Donate
Every gift supports food security in the Triangle. Give online, drop off gently used items at our thrift shop, or donate grocery gift cards for the pantry.
Make a tax-deductible gift
Your tax-deductible donation to our 501(c)(3) directly helps folks in our communities through underserved food pantries and other food assistance programs.
We also need Costco and grocery store gift cards to buy what runs out in the pantry.
Donation guidance
We primarily focus on furniture, home decor, artwork, kitchen and home goods, small countertop kitchen appliances, hand and garden tools, men’s clothing, and electric power tools. Items should be clean and in sellable condition.
Items we love
- Men’s clothing, vintage tees, suits, ties, bow ties, denim, workwear, seasonal and PJs (laundered, please)
- Men’s shoes, boots, and slippers; men’s and women’s jewelry, hats, and handbags
- Books (except medical books and textbooks) and media such as VHS, DVDs, CDs, and vinyl
- Furniture, indoor and outdoor, wood and upholstered, free from rips, stains, or tears
- Artwork, framed mirrors, and picture frames
- Kitchen goods, bakeware, utensils, dishes, glassware, crystal, china, cookware, grills and grilling tools, small appliances, and flatware
- Home goods, home decor, most seasonal items 4 weeks before the holiday, and Christmas decorations year-round
- Table lamps, hanging lamps, and LED light bulbs
- Flower pots, potting soil, sand, and garden tools and supplies
- Clean, usable bath and hand towels and kitchen linens
- Garden hand tools and electric tools
- Crafting items, yarn, and sewing notions
- Hand tools and hardware: nuts, bolts, screws, nails, and other fasteners
- Electric tools with cords, power strips and cords, and plumbing and electrical hardware
- Stereo equipment and flat-screen TVs in working condition, vintage pieces as well
- Anything vintage or with a vintage feel
- Live plants, indoor or outdoor, and veggie starts. Plants are always welcome!
- Shelf-stable, refrigerated, or frozen foods and snacks, bottled water, sodas, and juices
Items we can’t accept
- Beds, TV armoires, or rugs (space simply cannot accommodate them)
- Particle-board furniture, unless it is structurally sound with no chipping
- Large or L-shaped desks (must be under 48″)
- Mattresses, box springs, pillow top covers, or bed pillows, per state law
- Mini blinds or window treatments of any kind, and no linens
- Clothing or shoes, except men’s
- Building materials such as lumber, toilets, sinks, or cabinets
- Chemicals, paints, stains, pesticides, or flammables. Absolutely none, please.
- Upholstered items with significant rips, stains, or odors
- Baby items, as many laws govern these items
- Unframed mirrors of any kind
Disposal fees are very expensive for nonprofits, so please bring only items we can sell.
Where and when to drop off
Mama Edna’s Thrift Shop
1393 Maynard Rd SE, Cary, NC 27511
Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Thursdays. Open Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. Our doors close at 4:45 p.m. to allow current shoppers to wrap up.
Guidance updated August 2, 2026.
