Donations Equip Families for Success!

Starting over in a new country isn’t easy, but material donations from people and partners like you equip families for success. Rally your friends, family, and community or faith group to collect donations for newcomers in your community! To get started, scroll to the Additional Information section at the bottom of this page.

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

VISA or Mastercard gift cards and gift cards to businesses such as Safeway, Target, Walmart, Uber, and more are highly appreciated because they allow our clients to obtain what they most need while bestowing upon them the gift of choice. Increments of $25 are encouraged.

Welcome Kits- Welcome kits make a house a home, providing newcomers with the essentials to set up their first home in the US. Packaging donations in kits makes storage and delivery a breeze. 

Small kitchen appliances- tea kettle, coffee pot, microwave, rice cooker. (new or gently used)

Welcome Kits for a family of 4

50 of each kit is needed to support newly arrived families. 

Hygiene Kits: Please package each kit in a reusable grocery bag or laundry hamper labeled "Hygiene Kits"

• Oral: 2 adult + 1 children full-size toothpaste + 4 toothbrushes
• Shower: 2 bottles each (350ML+) of shampoo and conditioner, 1 large bottle of lotion, 4 bars of soap or 1 bottle of bodywash
• Bath: 4 full-size bath towels, 4 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 Kits: Please package each kit in a reusable grocery bag or laundry hamper labeled "Kitchen Kit". Items can be new or gently used. 

• 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 Kits: Please package each kit in a reusable grocery bag or laundry hamper labeled "Cleaning Kit". Products should be full sized and new. 

• 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 Kits: 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? Check out the information below to get started.

1. Get in touch! Please contact GetInvolvedIRCSanJose@rescue.org to discuss your contribution, including our current storage capacity and pick-up or drop-off options.
2. Schedule a delivery or pick-up. We are happy to accept donations at our office at 1210 S Bascom Ave #227 in San Jose  on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00am-4:00pm.  Unfortunately, we have limited capacity to pick up donated items, but can offer this support in some instances.
3. New & Gently Used. We request donated items that are new or gently used and in working condition. While we are grateful for all donations, items will be inspected upon delivery and may not be accepted if in unusable condition. Please note that some items must be new, as indicated above.
4. Tax Deductible Receipts. The IRC is a 501c3, nonprofit organization, and as such donations are tax deductible. We are happy to provide a receipt with our tax ID information and a record of the items you donated upon request. Unfortunately, we cannot place a value on the items you gift, so there will be space on the receipt for you to input that information as you see fit.