with trash bags (1 small bathroom, 1 large kitchen), 3 sponges, 1 broom with dustpan, 1 vacuum (new or used), 1 mop with bucket, 1 toilet brush, 1 plunger, additional sponges or cleaning rag
Bedding Kit: Please package each kit in large black garbage bag labeled "Bedding Kit". Bedding must be new and unused.
- 4 pillows
- 4 bed-in-a-bag sets (1 Queen & 2 Twin) which include a comforter, fitted sheet, flat sheet and pillow cases
or
- 1 Queen and 2 twin sheet sets with pillow cases
- 1 Queen, 2 twin comforter
- 4 Pillows
Additional Information:
Ready to organize a donation drive or donate new or unneeded household goods and supplies? First and foremost, thank you!
We kindly ask that interested community members and groups review the guidelines below. For questions, email volunteeroak@rescue.org.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
All donations require an appointment. Our storage facility is off-site, and our team is often in the field making deliveries to families. We have limited capacity for pick-ups and appreciate your ability to schedule a drop-off time with us.
Plan for approximately 30 minutes at your drop-off appointment. During this time, donations will be reviewed, itemized, and sorted. While we are grateful for all donations, we reserve the right to decline items that do not meet our quality standards or needs in order to best serve our clients.
✅ Tip: For gently used items, please be prepared to share a picture of each item’s condition prior to collection/drop-off to avoid transporting unacceptable items.
🚫 We cannot accept items that are broken, dirty, missing parts, or otherwise in an unusable condition. We also cannot accept items restricted by health and safety regulations.
Thank you again for your interest in supporting the work of the IRC in Oakland! Your donations of household and other items provide a warm welcome to families upon their arrival and as they integrate into the Bay Area!
Please email volunteeroak@rescue.org to get started, and a heartfelt thank you once again for your time and support.