YSS

Donate Goods

Four volunteers smiling with donated goods
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Ames: How to Donate

YSS Business Partner, Overflow Thrift Store gives dignity to YSS clients and participants by providing vouchers for clothing, furniture, and household goods at no cost.

1. Pick Your Location

  • Overflow Thrift Store, 202 South Duff Avenue (Soft Goods)
  • Furniture & More, 919 E. Lincoln Way (Hard Goods)

2. Prepare Donations

  • Soft Goods can be put in trash bags or boxes
  • Box up hard goods

3. Drop Off During Donation Hours

Monday – Saturday 10 AM to 5:30 PM

What We Accept

  • Clothing & accessories
  • Hygiene products (Full sized) (shampoo/conditioner, ethnic hair care products, deodorant – no aerosols)
  • Clothing & accessories (Laundered/up-to-date styles that youth would be wearing)
  • Shoes (Dress or Tennis)
  • Media (DVD’s or BlueRay DVD’s ages 14-18- no VHS tapes)
  • Toys (NO stuffed animals/gently used in working condition/no broken or missing parts)
  • Furniture (Gently used but still in good condition)
  • Electronics (Laptops/Computer Monitors/Computer Bags/PS4 games or Xbox360 games for ages 14-18 )
  • Sporting goods (Variety of sports balls/Pickleball items/Frisbees/Fishing Gear or Poles)
  • Kitchen items (Gently used dishware/cookware/silverware/cups/small gadgets, i.e. can openers/spatula’s/dish towels/slotted or larger silicone spoons)
  • Bicycles (Youth or adult sizes/gently used & in working order)
  • Crafting Items (Fuse-bead sets/perler-bead kits/low-heat hot glue guns/embroidery floss/crochet hooks/craft sticks)
  • Nonperishable good items
  • New or like-new building materials

What We Don’t Accept

  • Pianos & organs
  • Car seats & booster seats
  • Pack-n-plays & cribs
  • Outdated workout equipment
  • Outdated or broken appliances
  • Helmets
  • Damaged or unassembled particle board
  • Mattresses & box springs
  • Printers
  • Tube TVs
  • Used windows
  • Broken or damaged building materials
  • Large metal desks
  • Hazardous materials (chemicals, paints, etc.)
  • Textbooks
  • Broken furniture

Drop Off Donations at YSS Headquarters

420 Kellog Ave, Ames
Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, or by appointment.

Questions? Call 515-233-3141.

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Des Moines: Host a Donation Drive

Help us meet the needs of youth (ages 16-24 years-old). Listed below are supplies our youth need at YSS in Des Moines. We appreciate your help in collecting these items for a donation drive.

Amazon Wish List

What We Accept

  • New underwear (men’s and women’s)
  • New t-shirts, bras, socks, sweatshirts & sweatpants
  • Full-size shampoo & conditioner, hygiene products, & lotion
  • Backpacks
  • African American hair care products
  • Full-size body wash
  • Menstrual products
  • New or gently used sheets & blankets
  • Towels
  • Diapers
  • Non-perishable food

What We Don’t Accept

  • Old electronics
  • Cribs
  • Medicines
  • Used undergarments
  • Knick Knack items
  • Work out equipment
  • Used toys
  • Office furniture
  • Opened or expired food and hygiene items
Monthly needs. These items are in high demand during each month at our center. January: blankets. February: undergarments. March: towels. April: t-shirts and shorts. May: water and diapers. June: sunscreen and bugspray. July: school supplies. August: towels and backpacks. September: bedsheets and pillows. October: blankets. November: camping gear. December: holiday giving.

Drop Off Donations at Our YSS in Des Moines Location

612 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA
Monday to Friday from Noon to 6:00 p.m. or by appointment.

Questions? Call 515-681-1231 or email ssavage@yss.org

YSS of North Iowa

Donation Wish List for Teens (Ages 12–17)

Personal Hygiene & Care

  • Deodorant (unscented and scented)
  • Body wash / Bar soap
  • Travel size bottle for shampoo, conditioner and body wash
  • Shampoo & conditioner (including curly/textured hair products)
  • Travel size Toothpaste & toothbrushes
  • Feminine hygiene products (pads, tampons, liners)
  • Hairbrushes, combs, picks
  • Chapstick / lip balm
  • Lotion / moisturizer
  • Razors & shaving cream (sensitive skin options too)
  • Face wash / acne products
  • Nail clippers, nail files
  • Hygiene Baskets
  • Towels, rags, loofahs

Entertainment & Recreation

  • Journals / notebooks
  • Headphones / earbuds
  • Board games / card games
  • Puzzle books (Sudoku, word search, etc.)
  • Craft kits (DIY jewelry, painting, etc.)
  • Sports equipment (basketballs, soccer balls, etc.)
  • Gift cards (Target, Walmart, Amazon, fast food, etc.)
  • Winter gear, snow boots, snow pants

Comfort Items

  • Throw blankets
  • Fuzzy socks / slippers
  • Stuffed animals
  • Stress relief toys (fidget spinners, stress balls)
  • Textbooks

Clothing (New or Gently Used, ALL Sizes)

  • T-shirts (plain and graphic)
  • Hoodies / sweatshirts
  • Jeans / joggers / leggings
  • Pajamas / loungewear
  • Underwear & bras (new only)
  • Socks (new only)
  • Athletic wear
  • Winter coats, hats, gloves
  • Shoes / sneakers / slides

School & Study Supplies

  • Backpacks/ suitcases/ duffle bags
  • Notebooks
  • Pens, pencils (NO mechanical pencils)
  • Water bottles
  • Art supplies (sketch pads, markers, colored pencils)

Books

  • Age-appropriate fiction & non-fiction
  • Graphic novels & manga
  • Inspirational or self-help books for teens
  • Diverse and inclusive stories