Time to spring clean! March is here and spring is in the air. I have an inkling to purge all the things. Do you, too? If you don’t know what to do with all your items that are still in great condition, we’ve scoured the county for you (and two more just outside Waukesha County) so you can put your used items to good use.
14 Places to Donate in and around Waukesha County
1. Lake Country Caring – Hartland
Lake Country Caring provides new and gently-used items to people in need at no cost to them. Basic needs of clothing, hygiene products, infant necessities, household items, furniture & appliances are provided free of charge.
Donation times:
Monday: 9:00 am-11:30 am
Friday: 9:00 am-11:30 am
Please call ahead prior to dropping off larger items and refrain from dropping off items after hours.
Lake Country Caring
603 Progress Dr
Hartland, WI
Phone: (262) 367-6670
Website: https://www.lakecountrycaring.com
2. Hope Center – Waukesha
Reducing the risks of poverty by helping people in Waukesha County meet basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing through services, partnerships and community collaboration.
Donation times:
Monday – Friday
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(Please donate between hours above and not leave items outside, they will be disposed of)
Hope Center
502 N East Ave
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: (262) 549-8726
Website: https://hopecenterwi.org
3. The Women’s Center (TWC) – Waukesha
As Waukesha County’s only agency of its kind in a county that spans 580 square miles, they provide a range of life-saving and life-changing programs and services that heal and empower adults and children on their paths to build a future free from violence.
Due to storage limitations, they only accept NEW/UNOPENED items only. They request donations of used clothing, furniture, toys, or housewares be given to:
Goodwill (closest location is 1400 Nike Drive, Waukesha)
Lake Country Caring (603 Progress Drive, Hartland, call 262.367.6670 prior to dropping off furniture)
In turn, these agencies allow Women’s Center clients to shop for their needs free of charge.
Please call TWC at 262.547.4600 with questions.
Used vehicle and cell phone donations accepted at the Women’s Center.
The Women’s Center
505 N. East Ave.
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: (262) 547-4600
Website: https://twcwaukesha.org
Top 10 Zero Waste Switches to Make this Year!
From Local Mom, Madi Prange.
4. Chosen in Love – Waukesha
With generous donations from the community, foster and adoptive families “shop” for gently used infant and children’s clothing and new furniture, toys, equipment and more!
Donation Times:
Thursdays 10 am-1 pm
Chosen in Love
217 Wisconsin Ave
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: (262) 724-6736
Website: https://www.choseninlove.org
19 Local Food Pantries
Find all the information for volunteering, donation, and receiving at 19 local food pantries.
5. Life’s Connection – Waukesha and Mukwonago
Life’s Connection team of peer mentors offer compassionate and unconditional support for families with programs and services designed to unite and empower anyone facing challenges relating to childbearing, relationships, life losses and crisis care. Through mentoring, educational classes, support groups, medical support, resources and referrals we are here to build a strong community that centers on the family.
Mention donation on behalf of Life’s Connection at St. Vincent’s (Waukesha location only) and Life’s Connection is given a certain amount per lb of clothing donated back monetarily to purchase diapers.
Website: https://www.lifesconnection.org
Mukwonago Location:
307 S. Rochester St
Mukwonago, WI, 53159
Phone: (262) 470-3119
Mukwonago Donation Times:
Please call the center for days and times.
Waukesha Location:
494 W Main St.
Waukesha, WI,53186
Phone: (262) 290-5433
Waukesha Donation Times:
Please call the center for days and times.
6. The Pick-up Chicks – Mukwonago
The Pick-up Chicks come and remove anything left over after your rummage sale. No need to worry about going to the trash, the curb, or a charity; that’s their job!
Phone: (262) 470-3925
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thepickupchicks3/
Email: thepickupchicks3@gmail.com
One Family's Cloth Diapering Journey + Tips
From local mom, Madi Prange.
7. Goodwill
Donate clothing, domestics, furnishings, home décor, books, toys, games, and kitchen accessories. Also,car, truck, RV and boats.
Website: https://www.amazinggoodwill.com/
Locations:
New Berlin:
3540 S. Moorland Rd.
New Berlin, WI 53151
Phone: (262) 641-8868
Muskego:
Donations Only
S74 W17035 Janesville Road
Muskego, WI 53150
Phone: (262) 682-4200
Mukwonago:
101 Arrowhead Drive
Mukwonago, WI
Waukesha:
1400 Nike Drive
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: (262) 547-5023
Pewaukee:
2015 Meadow Lane
Pewaukee, WI 53072
Phone: (262) 574-0704
Brookfield:
18605 W. Bluemound Road
Brookfield, WI 53045
Phone (262) 901-0089
Menomonee Falls:
W178 N9315 Watertower Place
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Phone: (262) 253-0018
Oconomowoc:
1408 Summit Avenue
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
Phone: (262) 560-0249
8. St. Vincent de Paul
Donation Times:
Monday – Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Locations:
Waukesha:
818 W. Sunset Drive
Waukesha WI, 53189
Phone: (262)-547-3281
Oconomowoc:
W359 N5848 Brown St.
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
Phone: (262)-569-0761
Website: http://svdpthrift.com/
Pewaukee:
601 Ryan Street
Pewaukee, WI
9. Hope Network – Menomonee Falls
Supporting single mothers and their children. Donations of new and gently used items serve new mothers through our crib program and those with older children at our Trading Post. There is never a cost for mothers to obtain these items. They are given free of charge.
Donation Times/Instructions:
Deliver donations to the office, on the second floor of Good Shepherd Catholic Church.
