Donation drives
Give the gift of dignity and hope by donating much-needed items
Families in shelter, unhoused veterans, seniors living in poverty, adults with disabilities and those facing hunger have many needs.
Why Donate Items
Your donations of non-cash items bring comfort and dignity during life’s hardest moments.
- Keeping Our Daily Bread pantry shelves stocked ensures each hungry family receives 2-3 days’ worth of food a month.
- Many shelter residents and survivors of abuse have only the clothes they wear when they arrive. Plus, when moving into housing, they need basics like linens and dishes.
- Children living in the shelters need school supplies to succeed.
- Personal care items and diapers help families meet basic needs with dignity during difficult times.
- Arts and craft supplies enrich lives, especially for adults with disabilities and children living in a shelter.
- Christmas gifts bring hope to children and parents living in a shelter, low-income seniors citizens and veterans.
Cash or Gift Cards
In addition to items, gift cards and cash contributions help fund the personal needs and individualized services of each person in Catholic Charities programs—gas or bus tickets to get to and from work, appropriately-sized clothing and shoes, training or support to find and maintain a job, help managing a budget to avoid homelessness again, and general operations of programs (toilet paper, food at the pantry, lights, heating and cooling, etc.).
Donation drive opportunities
Food Drives
Help fill the shelves. Food donations are needed year-round. See what Our Daily Bread Food Pantry needs most.
Program Drives
Host a drive or participate in any drive by checking our website for current drop-off locations.
Christmas at Catholic Charities
Provide Christmas gifts and help restock the shelves so families in need of housing have basic supplies for their home.
Program Wish Lists
Needs change regularly, some essentials are always in demand.
FAQs About Donation Drives
Good questions
Why don’t you accept used household items?
Unfortunately, Catholic Charities does not have the capacity to wash and sanitize used kitchen appliances and dishes, clothing, or bed, bath and kitchen linens. We do not have the storage space for furniture. Instead, we help clients find free or discount-priced furniture through partners and other nonprofits that specialize in furnishings.
We recommend donating gently used items such as these to the Klothes Kloset at United Methodist Open Door, located at 402 E 2nd St. in downtown Wichita, or call them at (316) 265-9371; His Helping Hands, located 1441 E. 37th St. N., or call them at (316) 838-8528; any local Goodwill store, Habitat for Humanity, etc.
Why don’t you accept new clothing and shoes?
Each person in our programs is a different size, ranging from infant to adult male and female XXXL. Unfortunately, we do not have the storage space or inventory system to manage these. Instead, we ask you to donate gift cards: VISA, Mastercard, Walmart, Target, Amazon or a store of your choice. We ask that all gift cards for clothing be at least $25 and have the card’s value written directly on them at the time of donation. Thank you.
What is an in-kind donation?
An in-kind donation is a non-cash gift of goods or services. Examples accepted by Catholic Charities, Inc. include new, unused small kitchen appliances, linens, towels, cooking utensils, pots and pans, dishes, silverware and non-perishable food items. See our urgent needs on the program donation drive page and the ongoing needs on the wish list page.
Will I qualify for a tax deduction if I purchase and donate items to Catholic Charities, Inc. of Wichita?*
Yes, because Catholic Charities is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, you may be able to claim a deduction for the fair market value of your donation, with limitations. However, you are responsible for determining the fair market value and keeping records of your in-kind donations. Catholic Charities can provide a tax-deductible receipt acknowledging your in-kind donation but cannot assign a dollar value for tax purposes.
Will you provide a receipt for my in-kind donation?*
Yes, Catholic Charities will provide a receipt for your donation. However, the receipt will not show a dollar value for your donation. It will provide our legal name, EIN tax identification number and the date of your donation. Only you can determine the fair market value of your donation. The IRS encourages in-kind donors to keep accurate records in case of an audit.
Why doesn’t Catholic Charities provide a receipt for the value of my donated items?*
The IRS states that donors are responsible for determining the value of their in-kind donations. For items over $5,000, the IRS may require a qualified appraisal in your records in case of an audit. Keep this documentation for tax purposes.*
What types of in-kind donations do you accept at Catholic Charities, Inc. of Wichita?
Needs vary based on the time of the year and the needs of each individual in our programs. In general, new household small appliances, linens, dishes, silverware, cleaning essentials and hygiene items are always needed.
Can I donate services as an in-kind gift?
Yes, but services are not tax-deductible under IRS rules.* Catholic Charities classifies service providers who donate time as volunteers.
What if I’d like to donate a large or high-value item?
Contact a development team member at (316) 264-8344, ext, 1262. They’ll work with you to determine whether we can accept the item and walk you through the process, including any required forms or documentation. Please note that Catholic Charities may not provide advice on whether you can claim a tax deduction for any donation.*
What happens to my donated items?
All donated items directly benefit the people in programs.
* Catholic Charities is a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. This information is not intended as legal or tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor or attorney to determine how your gift may affect your individual tax situation.