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Donate Goods to the White Elephant Sale
Thank you for considering donating to the White Elephant Sale!
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The White Elephant Sale has been a success for more than 60 years because of the generosity of our donors, the organizational efforts of the Oakland Museum Women’s Board, and the tireless work of over 1000 volunteers. But when we receive items that are not in sellable condition on such a huge scale, it costs us thousands of dollars and volunteer hours, which could be better used to support our mission of providing funding for the Oakland Museum's programming.
We cannot take:
X Batteries MUST be removed from battery-operated items before donating.
X Items that are broken, damaged, stained, needing repair
X Items with corporate logos (e.g. office supplies, mugs, clothing,), except we do take college and professional sports team items.
X Items that are personalized with names/initials (e.g. linens, towels, mugs, etc.) – except we do take personalized silver or silver plate items.
X Chemicals and/or flammable fluids
X Perishable or personal care items (e.g. food, wine, pharmacy, lotions, soaps, or other personal care items)
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Take a close look at everything you are planning to donate and consider whether you or anyone you know would be willing to buy it. If not, we probably cannot use it.
Click on the categories below for more details about items we cannot accept:
We accept only clean, empty suitcases in good condition with all zippers functional.
NO BROKEN LUGGAGE in need of repair
NO LUGGAGE WITHOUT WHEELS (unless vintage)
NO BAGS WITH LOGOS
X Luggage straps and carriers
X Opened or partly used Hair, Bath or Beauty products
X Opened Health Care Products
X Used or opened Hosiery, socks, tights
X Travel accessories Plus bags and totes with logos, giveaways
X Slippers/bed socks
X Travel garment bags/valpaks
NO DAMAGED OR BROKEN ART OR FRAMES
X Scrolls
X Clear acrylic box frames
X Damaged or broken art or frames
X Folding Easel Displays Framed jigsaw puzzles
X Empty Frames smaller than 10”x 14” (unless antique Empty Metal Frames, Old photo albums with photos, personal photos, or animal photos)
X Old Master reproductions/prints
X Resin sculptures/figurines
NO ENCYCLOPEDIAS
NO MAGAZINES
NO COMPUTER MANUALS older than 4 years
X All children's magazines
X HOME, HEALTH, FASHION,NEWS
X Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Gourmet
X Martha Stewart
X Reader's Digest
X Scientific American, Smithsonian
X Sunset Magazines (Unbound)
X Life (Newer than 1970)
X National Geographic (Newer than 1960)
XGrandfather clocks
NO DIRTY, BROKEN, DAMAGED ITEMS
X Artificial Xmas Trees Taller than 2 Feet
X Tree Stands, unboxed Lights, Garlands (Unless Vintage)
X Clear glass Christmas plates
X Florist glass vases
X Ceramic figurines
X Wreaths over 2 ft. in diameter
X Used candles
X Outdoor Christmas decorations
X Collector plates – Franklin Mint, Bradbury Exchange, etc.
NO STAINED/DIRTY CLOTHES
NO DIRTY, BROKEN, DAMAGED OR RECALLED Furniture, Strollers
NO HIGH CHAIRS MISSING TRAYS OR STRAPS (vintage okay w/o trays or straps)
X Plastic baby bath tubs
X CAR SEATS - older than 5 years, dirty
X CRIB BUMPER PADS
X CRIBS WITH DROP SIDES (Unless Vintage, Collectible, not intended for use with babies)
X BABY MONITORS
X BEAN BAG OR FOAM child’s chair
X EXERSAUCERS
X LARGE ROLLING ACTIVITY CENTERS that child sits in
X PERSONALIZED ITEMS with child’s name
X SHOES that show a lot of wear/dirty/over child size 13
NO STAINED/DIRTY/TORN CLOTHES
NO Clothing that is missing Buttons or Fasteners
Exceptions: We accept Vintage Clothing in any condition
Women's underwear ONLY NEW IN PACKAGE (except Vintage)
