Can You Donate Medical Supplies to Goodwill?
I assumed donating a walker would be simple. My kid outgrew it after about three months of use. It was clean, in great shape, barely scuffed. So I loaded it into the trunk, drove to our local Goodwill donation bay, and…the attendant shook their head. “We can’t accept that.”
I stood there in the parking lot, walker in hand, feeling like I’d shown up to a pizza place with a really nice lasagna. It made no sense to me at the time. So I went down a research rabbit hole, and it turns out the answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. Here’s what I found, so you don’t waste a trip.
Key Takeaways
Standard Goodwill donation centers do not accept medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or hospital beds — this is a published policy from named affiliates including Goodwill NNE and Sacramento Valley.
Three regional Goodwill-affiliated programs do accept and redistribute medical equipment: the HELP program in Arkansas, Bridge Abilities in Florida, and two Home Medical Equipment stores in South Jersey — but none of these are nationwide.
Some Goodwill affiliates specifically ban items that can support a child’s weight, which catches pediatric walkers, car seats, and other kids’ medical gear — a restriction that’s easy to miss until you’re standing at the donation bay.
Table of Contents
Why Goodwill Says No at Regular Stores
I figured there had to be some reason beyond “we just don’t feel like it.” Turns out, there are a few legitimate ones.
Legal liability and safety concerns
Goodwill can’t guarantee that used medical equipment is safe or properly sanitized. They’re not medical device inspectors. If someone gets hurt using a donated walker that has a hidden crack or a faulty brake, that falls back on them. Goodwill Northern New England puts it plainly: they can’t accept items due to legal or liability risks, safety or hazardous/universal waste concerns, recycling and/or disposal fees. That’s not them being difficult — that’s them not wanting to get sued.
Also worth knowing: employees can decline donations if unloading feels unsafe or might damage your car. That’s just common sense, not a personal judgment on your donation.
Hazardous waste and disposal costs
Some medical equipment contains components that count as hazardous waste. If Goodwill takes something they can’t sell and it turns out to be hazardous, they’re stuck paying to dispose of it. That’s a cost they can’t recover. It’s not just about resale potential — it’s about what happens to stuff that doesn’t move.
CPSC regulations and recalled items
Goodwill follows Consumer Product Safety Commission rules. They can’t resell recalled items. Medical devices get recalled more often than you’d think, and Goodwill can’t realistically check every wheelchair, walker, or hospital bed against current recall lists. If you’re curious what’s been recalled, you can check recalls.gov or cpsc.gov yourself.
The “items that hold the weight of a child” catch
Here’s a surprising rule: Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada specifically bans Items that hold the weight of a child. That sweeps in a lot of pediatric medical equipment, including kids’ walkers, car seats, and similar gear. If you’re trying to donate something your child used, this might be the rule that stops you even if your local Goodwill’s general policy seems more lenient.
Red flag: If your item “holds the weight of a child,” many Goodwill affiliates reject it automatically — even if the rest of their policy seems flexible.
Goodwill-Affiliated Programs That Actually Accept Medical Equipment
Here’s the twist I didn’t expect: Goodwill does have programs for this. You just have to know where to look. They’re regional, so not everyone can use them, but they’re real.
HELP program (Arkansas only)
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas runs the Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP). It’s exactly what it sounds like: they loan out gently used medical equipment free of charge, no time limit, to any Arkansas resident. It’s first-come, first-served, and depends entirely on what the community donates. If they have what you need in stock, you take it home the same day.
What they accept: wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, commodes, canes, shower chairs, potty chairs, transfer boards, lift belts, and other shower or bed items. If they don’t have your item locally, they’ll search statewide and deliver it to the nearest Goodwill for you. Contact them at 501-372-5100.
Goodwill Home Medical Equipment stores (South Jersey only)
These are the only two retail locations of their kind in the country. One on Mantua Pike in Woodbury Heights (Gloucester County) and one on Benigno Boulevard in Bellmawr (Camden County). They sell used and refurbished equipment at roughly one-third of retail price. Juli Lundberg, who works with the program, told me the savings are so great that people travel to them from New York City, the Philly burbs, and Jersey Shore.
They’ve been doing this for about 15 years. It operates at break-even, not as a profit center. They cater to people with no insurance, limited insurance, or high deductibles. Equipment includes electric scooters, power and manual wheelchairs, hospital beds, canes, walkers, lift and shower chairs. They also accept unopened medical supplies like incontinence pads and colostomy bags.
Mark Boyd, who runs the program, put it well: “Financially, it’s a break-even operation, but it’s such a great service to the community.” He added that when people go to a regular Goodwill, they’re on a treasure hunt. “But when you get sick or somebody in your family gets sick, you suddenly need a specific piece of equipment, and it can be quite daunting.” For those facing this situation, a compassionate guide on where to donate home health care equipment can help ensure useful items go to others in need rather than to landfills.
Bridge Abilities (Florida only)
This is a partnership between Goodwill Manasota and an organization called Big Dreams Through Small Steps. They collect, refurbish, and redistribute gently-used medical equipment to people with financial hardship or gaps in insurance coverage.
