giving back

These 8 charities in Houston will pick up your donations from home

Save time and money by scheduling a pick-up.

Photo by Hero Images/Getty Images

Whether the kids have flown from the nest, it's time to move, or it's starting to look like a hoarders situation, hauling those items you don't want or need anymore can be a hassle, especially in the summer heat.

But for numerous charities in the area, it's a great opportunity to give someone a helping hand, and they're not just happy to take items off donors' hands, they'll send a truck to the front door, load up the items, and be on their way. It takes just a few clicks to get a Houston-area service to come knocking and drive off with a load that otherwise (if one's being honest) would stay right where it is.

Here are eight options that will save a lot of time, energy, and, most importantly, money.

Arms of Hope
The Medina-based, Christian organization accepts clothing, furniture, toys, sporting goods, and other items. Schedule a free pick-up here or by calling 877-259-3744. The Houston outreach office can be contacted directly at 713-868-1309.

Houston Habitat for Humanity
The nonprofit needs new and used cabinets, doors, windows, carpeting and flooring, building supplies, lighting fixtures, and more. Schedule a pick-up by entering a ZIP code and selecting whether the destination is residential or commercial, and then explain what items need to be collected.

Houston Food Bank
The Houston Food Bank, which serves an 18-county region, accepts large amounts of items from food drives, and asks that pick-ups be requested with at least a 48-hour notice and for there to be enough items that could fill the back of a small pickup truck, otherwise collecting them becomes cost prohibitive. But first, the food bank needs donors to register their drives.

Houston Furniture Bank
This nonprofit charges $50 for furniture pickups. Items should be free of rips, tears, stains, and pet hair. They’re looking for essential items such as sofas and loveseats, upholstered chairs, coffee and end tables, dining room tables and chairs, and more.

Houston Local Charity
The nonprofit Greater Houston donation pick-up service accepts household items, electronics, clothing, and more. Note that free donation pick-up dates vary by the part of the region where items are located.

Purple Heart Foundation
The Houston location of this veterans organization accepts jewelry, hats, small furniture, radios and TVs, electronics, and other items. Through this service, you can simply schedule a pickup and leave the items at your front door. For more information, call 713-685-5400.

Salvation Army
Houston-area residents need only enter their ZIP code here, enter the number and type of items they want to donate, and schedule a pick-up. The Salvation Army Family Stores accept clothes, books, household items, chairs, couches, and miscellaneous things.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
The organization accepts gently used clothing, furniture, and more. The group asks that donors ask themselves whether items are in good shape and cleaned, don't have lead-based paint, never been recalled, and meet Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.

Vehicle donations
Want to get rid of a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, or RV? Numerous Houston-area nonprofits and services are ready to schedule a pick-up, generally regardless of the vehicle's condition. These organizations accept vehicle donations:

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a new record

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

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