Philanthropic

Wheeler accepts donations of clothing and household items in clean and good condition. You may drop off your donations at our various drop-off locations around Indianapolis. Click to view our drop-off locations. We commonly accept the following items: Clothing – men’s, women’s, children’s, accessories New underwear (men, women, children) Hygiene items (soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, etc.) Footwear – shoes, boots, shower shoes, socks Outerwear – coats, hats, scarves, gloves Books, records, CDs, DVDs House wares – dishes, kitchen utensils, lamps, working small appliances Knickknacks Furniture–dressers, tables, chairs, sofas Domestics–curtains, linen, bedspreads, blankets, etc. Sporting goods Games and toys Stuffed animals

We rely on food donations–both perishable and non-perishable–to help feed the thousands of men, women, and children who come through our doors hungry and in need of help! We gladly accept any fresh or prepared food, provided the food meets certain preparation and storage guidelines. Prepared food donations must be prepared or stored in a commercial kitchen. The food must not have been previously served and should be handled properly and kept at the proper temperature at all times. Large food donations should be brought to 520 E. Market Street. For questions and to arrange a large food donation, please contact our Director of Food Service, Colin Kirby, at colinkirby@wheelermission.org, or 317.687.6795. Our most needed food items are: Coffee Sugar – bulk and packets Ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish Oatmeal – bulk or individual Fruit cups Pudding cups Pepper, salt (bulk), garlic & onion powder Italian seasoning Salad dressing – Italian, Ranch, French Spaghetti sauce or pasta/tomato sauce Penne pasta, elbow macaroni, spaghetti, noodles Diced tomatoes Baked beans Canned fruit Canned vegetables Canned condensed soups (i.e., cream of mushroom, chicken, or celery) Food donations can be dropped off at our Shelter for Men (520 E. Market St., Indianapolis, IN 46204) during business hours or our Men’s Residential Center (245 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis, IN 46201) during non-business hours. Summary of The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act

Wheeler accepts donations of cars, trucks, vans, mini-buses, boats, tractors, and heavy construction equipment. Sorry — we draw the line at trains. For tax deduction information about such donations, see below. To donate any vehicle, please email or call Perry Hines at (317) 635-3575 first. To donate a car, van, or truck, here’s what you need to know: Wheeler can accept any such vehicle, running or not. The person who owns the vehicle, possesses a clear title, and has the keys should be the one who calls. You may deliver your vehicle to us, or if it is in the Central Indiana area, we can arrange to pick up your vehicle. Vehicles that could not be used for ministry will be sold at auction with proceeds benefiting those Wheeler serves. You will receive a donation receipt. Tax Deduction Information: Wheeler is a qualifying 501(c)(3) charitable organization and according to the IRS, you can deduct the fair market value of your vehicle when you itemize your deductions. How do you estimate the fair market value? We are not able to; however, the IRS publication 561 offers this advice: Say “the ‘blue book’ value of a car like yours is $1,600 in good condition. However, your car needs extensive repairs. After checking with repair shops and used car dealers, you find that the car should sell for $750. You may use $750 as the FMV of the car.” There is no limit on how many vehicles you may donate during a year, but if the fair market value of the vehicle(s) is $5000 or greater you must file the IRS Form 8283 with your tax return. Here are some links to the Kelly Blue Book and the NADA Guide to get you started. It’s also wise to compare your vehicle to similar ones for sale in the area; check out cars.com, and/or AutoTrader.com to see what price yours is bringing.

Wheeler accepts all kinds of large donations, including furniture, appliances, building materials, etc. We commonly accept the following large items: Appliances – washers, dryers, refrigerators, cook stoves, window air conditioners, etc. Computer and office equipment (call 536.7522 for details) Bicycles Power tools Lawn tools and equipment Flat-screen TVs and electronics View our Frequently Asked Questions below. Q: Can Wheeler Pick up my donation? A: At this time, Wheeler Mission is able to pick up certain donations. For more info, please click here. Q: Does it have to be like new? A: Items don’t have to be new, but they must be clean and in good condition. We don’t have the resources to fix or clean donations. We may decline any donation that doesn’t meet these minimal requirements. Q: What does Wheeler accept? A: We accept donations of home furnishing and appliances in good condition, clean clothing, household items, toys and games, books and magazines, but also things like lawn & garden tools, charcoal grills, and some building supplies. Sometimes we accept commercial appliances and office furniture. Please call 317.646.2624 if you have a question.

Gifting appreciated assets (i.e. real estate, publicly traded securities) can benefit both you and Wheeler Mission. We’re able to discuss your options and walk you through the process. Click for more details.

We are unable to accept the following items: Used box springs, mattresses, and waterbeds Any type of building material (windows, doors, screening, etc.) Paint, household chemicals, insecticides, etc. Used car parts Pianos and organs (synthesizer keyboards are accepted) Tube TVs, console TVs, or console stereos Appliances that malfunction in any way Used dishwashers Used pillows Used tires Hospital beds Used carpet Used cribs Any item we deem unsalable in our thrift store