NO Electrical items that are in NON-WORKING CONDITION or NEED REPAIR
X AIR PURIFIERS & IONIZERS
X APPLIANCES that we don’t take - Large or Built-in, Stoves, Refrigerators, Washers, Dryers, ALL Microwave Ovens
X BREAD MAKERS
X CARPET SHAMPOOERS
X CELL PHONES and Cell Phone Chargers
X CEILING FANS
X COMPUTER Hardware, Peripherals, Software
X CONSOLE Phonograph/stereo/TV units
X EAR BUDS
X FLUORESCENT Light Tubes
X GEORGE FORMAN GRILLS
X LARGE TABLE LAMPS - no lamps over 2 feet tall
X MICROWAVE OVENS
X OFFICE MACHINES – Cash Registers, Copy Machines, FAX machines, Printers
X PERSONAL GROOMING PRODUCTS Hair dryers, curlers, shavers, toothbrushes, massagers, Foot massagers, paraffin baths
X ROUTERS
X TRACK Lighting
X TELEVISIONS of any type or size TV antennas TV Stands
X TYPEWRITER TABLES
X VAPORIZERS or Humidifiers
NO furniture that needs to be repaired (is broken)
NO furniture that needs to be Reupholstered (is stained)
NO furniture that requires assembly
NO particle board furniture
If there is any concern we may request photos for review. DUE TO LIMITED SPACE in the department we may not be able to take your donation. OUR VAN DRIVERS HAVE THE FINAL SAY
XBox Springs, Foam Pads,Head & Footboards w/out Rails, Mattresses, Futon Mattresses, Metal Bed Frames or Bed Springs, Twin beds or metal beds
XRug Pads, Non-Bound Carpeting, Shag Rugs
XNO COUCHES OVER 6’LONG
XNo upholstered furniture with any stains, dirt or discoloration
XNo bean bag chair
XNo HIDE-A-BEDS
XCHINA CABINETS over 36” wide
XGLASS TOP tables (only Mid-Century and under 36”)
XHOSPITAL BEDS
X LARGE LA-Z-BOYS - Due to limited space. Non-electric in excellent condition okay High-leg, push-back recliners okay
XMETAL FOOT LOCKERS Commercial
XCommercial OFFICE FURNITURE: no desks or case goods
XPAPASAN chairs
XPARTNER DESKS
XROLL-TOP DESKS
XHOSES (unless new)
XHOSE REELS
XLAWNMOWERS
XGas powered yard tools
XPLASTIC GARDEN FURNITURE - Molded (moldy)
XAUTOMOTIVE Batteries, Tires, Jacks, Tire Chains, Rims
XAQUARIUMS
XBATHTUBS and large plumbing fixtures
XBLINDS – Venetian, mini
XCABINET DOORS removed from previous site
XFOOD or WINE GLASS Windows or Doors
XUSED HARDWARE, used Window Hardware, used Plumbing Fixtures
XHOT WATER HEATERS
XJARS (Except Canning)
XMini-BLINDS /Window blinds
XOpened or partly used MEDICAL SUPPLIES
XPET items we cannot take: Large crates, Igloos, Pet doors, Hamster cages, Wire bird cages, Pet doors
XPROPANE tanks
XLARGE POWER TOOLS - Shopsmith
XTOILET Seats
XTOXIC MATERIALS: Flammable Fluids, Matches
XPAINT of any Kind
XSPORT CUPS with Straws
XSTOVES of Any Kind except vintage
XSTYROFOAM/PLASTIC ICE CHESTS
XTILE, Ceramic
XWALKERS – basic Aluminum
XWINDOW SHADES
NO ITEMS THAT ARE: wet, mildewed, soiled, torn, frayed, animal hair covered
XBED PILLOWS
XELECTRIC BLANKETS & Controls
XThe following window coverings: Black-out drapes, Cornices, Heavy drapes, Valances, Metal blinds, Shades
XFOAM FUTON COVERS or MATTRESSES
XAir MATTRESSES or Beds, Futon Mattresses
XSLIPCOVERS/COVERS for chairs or sofas
XTABLE PADS
NO Magnetic tape media of any kind
XTAPES recorded or blank: Audio – cassettes, reel-to-reel, 8-track Video – VHS, Beta, home- recorded, blank
XRACKS , CARRIERS, CASES for tapes,cds
XCD jewel cases (empty)
XNO BOXED SETS OR BOUND ALBUMS OF RECORDS
X78RPM RECORDS
XELECTRIC ORGANS
XORGAN MUSIC
XHYMNALS
XPIANOS – Grand, Full-sized upright & player
PLEASE CONTACT US ABOUT OTHER KINDS OF PIANOS
XCDs, Floppy discs + their storage boxes
XFiling Cabinets – 2 or 4 drawer
XBinders with Logos
XDiscolored photo albums (Unless Vintage)
XMouse pads
XOld phone directories
XOld maps
XOutdated Calendars
XPartial rolls and scraps of wrapping paper
XPicture Frames
XVideo cameras, camcorders, and/or tapes
XDigital cameras without memory card, battery pack, charger, cables and instructions.
