Free Goods Program collects donated items and distributes them to low-income people for free

Not everyone can afford to furnish their home.

The Free Goods Program collects new and used donations and then distributes them to Calgarians who need them – at no cost.

HOW IT WORKS

Donors drop off new and used items to our Donation Centre.

We accept almost everything, including furniture, household items, technology, clothing, hygiene items, and more. No garbage or broken items, please!

Our team distributes these goods to Calgarians who need them – for free!

We’ve evolved our three programs to remove as many barriers as we can. We work with people one-on-one, and liaise with 130 other agencies and outreach teams.

As a community, we make a positive environmental and social impact.

For donations that aren’t required for programs, we will recycle or sell them to raise money that is better suited for other agency needs. No donation goes to waste.

I Need Help

I Want to Donate

BY THE NUMBERS

These stats were calculated for the 2023-24 DI fiscal year

10,846

people served by the Free Goods Program

719,838

items distributed by the Free Goods Program

140+

agencies and outreach groups partnered with DI

Read Our Report to Community

MOVE OUT PROGRAM

We provide free furniture, household items, kitchenware, and other essentials to Calgarians who need them.

Need household goods?
Click here to make an appointment!

COMPUTERS

We take used technology, refurbish it, and give it to Calgarians who need it using the Computers for Low-Income Calgarians (CLIC) program. This program is in high demand and is subject to a waitlist.

The CLIC program is currently on hold due to a high volume of requests and backlog. We are busy behind the scenes working to get this program back up again!

NON-ESSENTIALS

Some non-essential donations may be used to furnish our facilities or sold to help fund our programming. All essential items are distributed free of charge to community members in need.

Want to give back?
Learn how to help here.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Do you offer a delivery service?

If you are staying, or have recently stayed at the Calgary Drop-In Centre, we offer a delivery service free of charge. Simply reach out to your housing case worker to arrange for an appointment to choose furniture and a time to have it delivered to your new home.

Those who have not recently stayed in our shelter are encouraged to use any names of our list of highly-recommended independent moving companies that regularly assist our program participants, and offer reasonable rates.

Please ensure you have made delivery arrangements with us or a moving company prior to your appointment with the Free Goods Program. We ask that you schedule the movers to pick up your items on the same day as your appointment.

Can my partner and/or children come with me to my appointment?

You are welcome to have one individual over the age of 12 accompany you on the showroom floor. Children under the age of 12 not confined to a stroller or carrier will not be able to come with you on the showroom floor. Our facility is an operating warehouse and can be hazardous for small children. If children under 12 come with you to your appointment, we ask you to bring another responsible adult to take care of them in our waiting room for the duration of your one-hour appointment.

What if I don't find everything I am looking for during my appointment?

Our furniture showroom is reliant on community donations, so we can’t always guarantee we’ll have everything you’re looking for. If you are unable to find an item you critically need, please speak to a member of our staff and we will be happy to assist as best we can. We ask that program participants limit their use of the Move Out Program to once every six months.

Are items brand new and/or in good condition?

Most of the items in our show room are donated from the public, so the majority are used. However, we do not accept any broken items and we try our best to ensure everything is in good condition before putting them out on the floor.