Donate Clothing in New Orleans, LA
Pickup Please picks up clothing donations in New Orleans for free. Schedule online, leave your bags on the porch, and a driver collects them on the day you choose. You do not need to be home. We leave a tax receipt, and your donation supports Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and its programs for veterans and their families.
How a free clothing pickup works in New Orleans
1. Pick a day. Book online in about two minutes. Most pickups in New Orleans can be scheduled within a few days, and in many areas within 24 hours.
2. Bag it and set it out. Put clothing in bags or boxes you do not need back. Label them "VVA" or "Pickup Please" and leave them outside your door, on the porch or by the driveway before 7 a.m. on pickup day.
3. We take it from there. The driver picks up rain or shine, whether or not anyone is home, and leaves a tax receipt. You will get a confirmation by email when it is done.
What clothing you can donate
We accept virtually all clothing, shoes and accessories:
- Men's, women's, kids' and baby clothing, in any season
- Coats, jackets, suits, dresses, jeans, sweaters, activewear, pajamas
- Shoes, boots and sneakers (pair them, tie laces or rubber band them)
- Purses, handbags, backpacks and wallets
- Belts, ties, scarves, hats and gloves
- Jewelry and cosmetics (new or lightly used)
Clothing does not have to be in perfect shape. Everyday wear with normal use is fine. Please leave out anything wet, moldy or soiled, since it cannot be resold.
Clean out more than the closet
The same pickup can take other household items, so finish the whole room while the truck is coming:
- Household: dishes, glassware, silverware, bedding, linens, pillows, curtains, rugs, home decor, art and frames
- Toys and games: stuffed animals, board games, dolls, action figures, sports equipment
- Books: hardcover and paperback, fiction and nonfiction, e-readers
- Electronics: stereos, radios, game consoles, computers, laptops, monitors, cameras, small kitchen appliances (no TVs)
- Small furnishings: mirrors, nightstands, headboards, office chairs
- Equipment: exercise gear, sports gear, hand and power tools, yard tools with no fuel in them
- Other: bikes, musical instruments, small filing cabinets, garage sale leftovers
The one rule: each item must be small and light enough for one person to lift and carry. See the full Acceptable Donations list.
Not accepted: couches, sofas, mattresses and box springs, washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, stoves, TVs, tires, food, fuel of any kind, hazardous materials, cash or checks.
Clothing pickup on both banks of the river
Greater New Orleans gets two Pickup Please outlets. The East Bank runs from our Harahan location on Jefferson Highway and covers Metairie, Kenner, Harahan, Destrehan, La Place and the Northshore (Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville). Metairie alone is the single busiest town in our Louisiana network. The West Bank runs from Gretna on Lapalco Boulevard and covers New Orleans proper, Gretna, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego, Belle Chasse, plus Slidell, and down to Houma and Thibodaux.
New Orleans is one of the fastest markets we operate. About two thirds of donors on the East Bank, and three quarters on the West Bank, get a pickup within three days of booking; more than nine in ten are collected within a week. Mondays and Tuesdays are the busiest pickup days. November is the peak booking month, as households clear space before the holidays, so a November booking may run a day or two longer than usual.
Two drop-off options if that is easier: the Harahan store at 5728 Jefferson Highway or the Gretna store at 605 Lapalco Boulevard (hours on the map below). For furniture and the rest of what we collect locally, see Free Donation Pickup in Harahan and Free Donation Pickup in Gretna.
Your clothing donation helps veterans
Pickup Please collects on behalf of Vietnam Veterans of America. Donated clothing is sold to private thrift companies by annual bid, and that revenue funds VVA's local, state and national programs: benefits claims help, community services, and support for veterans and their families. Because we are paid to collect, the service is free to you and a truck comes to your door, which is why we can usually pick up faster than larger charities that ask for weeks of notice.
Common questions about donating clothes in New Orleans
Do I need to be home? No. Leave the bags outside before 7 a.m. and the driver will collect them.
Is my donation tax deductible? Yes. The driver leaves a receipt with your bags. You set the value of the items; the IRS requires donors to value their own non-cash donations.
How much do I need to donate? There is no minimum. One bag of clothes is enough to schedule a pickup.
What if it rains? Bag everything in plastic and we will pick up as scheduled.
Can I drop off instead? Yes. See the drop-off locations on the map below, or schedule a pickup if a truck to your door is easier.