XDigital cameras less than 10 Megapixels
XFamily Slide Collections
XFilm Editing Equipment
XPhoto chemicals
XPhoto enlargers / slide carousels or slide projectors
XStudio Lighting Equipment
FABRIC WE DO NOT TAKE: Large rolls of upholstery fabric, Synthetics, Burlap, Netting, Naugahyde
XDRAPERY SUPPLIES
XFOAM RUBBER
XFUR
XKNITTING MACHINES
XLOOMS - Assembled or disassembled
XMAGAZINES
XUSED PATTERNS, unless pre-1970
XPLASTIC NURDLES
XQUILT FRAMES
XQUILT TOPS in need of repair
XSEWING MACHINES we cannot take: TREADLE sewing machines, INDUSTRIAL sewing machines, DOMESTIC ROTARY sewing machines, WHITE ROTARY sewing machines, NEW HOME ROTARY sewing machines, CABINETS without sewing machines (empty)
XUNFINISHED GARMENTS/PROJECTS
XUPHOLSTERY SAMPLE BOOKS
XFABRIC SCRAPS
XYARN CONES
XDANCE SHOES
XGOLF SHOES
XSKI BOOTS
XSPORTS SHOES (cleats)
NO DIRTY CAMPING EQUIPMENT Nothing rusty or soiled.
NO taxidermied ANIMALS
NO mounted TROPHY FISH
XAMMUNITION/FIREARMS of Any Type including Toy Guns
XLarge BOATS, Outboard Motors
XCAR RACKS – for skis or bikes
XCAR CARGO CARRIERS (Tule Racks)
XDIVING EQUIPMENT
XEXERCISE EQUIPMENT we cannot take: Heavy Exercise Equipment, Rowing Machines, Nordic Tracks, Stationary Exercise Bikes (We only take Tunturi and Schwinn exercise bikes in working condition), Treadmills
XINFLATABLE mattresses
XGOLF BAGS and CLUBS older than 2018
XHOCKEY EQUIPMENT PILATES EQUIPMENT
XPLASTIC WADING POOLS
XSKIS, Boots and Ski Poles
XSNOW BOARDS
XSTYROFOAM ICE CHESTS
XTENTS, Canvas
XTROPHIES
XWATER SKIS
XWINDSURFING Equipment Older than 5 Years
NO STUFFED ANIMALS except for Steiff
NO COSTUMES
NO DOLLHOUSES unless small/portable
NO BROKEN TOYS
XCardboard BUILDING BRICKS
XCHEMISTRY SETS
XDOLLS OVER 18 IN.
XDOLL BEDS/STROLLERS
XDOLL FURNITURE (large)
XGRADUATION CAPS AND GOWNS
XINFLATABLE TOYS - unless new and unopened
XJEWELRY MAKING KITS, loose beads
XPLAYDOH, PAINT (unless unopened)
XRIDING HORSES – large, spring-type
XOUTDOOR PLAY STRUCTURES - large
XSAND BOXES - large plastic
XSAND/POOL/BATH TOYS TRAIN TABLES - large
XTROPHIES
XVIDEO GAME CONSOLES & accessories (except PlayStation)
XWADING POOLS - large plastic
To schedule a van pickup, please call (510) 839-5919.
Van drivers have the right to refuse to take any donations for reasons for quality, size, or number of donations. Van drivers retain the right to refuse to pick up the donation if they have a concern about safety matters. Van drivers expect all contacts with donors will be safe and in keeping with government recommendations. All persons they come in contact with must be wearing a mask, even if the contact is outdoors. Van drivers will not tolerate harassment.
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