St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) offers free home pickup for furniture and other large donations in areas where a local council runs the service. Because SVdP is a network of local councils rather than one national service, availability and exact rules vary by area. This guide covers how to book a pickup, the difference between free and priority pickup, the mattress fee many councils charge, and what to do if there is no pickup near you.
St. Vincent de Paul pickup is operated by local councils, not a single national hotline. It is available only where a council runs thrift stores and trucks, which includes large metros such as Phoenix, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Dallas, Portland, the Twin Cities, and many others. Start by searching for your city plus "St. Vincent de Paul donation pickup," or use the locator at svdp.us, to reach the right council.
Most councils offer two levels of service. Standard pickup is free: the crew collects items left in an open garage, a carport, or at the sidewalk, so you set everything out in advance. Priority pickup, offered for a fee in some areas, sends staff to carry items out from inside your home. If you cannot move heavy pieces yourself, ask whether priority pickup is available locally.
Councils book pickups online by ZIP code or by phone. For example, the Phoenix call center is reachable at 602-254-3338 and the Los Angeles council at 1-800-974-3571. Plan to schedule at least three days ahead. Pickups generally run Monday through Friday during business hours, and many councils give a 30-minute courtesy call before the truck arrives.
Unlike most household goods, mattresses and box springs often carry a charge. Many councils accept them for pickup only for a fee, commonly around $50 per piece and limited to a few per trip, because of the cost of handling and disposal. Confirm the current policy and price with your local council before booking, and see our mattress donation guide for other options.
On the scheduled day, place your donations where the crew can reach them easily, usually the garage, driveway, or curb, and group them together. Mark or move anything nearby that should stay so nothing is taken by mistake. Ask the driver for a donation receipt for your tax records.
Last updated June 2026. Errors: [email protected]
Both charities collect donated goods at home and resell them to fund their work, but the details differ. The Salvation Army runs a more unified national pickup booked through satruck.org, while St. Vincent de Paul pickup is set up council by council, so availability and rules vary more from place to place. SVdP also tends to draw a clear line between free standard pickup and paid priority pickup, and it commonly charges a fee for mattresses. If SVdP does not serve your area, see our Salvation Army pickup guide for an alternative.
Pickup is meant for large, sellable items, above all furniture. Here is a quick reference:
| Item | Picked up? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture | Yes | Clean and structurally sound: sofas, tables, dressers, bed frames. |
| Major appliances | Often | Electric, clean, working, under the council's age limit (commonly 5 to 10 years). |
| Mattresses / box springs | For a fee | Many councils charge about $50 per piece. |
| Gas appliances | No | Safety and resale limits. |
| Old or console TVs | No | Outdated electronics do not resell. |
| Exercise equipment | No | Large equipment is generally refused. |
| Printers, old computers | No | Recycle through an e-waste program instead. |
| Chemicals, auto parts | No | Hazardous or special-handling items. |
Policies vary by council, so confirm anything unusual when you book.
Because pickup depends on a local council, many areas are not covered. If yours is not, you still have options: drop your goods at an SVdP thrift store if one is nearby, or use another charity that picks up. The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, GreenDrop, and furniture banks all collect from homes in many areas. Our guide to donating furniture with free pickup compares them so you can find one that serves your ZIP code.
St. Vincent de Paul is a 501(c)(3), so donated goods are tax-deductible when you itemize. The driver can leave a receipt; you list the items and estimate their fair market value yourself, since the charity does not appraise donations. Keep your own list or photos. A single donation of $250 or more needs a written acknowledgment, and noncash gifts over $500 for the year require IRS Form 8283. Our donation value guide has fair-market-value ranges that work for any thrift donation, and the charitable tax deduction guide covers the rules.