Common Questions from Program Participants

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Do you offer a delivery service?

Yes, we do! If you are staying or have recently stayed at the Calgary Drop-In Centre, we offer free delivery. Once you pick out your furniture, our team will load it into one of our moving trucks and deliver it to your new home.

We offer our moving services to other program participants as well, for a $200 moving fee. Due to limited staff and resources, availability is limited.

We also have a list of highly-recommended independent moving companies who 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 accompany you on the showroom floor. We have a waiting area where others can wait until you have completed your appointment. Children under 12 years are not allowed in the showroom due to breakables on the floor. However, if your child is in a stroller or carrier, they are welcome to stay with you. 

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.

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What can I take? How much?

To make sure there’s enough for everyone, each person may select up to five large furniture items. We ask that you choose five unique items and not duplicates of the same item, (such as two dressers). This is to make sure there’s enough for the next person too.

If you have a big family, please let us know when you make an appointment and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. 

Can I volunteer?

Yes, we offer volunteer shifts every day that the Donation Centre is open. Learn more here.

Can I request specific items (i.e. food, clothing, kids stuff, specific furniture)?

We can give program participants a general idea of the items we make available however we can never guarantee certain items will be in stock. We are limited by what is donated and all items are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We are not able to reserve or set aside items for program participants.

How much do you charge for delivery?

We offer free delivery to those who stay or have recently stayed at the Calgary Drop-In Centre. For others accessing the program, we charge a small moving fee of $200 that goes towards our program. Our movers have limited availability, so please make arrangements with us in advance if you need assistance with your move.

Can I drop-in, or is an appointment required?

This program is in high demand and so we want to serve you as best possible. Please make an appointment to access the Free Goods Program.

Case managers can refer their clients to the program, and we accept self-referrals too. We will ask those who self-refer to the program to provide us with proof of income or income status and a copy of their lease agreement.

Can I bring a translator?

Yes! We also have the program guidelines printed in over 15 languages and we use translation software to help with language barriers.

 

How long is an appointment?

Each appointment is one hour long. We ask that you arrive 5-10 minutes prior to your appointment so that we can explain the program guidelines before your appointment begins.

Common Questions from Donors

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What are your hours?

We are open 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on weekends, and closed on statutory holidays.

We do not require an appointment to drop off donations at our Donation Centre. We do appreciate prior knowledge of large deliveries arriving at our loading docks, If you have a large donation please reach out to us by calling 403-264-0856 prior to arriving.  We discourage leaving any donations outside the building during off-hours.

Where do I go to drop off my donation?

Please drop off your donation at our Donation Centre, located in Northeast Calgary. Our address is 3640 11a Street NE, which is a two-minute drive from the intersection of Deerfoot Trail and 32nd Avenue NE.

Simply drive up to the colourful mural at the front of the building, ring the doorbell, and our staff will be happy to assist you from there.

Do you do pick-ups?

We do not currently have the resources available to offer pick-up service to individual donors, unless you have a large number of items to donate. Please see our list of recommended moving companies.

Do you issue tax receipts?

We can provide tax receipts for in-kind donations if we are provided with a copy of the purchase receipt within a timely manner. For questions, please email donations@thedi.ca

Which items do you not accept? Which items do you accept?

We happily accept the following items:

  • Furniture in good condition (we are able to take furniture that has been disassembled as long as it has all screws, bolts, and other hardware. We typically ask for a brief explanation on how to put it back together)
  • Mattresses and box bprings that are in very good condition (entirely free from stains or tears or other breaks in the fabric)
  • Clothing and outerwear in any size
  • Boots and shoes
  • Hygiene products
  • Bedding, towels, and other linens
  • Small appliances and electronics
  • Dishes and cutlery
  • Kitchenware including pots, pans, and can openers
  • Housewares
  • Framed art, home décor, and vases
  • Non-perishable food
  • Camping supplies
  • Wheelchairs, canes, and crutches

We do not accept the following items:

  • Broken, ripped, or stained furniture
  • Cribs, car seats, highchairs
  • Home renovation materials
  • Large appliances (we do accept all countertop appliances)
  • Large office furniture
  • Large buffets or china cabinets
  • Helmets
  • Air-Casts and joint braces
Do you sell anything donated?

We do not operate a thrift store and do not sell any items that are considered necessities. All essential items are given away for free.

We occasionally have items that are donated that are non-essential and have more monetary value than practical value to our program participants. Items like these may be sold and all funds from sales are re-directed back into our program to purchase essential items for our program participants.

Can I buy anything?
Only items that are considered non-essential will be sold to members of the public. We aim to re-direct any surplus essential items to our community partners if we do not have the space to store the donations.
What happens with my donations?

Your donations will be distributed free of charge to low- and no-income individuals in our community through our Free Goods Program. The Free Goods Program is a service offered to our program participants and low-income community members to provide them free of charge with clothing, furniture, and household goods to furnish their homes. We assist Drop-In Centre guests as they transition from the shelter system into permanent housing, and we provide our service to 120 agencies and outreach groups including The Centre for Newcomers, Calgary Urban Projects Society, Alpha House, YYC Be the Change, and The Alex Community Health Centre.

See the full list of agencies here.

Can you help me unload the donation?

Yes! We have a team on hand at our Donation Centre who will be happy to assist you in unloading your vehicle. We have a great deal of experience handling furniture and other heavy or bulky items.

Common Questions from Volunteers

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How old do I have to be to volunteer on my own?

We ask for all volunteers to be 18 years of age or older to volunteer, children 12 years of age or older can volunteer accompanied by an adult.

We have a group of youth who want to volunteer. How many adults are required per youth?

We ask for a ratio of ten youth to one adult when participating as a group.

Are your volunteer times flexible?

When volunteering for the first time or as a group, we ask that you arrive at one of our scheduled shift times, 9:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. so we can provide an orientation of the Donation Centre and instructions for performing assigned tasks. We are able to provide a more flexible schedule for experienced or regular volunteers.