You can drop donations at any Goodwill Manasota donation site. Individuals who need equipment submit a request through bigdreamsthroughsmallsteps.org. Equipment includes wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, and other essential assistive devices. Contact them at 941-355-2721 or visit experiencegoodwill.org.
Misty Ritch of Big Dreams Through Small Steps said that the two organizations aim to improve quality of life by providing access to mobility, rehabilitation, and daily living tools.
Real Stories and Numbers
A young woman with muscular dystrophy needed a motorized scooter, but her insurance would only cover a wheelchair. She found a dozen scooters at the South Jersey Goodwill store. Test drove one, bought it at steep discount. Mark Boyd told me: “She burst into tears and said, ‘You cannot imagine how much this will change my life.'”
Goodwill Manasota’s 2024 numbers give a sense of the broader impact: they served over 7,000 individuals, placed 1,563 people in jobs, provided assistance to 463 veterans and collected more than 234,600 pounds of food, and diverted 98.4 million pounds of material from landfills. Donn Githens, president of Goodwill Manasota, said that Goodwill has a longstanding tradition of reducing obstacles and improving essential access for people with disabilities and other difficult circumstances.
Where to Donate Medical Supplies If You’re Not in Those Regions
Most people don’t live in Arkansas, Florida, or South Jersey. So what do you do?
Search for local medical equipment loan closets
These are often run by churches, hospitals, or service organizations like Lions Clubs. They’re usually free or very low cost. Search: “medical equipment loan closet near me” or where to donate used medical equipment near me.
Try national nonprofits
The Red Cross, AMVETS, and Salvation Army may accept medical supplies in some regions, but policies vary by location. Call ahead. I wrote a more detailed guide on donating medical supplies to the Red Cross near me if that’s your route.
Senior centers and nursing homes
Unopened supplies like incontinence pads and colostomy bags are often welcome here. Call first and ask what they need. Expired supplies can’t be donated — check local disposal regulations.
For hazardous items
Goodwill rejects freon-containing appliances and some medical equipment components as hazardous waste. In the Sacramento region, for example, you can take these to specific household hazardous waste facilities. Check your county’s options.
If you’re looking for more options, I’ve also put together a guide on charities that help with medical equipment near me and a broader piece on where to donate home health care equipment, especially after a loved one’s recovery or passing.
Tax Deductions and Disposal Options
If you donate medical equipment to one of the programs that accept it, you may be eligible for a tax deduction. Understanding the receipt process and what to do with items no one will take can help you handle your donation responsibly.
Getting a tax receipt
If you donate to a Goodwill program that accepts medical equipment — HELP, Bridge Abilities, or the South Jersey stores, you can typically get a receipt. The IRS allows you to deduct the fair market value of gently-used items donated to qualified organizations. One caveat: HELP is a free loan program, not a sale, so check their specific receipt policy. Standard Goodwill donations don’t apply here because they don’t accept medical equipment in the first place.
What to do with items nobody will take
Recalled items can’t be donated or resold — check recalls.gov or cpsc.gov. Hazardous waste needs to go to a household hazardous waste facility, not a donation center. If it’s expired, broken, or unsafe, throw it away properly. Donation Xpress locations have space limits, so take large items to main stores.
Bottom line: If you can’t donate it, check recalls.gov first — then dispose of hazardous or expired items properly. Don’t leave it at a donation bay.
Quick Reference — What to Do With Your Specific Item
- Wheelchair or walker: Check if you’re in Arkansas (HELP), Florida (Bridge Abilities), or New Jersey (South Jersey stores). Otherwise, search for local medical equipment loan closets or try national nonprofits.
- Hospital bed: Can’t go to standard Goodwill. South Jersey stores accept them. Otherwise, search for medical equipment recyclers or loan closets.
- Unopened supplies (incontinence pads, colostomy bags): South Jersey stores accept these. Senior centers and nursing homes are next best option.
- Expired supplies: Cannot be donated. Dispose according to local regulations.
- Recalled items: Check recalls.gov. Cannot be donated or resold. Dispose properly.
You generally can’t donate medical supplies to a standard Goodwill store. But there are real, working programs that do accept them — you just have to know where to look. Hopefully this saves you the parking lot confusion I went through.
People Also Ask
Where is the best place to donate medical supplies?
The best place depends on your location. If you’re in Arkansas, the HELP program loans equipment free of charge. In Florida, Bridge Abilities collects and redistributes items to people in need. In South Jersey, Goodwill runs dedicated Home Medical Equipment stores. Outside those regions, search for ‘medical equipment loan closet near me’ or contact senior centers and nursing homes, which often accept unopened supplies.
What will they not take at Goodwill?
Standard Goodwill stores do not accept medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or hospital beds due to liability and safety concerns. They also reject items that ‘hold the weight of a child,’ which includes pediatric walkers and car seats, as well as recalled items and anything containing hazardous waste like freon.
Why doesn’t Goodwill accept medical equipment?
Goodwill refuses medical equipment primarily due to legal liability and safety concerns. They can’t guarantee that used equipment is safe or properly sanitized, and if someone got hurt using a donated walker with a hidden crack, the liability would fall on them. They also avoid items that may be recalled or contain hazardous waste components.