Entrance is located underneath a brown awning with the number “1300” printed on it. Take the elevator to the second floor.
Hope Network
Good Shepherd Catholic Church
N88 W17658 Christman Rd., Room 201, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Phone: (262) 251-7333
Website: https://www.hopenetworkinc.org/ways-to-help/donate
5 Tips for Raising a Healthy Family
From local mom, Alison Tierney of Wholesome LLC.
10. The Community Space – Whitewater
Just outside of Waukesha County is The Community Space. The Community Space provides food, clothing, furniture, and more to people in a dignified, respectful, and joyful manner. All are welcome. A Little Free Pantry is available 24/7.
The Community Space
834 E. Milwaukee Street
Whitewater, Wisconsin
Phone: (262) 379-0187
Website: https://www.facebook.com/WhitewaterCommunitySpace
11. Mary’s Room – Watertown
Just outside Waukesha County is Mary’s Room. Mary’s Room is dedicated to fostering the well-being of infants and young children through facilitating the donation, collection and distribution of furniture, clothing, diapers and other basic supplies to families while assisting them to achieve economic independence.
Accepting:
Baby clothes, sizes 0 through 4T; diapers, wipes and other baby items; including furniture, car seats, strollers, toys (AA batteries for the toys) and children books.
Message directly for donation information.
Mary’s Room
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
413 S 2nd Street
Watertown, WI 53094
Phone: (920) 261-1150
Website: marysroom.org
Email: saint413paul@gmail.com
12. Looking to donate an old Prom Dress or Bridesmaid Dress?
- Watertown High School takes in gently used prom dresses for students in need.
- The Cinderella Project in Milwaukee
13. 3in1 Thrift
3in1 Thrift is an organization that supports the three LCMS high schools in the greater Milwaukee area: Milwaukee Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Martin Luther High School in Greendale, and Lake Country Lutheran High School in Hartland.
Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday-Monday closed
Address:
3117 S. 108th Street, West Allis, WI 53227
Phone:
414-914-9225
14. Blue Butterfly
Blue Butterfly Thrift Store strives to repurpose lightly used clothing, small furniture, and house-ware products through our faith-based retail store. Our mission is for residents of Oconomowoc and the surrounding areas to have access to good quality, affordable products, in a clean, comfortable, Christian atmosphere. Profits that are generated from these sales are given to Alpha Resource Center, Christian Family Solutions (WLCFS) and Tomorrow’s Choice, working together to support primary ministry areas that relate to the sanctity of life, mental health counseling, and senior care services.
Address:
1165 Summit Avenue, Oconomowoc, WI 53066
Phone:
Website: https://bluebutterflythrift.org/
BONUS OPTION: Forgotten Treasures
Forgotten Treasures Resale Shop accepts donations Monday through Friday 10 am-4:30 pm.
Learn more at https://www.shorehavenliving.org/forgotten-treasures/
Address:
1305 W. Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc
Phone:
262-244-6500
Where to Recycle Odd Items in Waukesha County
Target’s Car Seat Trade-in Event is BACK for 2024!
If you have an old or expired car seat sitting around your house, now is the time to trade it in at one of our local Target stores in Waukesha County! When you trade your old car seat in, you will receive a 20% off coupon to be used toward NEW baby gear!!
Things to know:
- Program starts April 2024. Check HERE for kick-off date.
- Must be a Target Circle member to participate
- There will be drop-off boxes with scan sheets for donators to use with their Target Circle from their mobile device.
- You can trade in two car seats and get two coupons!
- Coupons will have an expiration date, so be mindful!
The New Berlin Recycling Center
3711 S. Casper Drive (North of City Hall – look for the yellow gate and sign on the left)
Summer Hours
- March 30, 2024, through November 11, 2024
- Tuesday: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Thursday: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Saturday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Winter Hours
- Saturdays ONLY: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Village of Sussex Electronics Recycling Drop Off Event
Spring 2024 Date TBD
Accepted items include: computers and related equipment / parts, cell phones, stereos, microwaves, copiers, video game players, fax machines, LED, LCD and CRT TV’s.
Note: A $25 fee applies to ALL TV’s, including flat panels. CRT monitors (old tube style) are $10 each. All other electronics are free to recycle.
Fees are payable by cash or check ONLY. No debit cards or credit cards.
Call Legacy Recycling at (262) 930-4228 with any questions or visit them online at www.legacy-recycling.com.
City of Waukesha TV/Electronics/Appliance Drop off Events
May 11, 2024
July 20, 2024
October 19, 2024
9:00 am to Noon
Recycling Details
Oconomowoc Public Library
Visit the Library to recycle your ink cartridges, eyeglasses, cellphones, and batteries! (Laser toner cartridges not accepted.)
Waukesha County Recycling Locations Misc. Items
Batteries, CD’s, DVD’s VHS, Computers, Electronics, Ink Cartridges, String Lights, Televisions
https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/electronics
Household Hazardous Waste
Waukesha County operates 4 permanent household hazardous waste (HHW) drop-off sites for county residents and 4 special one-day collections in spring and fall in Brookfield, Delafield, Mukwonago and Oconomowoc. All sites are free to Waukesha County residents (bring ID). More details here.
Plastic Shopping Bags
Walmart
Target
Piggly Wiggly
Good Harvest Market Pewaukee/Waukesha
Dried Out Markers
Various libraries and schools take these items in to be recycled.
Ink Cartridges
Various libraries and office supply stores take these items in to be recycled.
5 Easy Swaps to Make for a Healthier Home
From local mom, Martha Herdendorf
